Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-19

SIT is probable that tho legislature VIII be ASKED
| this session to grant the arnory board power
| TO build an ar1nory in Salt Lake. The lease on
l the present building occupied by the guard IN
Salt Lake for that purpose Will expire IN july
1910. which will necessitatc q renewal Oh Inc ist
or q change Of quarters by the guard. NO puliu-
ing, not specially constructed for arniory pui
poses, is proper suitable for such use ana IL
is handicap to the guard and of no profit to the
state for the guard to be required to move from
building to building every two OF three YEARS
1t is believed that proposition can be submit
ted to the legislature which will give the guard al
that Isl 10 be desired in the way Of a permanent
home one which will be theirs. and ample as to
accommodations for at least 20 years at no eS-
pense the state after the building is construct
cd, substantially III excess OF the rent now paio
for the present quarters.
Under the law passed in 1905, it is believed there
are now funds on hand and in the custody OF the
state treasurer sufficient to purchase 4 plot OF
ground of the size required; and it IS proposea 70
borrow the necessary funds for the erection there
of building adequate for present purposes
with additions provided for in the plans adequate
for IS years And the interest which "iIi be PAD
thereon will not exceed the amount now paid Tor
rental and the amount so paid as interest Wouia
be paid 10 the state for the use of state schools
and other state institutions. 50 that all money
disbursed as interest in other words rental, by
the state for The benefit of the national guard.
would inure to the benefit of other state lnsttu-
tons 1t is believed that such a proposition upon
its face is q demonstration of the advsabilitS OF
building an irmory independent of the benefits TO
be derived theiefro,n by the guard; and those
Interested in the guard will go before the lesis-
ature in the assurance that they are presenting
to that body proposition of benefit TO the state
at large. For the benefit to the guard and the
cost to the state will be little or nothing over
present expenses and the ADDITIONAL cost to the
state will be solely the payment of rent and in
terest while the building is in the course Of con-
structon,
Two years ago an effort was made toward the
construction of arnlory. piece of ground was
In view for that purpose, which. If 1t had been
purchased at that time would today have market
value two and one-half times the amount asked
at that time. Plans prepared for a build
ing to be erected that ground and the elevation
of the main building at that time planned Is shown
in the accompanying cut. This building would
have been great advance over the quarters now
occupied but perhaps it is well that the building
was not erected for the reason that since that
time the United States has passed such legisla-
ton greatly enhances the standing of the ma
tional guard, simplifying it's sphere of usefulness
and greatly adding to the requirements heretofore
expected. The United States considers the
national guard part of the present and ready
force of the United States. 1t is expected from
each state efficiency of its guard and the hand-
ing of its military affairs as to create and main
tain force armed equipped and disciplined to
such a degree that it within "a hours in cases
OF emergency be assmilated as u force of the
United States Under these conditions in building
armories providing for the tErerial affairs of
the national guard. action should be taken upon
a much broader plane than when the guard
merely state force and considered by
the United States as reserve which could be
drawn upon for individuals more or less trained
in military matters.
Il IS or course desired that arnory be built
within reasonable distance of the central and
business portion of the town and piece of ground
of the size required will be harder to get with each
succeeding wear. and the funds are now avail
able for that purpose, there is every reason why
immediate action should be taken. and if the
arnory can be built By funds borrowed from the
state land board and maintainest cost but
slightly greater than that now paid for rental of
the present quarters, there is every reason why
the arnlory should be built and none against it,
Plans for such an arrnory are now being drawn
Il by Adjutant General L. \, Wedgwood After an in
speetion of many eastern arrnories while enroute
10 and from the Camp Perry competition Gem
eIal Wedgwood returned to this city with q good
idea Of what this state needs in the way Of an