The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-26
STATE T0C0NTR0L
new RIFLE RANGE
War Department to Have No
Right to Send Negro
Troops There.
$4,000 WILL Be SPENT
Casey Plans Not Approved-Go Good
Pay Ordained for
Rifle1nen.

|
Fifty thousand dollars will be ex-
pended in improving and equipping the
State camp site and rifle range near
! Virginia Beach a decision to this
effect was reached at the meeting Of
the State Military Board, held at the
Governors Office last night.
OF this large sum $4,000 comes from
the United States government, having
been set aside for this purpose out of
| the States's quota from the War De-
partment. For the remainder, 1t Is
| hoped to use the $4,000 appropriated
by the Legislature for the purpose OF
a rife range. There Is some doubt II
this sum is available for improving
range, and IL 1t is found that the appro-
priation cannot be so applied, the next
General Assembly Will be asked to al
| low 1t to be expended for this purpose.
The board turned down both of the
plans proposed by Captain *. Is. "
| Casey, an expert engineer who re-
Gently made survey of the property.
Instead of firing due east. as suggested
| by him, the shooting will be from
point somewhat to the south. the bull
| lets to go in a northeastery direction.
| Captain Casey's objection to this idea
was that it might involve danger to
parties on or near the beach.
Will Build Bnckstop.
Although the State has the right,
in the deed which will soon be de-
livered, to shoot over the land between
the camp site and the ocean, it is plan
ned to eliminate all danger by adding
to the sand dune at which the targets
will be placed. This sand pile Is al
ready about thirty-five feet high.
! The boards idea Is to build rough
| sort of structure on top with logs and
| to pour sand into this, making the
whole affair perhaps sixty-five feet IN
height. 1t is argued that any shots
which will go higher than this may
safely be allowed to pursue their way
across the ocean, and If they hit any
body it will be IN Spain or Portugal
| j. A. C. Groner assistant to the gen.
| eral manager of the Norfolk-Southern
Railroad, and Captain Philip Yeatman,
secretary to the Industrial Commission
of Norfolk, appeared before the board
| at its request. The representative OF
| the railroad wanted to see the State
| spend some money IN Improvements be-
| fore it in its turn invests $4,000 In
| building the spur track into the camp.
| In the meantime. the State Military
Board wanted some assurance that the
| track would be laid before 1t made the
| improvements, SO II was decided that
| the railroad should execute contract.
Its officials may then camp on the site
| and watch the State spend the money.
Negroes Need Not Apply.
BY this method of procedure the camp
ground and rifle range will be the sole
| property of Virginia, and the War De-
partment will have no rights in 1t. "Ot
course" said the Governor. with a
twinkle in his eye. I'VE will let the
United States use the ground at times
under proper restrictions" He did not
| elaborate, but it was safe bet that so
| long as he is IN the executive chair
no negro soldiers Will have the pleas
ure of firing at Firginia's targets or OF
crossing sentry posts and threatening
Virginia officers.
Neither the board nor the Norfolk
people liked the idea advanced by Cap
| tain Casey that the State acquire the
ground lying between the camp site
and the ocean. This would, it Is point
| ed out, rob property owners to the
south, some of whom have been lib
| eral contributors to the fund for the
presentation of the property to the
State. of their right Of way to Virginia
Beach.
| Members OF the board present last
night were Governor Mann, Adjutant-
General Sale, Secretary Of the Common
wealth James and Brigadier-G General
c. &C. Vaughan, Jr. Joseph LeMasurier,
clerk to the board, was also on hand
Team to Have Medals.
1t was decided that the board should
| purchase bronze medals for Zach mem
Der of the rife team at Camp Perry.
The design Is to be selected by the Ad-i
1utant-General.
The Governors medal, the Adjutant-
Generals medal and the Military
Boards medal, given In recent years to
the three men making the best showing
at the national rife matches, will be
suspended until such time as the State
Is In position to have more general
contest, to be participated In by men
from all over Virginia. This means
that these medals will not be presented
this year.
General Vaughan. with the three
commanders of the Virginia infantry
regiments-Colonel Perry, Colonel
Leedy and Colonel Noting ha m--were
detailed to attend the rife match at
Camp Perry as observers
| 1t was decided that the enlisted men
who make the team at Camp Perry
shall be paid the regular State pay. in
addition to the allowance from the
United States. This means that the
privates will receive $3.50 per day.
corporals $195. and sergeants s2.3O.
oHcers Will get only United States
pay.