Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23

IL ~ feet on the National Guard of
IN the District of Columbia In
u accordance with custom the
citizen soldiery is enjoying a
rest The period devoted to drills, meet
ings and schools. with the annual outing
at Fort Washington and Fort Hunt as
the climax, extended from the list of last
October until the 18th instant. Arms and
equipment having been cleaned and prop
erly stored, following the tour of duty in
the field, the guardsmen are excused from
military duties until the first drill night
in October next. Many of the officers and
men are away from the city on vacation
trips.
Interest is conferred. naturally. on the
rifle matches in progress at Camp Perry,
Ohio. and especially on the results at
tanned by the Districts brigade rife
of Jogging along at Camp Perry. partici-
pating in the competitions under the
auspices of the National Rife Association
of America. with little hope of winning
prizes. shooting principally for practice in
preparation for the National match.
which is to begin tomorrow morning. The
supreme effort is to be made by Maj.
Robbins to land His team among the
leaders in the field of fifty competitors.
The only members of the brigade now
in this city who are really at work are
those striving for places on the company
teams that will be sent to Sea Girt. n. J..
to compete in the matches there early in
September.
In connection with the tender of resig
nation by William G. Neumeyer. pay
masters clerk. Naval Battalion. and
rumors of charges by him of misconduct
on the part of certain officers of the
battalion. the adjutant general of the
militia has called on all the parties con-
cerned for explanatory statements
Now that rifle practice occupies the CEN
ter of the stage. so to speak. a statement
from Annapolis that although bill pro-
viding for fund for the purchase of the
property at Glenburnie. now used as the
state rife range. was defeated at the last
session of the Maryland legislature. other
methods have been employed by state Of
ficials and the purchase of the property
together with the surrounding property
has practically been contaminated, is re-
garded, as of interest. Ever since the state
first leased the ground. more than five
years ago. II has been the earnest desire
that it would be under state ownership.
The grounds now used as the rifle range
are 1875 acres in extent and were first
leased by the state for five years. in 1903
Under the provisions of the lease the state
at its expiration was given the privilege
Of purchasing the property for s.. $50. re-
newal for another five years. and at the
expiration of the second lease the owners
offered to sell it for sl1,25O. Notwith-
standing the fact that the legislature
killed the bill appropriating $4,000 for the
purchase Of the property. negotiations
were opened almost at once for the pur
chase of the original tract and 217 acres
of additional surrounding property. most |
of which is woodland 1t is expected that |
the transfer to the state will soon be |
made.
While the purchase price has not been
given out, it seems to be understood that |
the amount to be paid for the whole prop |
erty will be about $4,000. 1t is said that
this sum will be carved from the state ap-
preparation to the militia. which was in
creased from 10000 to $4,000 by the last
legislature. and from the federal allot- |
ment to Marylands militia forces. AS to
the federal allotment. it is specified that
about one-third of the fund shall be used
for rifle and target work. so that this is
wei available.
The state during the first five years of
its occupancy spent more than $4,000 on
Including grading erection