Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-03
Report of the Armory Commission.

Report of the Arnory Commission.
The report Of the armory commission,
the members of which are Adj8tant
General Elliott G. Dill. chairman, Major
Walter J. Mayo of the md Infantry and
EX-Mayor Charles H. Randall 'of Port
land, has been fled with the Governor
and Council.
The report states that conditions as a
whole are Still very unsatisfactory and
must remain so until Legislative appro-
priations are available to carry out Il
progressive scheme of state armory con-
struction Tho report does not recon-
mend an appropriation sufficient 10 pro-
vide suitable armories for all oreani2a-
tions with in Il two-year period in view
Of the widely separated stations Of the
several organizations of the National
Guard Very large appropriations would
be necessary. The report expresses Il be
lief that even modest beginning in the
Nay Of State armory construction VIII
greatly encourage the National GaaId
and that the increased efficiency which
will be shown ny organizations furnish
cd with modern armories will 50 clearly
demonstrate the wisdom of such eXpendj-
lures that there win be little difficulty
in securing increased appropriations
from each succeeding Legislature
The report favors a onc-eomnany ar
moIy With = drill han II approximately
49, fo"t. conn" ted with n head house
tw" stories in height. approximately DIX
:" lc5t, this space being so sub.dividcd
rs To provide suitable office and assem-
bly, rooms for Offices and men and neces-
sary storage room for tho proper care of
equipment. Such n building can BE- con-
struct.d for $50 and III" commission
fixes a. a fair division OF tie expense =
state appropriation Of 5000, conditional
on the municipality or organization ar
nishinG a buiiding site and $3.50 To be
used in Connection with the State arpro-
priation.
The report recommends that the next
Legislature appropriate the sum of So
90, to be expended in accordance with
the foregoing plan for the construction
OF one armory for company in the
Coast Artillery Corps and one armory for
a company in the Second Infantry, the
selection of the companies to b" left with
the armory commission. the Governor
and the commanding officer Of the Coast
Artillery Corps or of the Second Infait-
tlt. as tho case may he.
In regard to present conditions the re-
port says: BY increased alowane" for
armory rentals, conditions have be',n
materially improved in several organize
tiens during the present year. It mist,
however, he apparent that even the may
imum annual allowance OF $@h per conf
panv is not sufficient to induca any u.l-
nicipalty to furnish really satisfactory
accommodations. In no case has the
commission voted the maximum allow
ance to any municipality where the
military organizations do not aave prac-
ticaliy exclusive use Of the quarters pro-
vided. The Portland arInory, Which Is
the only building in the state, which may
properly, be classef as an atmory. has
unfortunately been not available Tor
military uses during much of the year;
but realizing that pending the compile
ton OF the. new city hall Portland is
without any other place for holding
largc meetings no attempt has been
made to secure exclusive use for the
militia The military companies in Port
land have suffered in consequence but 1t
is confidently believed that the spirit
which they have shown since the burn
ing Of the old city hall will result in their
being given exclusive use of the armory
during the winter am season after the
completion ot the nov city hall
While the sum of >306 is regarded as too
small an annual allowance Tor armory
rental the payment of even this amount
for all organizations will make heavy
inroad on the military fund and If tht
National Cnars is NOT 70 he imnai""d
thereby provision should be made at the
earliest practicable date to caro- for az
mory rentals from other funds than
those SGT apart for the maintenance OF
the National Guard.
The yaport recitcs the armory condi-
tions which prevail in other States which
indicate 4 general movement toward bet
Ter armory conditions and in conclusion
says: we fully believe that the first
steps toward a progressive plan OF State
armory construction should be taken by
tho Legislature of l9ll.''
Auditor of State Printing Carver was
busilv engaged Monday in looking afte:
certain printing incident to the opening
OF the session such as the House aud