The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-03-08
Many Ask
For Repair
OF Arn1ory
Costly Apparatus Now Housed
in Damp and Unsanitary Gel
Ter
M. E. Brewster Greene, Repre-
senting Manufacturers Asso-
citation Points, Out the Armory
is Important I'm Event of In
duStrial Disturbances

| tSpecidl 10 the dFtneI.1
| Hartford. March S-Judge Alfred B.
Beers of Bridgeport. enthralled the
members of the committee on Appro-
priations, and a throng at the Capitol
yesterday at the hearing before that
committee on the bill providing for an
appropriation of 100000 for improve
ment in and enlargement Of the
Bridgeport arnory
In a telling speech Judge Beers i'm
pressed upon the members of The COM
| mittee that the spirit of patriotism is
| to be fostered only by intoxicating it
| in the American youth. and this is to
| be done in no more effective fashion
| than through such organizations as
| the militia. The young men Of today.
said he. must take UP the responsible
ties of the boys of 81. Judge Beers,
himself prominent member of the
G. A. R.. spoke on behalf of his COM
| rades in the great struggle to preserve
the Union. asking favorable considera-
ton of the measure.
Judge Beers asked that the commit
tee bear in mind the advantage Of
providing the militia with inviting
quarters. The armory should be a
club house for the militia as well as
drill hall. Judge Beers address
was made with characteristic vigor,
appeared to sway the committee force
fully. Great applause greeted his
plea.
Bridgeporters to the number of more
than 10O travelling by special cars,
were at the hearing to convince the
legislators of the necessity of better
armory provision for the Park City.
Major Louis J. Hermann had charge
Of the hearing for the Bridgeport dele
cation. Following the hearing the
let rs lett
the Bridgeport armory next Monday.
Representative Meltzer opened the
the biI on behalf hal @ Of the miitiamen.
He pointed out. with his usual con-
vincing array of facts and figures.
to present needs. was erected In 1884,
when there were two infantry compan-
les. and when the city had popula-
ton Of $4,000.
Now with four times that popula-
ton and six military organizations US
every respect far too small. He ex-
planned the purpose of the approprfa-
ton. The idea is to purchase prop
erty in Lumber street, enlarge the
armory. put new roof on the build
ing and make extensive alterations in
the layout of the structure. The
property. Represen alive Meltzer ex-
planned. is very desirable. and steadily
increasing in value.
Speaking both for Senator Mcneil,
who was detained at another hear
ing. and for himself. Senator Garry
Paddock said he had personal knowl-
edge of the defects of the armory.
He referred to the leaky roof as a
veritable sieve. The inadeauacy of
the armory. said the Senator. Is a
young men who would be glad to
identify themselves with the militia
could a building be provided with GER
tain attractions of social nature.
Major Louis j. Hermann submitted
preliminary plans to the committee,
and displayed a number of photo
graphs showing the congestion of
locker rooms. Bridgeport is proud to
rank second in population. said he. but
as to its armory equipment. it is a
poor third among Connecticut cities.
Captain George E. Halves went more
into the technical details Of the work
of the militia. He has been identi-
fed with the service for five years.
He has found by experience. he said.
that the service is not made attrac-
drop out when the opportunity pre-
sents itself. Under the recent changes
of policy the demands upon the men,
bers of the militia have greatly in
creased, and in the opinion of Cap
tain Halves the inducements held out
the demands made upon them. The
present armOry is worse than useless.
for it is a drawback to those who
plan to enlist. On drill nights when
it rains. the men could use umbrellas
to advantage. said Captain Hawes
Senator Bartlett. who has also fig
ured consciously in National Guard
affairs. called the committees atten-
ton to the fact that the government,
following the institution of the Ma
tional Guard as the Coast Artillery,
has installed large equipment Of
costly apparatus The repairing Of
the armory is an absolute necessity,
said he.
Attorney Albert J. Merritt. ensign
of the naval militia made an equally
effective plea, pointing out how re-
stricted were the quarters assigned to
the naval department. The naval di-
vision has one parlor which has to
serve as an equipment ROOM dressing
room. meeting room, and the like.
The four inch gun given by the gov
eminent is mounted in a dark section
of the cellar. for there is no other
place for it. The naval militia's store
room is in the cellar. Also In the
cellar is a costly piece of sighting ap-
paratus. Attorney Merritt injected a
dash of humor into the proceedings as
he told of the mems practicing with
the costly apparatus in the dimly
lighted damp. much cluttered cellar
Health and comfort alike are affect
ed
Captain F. J. Adams of the medical
said there was one ROOM by a. for
N.yhG ctn oil tI1a