Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-03
STATE ARMORY ON
CAPITOL GROUNDS
Plan Viewed Favorably by Senate
Comittee Provides for
Such Structure.
REQUIRES NO APPROPRIATION
loan From Land Board is Asked With
Interest Not Exceeding Amount
Now Paid NJ Rental

With The broad acres of capitol MIN
for q din and sltirmish ground. ANA
tho states capitol park for parade fore
nations. the National Guard of Utah
may soon ho enjoying new and per-
mancnt home
The capitol building is am uncertain
future undertaking Cor capitol hn but
q National Guard armory. TO boz in-
cluded within the fenced reserve. is
planned. and a measure to set aside a
portion of the Hill for the building viii
be introduced IN the present lcgislo-
ture.
The states ground ON the hin was
visited yesterday morning by Governor
William Spry, state Senator william
n. Williams, and General ID. a. WcdE-
wood of the National Guard of Titan.
senator Williams represented the sem
ate's committee on military affairs. and
speaking Of the visit DC said yesterday
afternoons
AS tho grounds are laid or. the
capitol building win be- near the south
end. wide boulevard passes through
the grounds north of the building site.
aud that leaves fully 40 rods for
parkng-cquivale 10 the length OF
a city block. sim beyond this road is
another section Of land and 70 rs here
that I would like 10 see a state armory
located 10 would not be near enough
Goo tho capitol To detract from the dig
nifty OF that building and would afford
t0 the state q home for les citizen soil
diery which is badly needed
"Tho application of the guard for
IN armory carried with 1t, un ample
provision for financing the building
plan and with this land gratis. the
building can De proceeded with at
once. II seems to me- when the author
ity 10 60 ahead Us secured from the
legislature. 1 favor the measure and
J. think the other members of the
military affairs committee favor a."
ASKED A STATE LOAN
To build the armory. a loan from
the state land board Of $4,000 is
asked. The rental Of the present arm
DRY in this city. a structure not suit
ed TO It's use and inadequate for the
growing militia requirements. amount
TO nearly $4,000 per year and the in
tcrest 10 be paid on this loan from
the land board Is not greater than this
amount The interest so paid goes 90
the support Of the states educational
institutions, while the rental for the
armOry in this city Is paid through
John 4. Dooly to the Menzies estate
I'm London. England. General Wedg-
wood In presenting the proposal to
the joint committee on military affairs,
points 10 the fact that no additional
appropriation viii be needed 90 build
the armory thai there Is sufficient
money in the hands OF the land board
seeking safe Investment and that the
sanction FOR the loan viii mean that
the money is in reality transferred
from one state fund 20 another and
wholly for the benefit Of two state
Institutions.
The requirements OF the government
for the states military forces have 80
In recent years that there Is
a positive need, says Gen Wedgwood,
for a state armory and arsenal where
stores may be properly cared
for In the present quarters atillery
equipment valued at more than $4,000
Is stored I'm a cellar whore very strenu-
Gus work Is made necessary IN order 10
keep them Ina repair and free from
rust and deterioration. To store addi-
tional equipment which Is needed and
required by the government viii be im-
possible in the present quarters be-
cause Of lack Of storage space
AFFORDS CONVENTION HALL
The plans drawn by Gen. Wedgwood
as suggestive contemplate the building
Of an armory and arsenal that viii be-
sufficient for all purposes for 20 years
on more and viii also provide FOR "a
drill hall and drill space for artillery
and battalion formations
As convention hail. the dr.ll hall
provided for IN the plans would be
unsurpassed, being arranged SO that
The largest conventions which this city
may ever entertain could DE seated
for sessions and provided with ample
reception rooms for social features in
lident 90 such gatherings I'm the use
NJ the hall for such purposes. "a major
portion of the cost of maintenance
would Doe mot without adding TO the
burden OF the state for this purpose.
with the prospect OF favorable action
upon the request or General Wedg-
wood Increased activity in the Nation
ll Guard of Utah Us already apparent
stimulation in enlistment is manifest
n almost every organization in the
city Az "a building site, the opinion
generally prevailing among guardsmen
j. that the Capitol hil ground would
De ideal Near Co the armory would
De provided dril grounds almost with
Out limit tor tactical maucuVcrinu and
he possibility OF securing sufficient
ground nearby Tor "a state rifle range
s not beyond the range OF the probable
-s-a-s
Tho BuIliueamo TeIeeraphing Tyne