Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
. LANs for obtaining a suitable

LANS for obtaining a suitable
armory for the National Guard
of the District were materially
advanced last evening at a
meeting of the armory board AT
District militia headquarters, where
the preliminary sketches. as made by
Maj Francis B. Wheaton, chief en-
gineer. were discussed and approved by
the board. The meeting last evening
was a partial elimination of work that
began last spring when Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 to defray the expenses
of drawing preliminary plans for an
armory for the organized militia of the
District The board to which this work
was intrusted consists OF Cen Robert
Shaw Oliver. assistant secretary of
war: Col. Spencer Cosby. superintendent
OF public buildings and grounds; Gen.
George III. Harries and Elliott Woods,
superintendent OF the Capitol An ar
mory board of officers OF the National
Guard Of the District was appointed by
Gen. Harries to draw up the plans for
an armory. The board consists of Adjt
Gen. Smiley. chairman; Col. Richard D.
S1mms. I'd Infantry: Lieut.. Col. William
II. Harvey, I'd Infantry; Mai Edwin n.
Newmeyer of the commissary depart
nent: MAJ Francis B. Wheaton, chief
engineer. and Capt. Frank w. Holt,
ordnance department.
The arnory. according to the temporary
plans adopted by the board. will be a
marble, stone or concrete structure cost
ing about s1.5OO,0OO. to be erected on the
site of the old Pennsylvania railroad sta
ton. on B street between 9th and 7th
streets northwest. 1t will occupy a space
46o feet long by 400 wide. The plans
provide for three stories and a basement
In the basement, under the drill hall,
which is to be supported by columns. is
sufhcient space for storing all the wagons
and artillery carriages that will be used
by the guard at its maximum strength
At one end is riding hall. 100 feet by 60,
for the use of the mounted organizations
of the guard A swimming pool, 20 by 40
feet Is provided for at another side OF
the building. together with shower baths
and locker rooms. In one corner Is to be
magazine for the storage OF ammuni-
ton
The drill hall. on the first floor. is
planned to be $50 feet long by 24O wide
which is as large as almost any armory
drill hall in this country. On one side
of the drill hall is a tier of seats. The
locker rooms of the companies and sep
arate organizations surround the drill
hall. In the southwest corner Of the
mezzanne floor is the coast artillery
model room. and on the southeast is a
gallery surrounding the riding hall be-
low.
On the second floor is the balcony sur
rounding the drill hall and the company
assembly rooms. On the east side is to
boxing rooms. In the front of the
building. on this floor. are to be the
rooms for brigade headquarters.
On the top floor rifle gallery. bowling
around the upper story Of the gym
nas1um, company drillrooms. a squad
dr1llroom. a practice room for the banus
an omcers' dining room. a hospital. store
looms Tor quartermasters' supplies. an
issue room and q memorial hall are
provided for.
The plans as approved will be submit
TED to the committee on militia in
hoped to get an initial appropriation for
the actual beginning Of the work some
time during the present session.
Drills for the National Guard have been
suspended for the holiday season by gen.
eral orders from District militia head
quarters. They will be resumed January
3. Orders have also been issued directing
that the pay rolls for the last six months
exclusive Of the time spent at the an
nual encampment, will be made out
for those members Of the Guard who are
not in the government service. Ohlcers
and enlisted men absent from drill or
theoretical instruction will be fined ten
Omcers or enlisted men who failed to re-
port on the target range and fire the
scores prescribed for marksman's quail
fications with the rifle during the target
season will be fined one months pay.
On account of insufficient appropria-
tions the extra pay for qualifications with
the rifle will not be made this year. Three
copies of the pay rolls will be made out,
and one is to be signed by the officers
and men. The rolls should be forwarded
to District militia headquarters before
January 3. Payment will be made In
cash.
The officers have been directed to fur
nish without delay to District militia
headquarters their address OF residence
and place Of business and .their telephone
calls. and to notify promptly Of any sub
sequent change of address.
The following enlisted men have been
honorably discharged from the National
terry Field Artillery; Private Bernhardt
X. Preuse. Ambulance Company: Corp.
Thomas j. Taylor and Privates Succoran
Ia CALI and Thomas H. Nixon. band. LIST
Infantry: Privates Clarence C. Mathew
son. Hugh 8. Morrison and Rober4 r.
Payne, Company l., LIST Infantry. and
Private William W. Grimes. Company x.
I'd Infantry. and Sergt. Nathaniel p. But
Ter. Hospital Corps.
Private Emile r. Mort. Company L, LIST
Infantry, has been transferred to Com
pany +, I'd Infantry.
4
The District Of Columbia branch OF the
Society OF the Army Of Santiago de
Cuba. Of which Gen Harries is presi-
dent and with which many members Of
the National Guard Of the District are
connected. held a meeting Friday night
In the rooms of the WASHINGTON Board
or Trade. 1t was decided to give the
first annual banquet Of the society dur
ing the latter part Of February At the
January meeting committees will be an.
pointed to take charge Of the affair
Gallery practice during the winter will
be conducted as follows:
full score will consist of five shots
at 200 yards standing 300 yards kneelins
or sitting. and 500 yards prone Two full
scores will be required at each distance.
making thirty shots in all.
Company commanders will see that all
recruits are thoroughly taught the sight
Ing. position and aiming drills before per-
uniting them to appear with the coupany
for gallery practice; and will continue this
instruction for at least fifteen minutes
each company drill night for such men as
need this instruction. and until ever man
is thoroughly instructed In these drills.
report will be made of this instruction
weekly drill reports.
all ball