The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29
,olTS SECURED
WITH LARGE FUNDS

Hheir interest iii the service. Their
addresses Will be kept on die
Although the service of the Virginia
Volunteers shows marked improve
Halent. not only in equipment. but in
readiness FOR service ana In efficiency,
thcre remain many needs. Were the
money available, the State Military
Board could put it where il would go
i long way toward making the mili-
Larry forces Of the state what they
ought to be
Perhaps first and foremost is the
matter Of rifle ranges. Prior TO the
War Between the states most Wiz
@inians could shoot, ana shoot straight.
The frontier life OF Colonial days de-
rcloped knowledge of the use OF tho
gun. which was supplemented by the
Colonial wars and later by the ma
1ional conflicts
Should another war come now it
would find a nation not equipped to
10 execution OIL the enemy. There Is
q crying need in the service for train
Nclop them Is to give them places
lht which they may prac,icc-rile
ranges.
Could Not Practice.
The remedy in the shape of a state
rifle range, which it is hoped 10 soon
I tliL III cICiatipil, VIII Dc oHiN Dtt!-
1iaI one. II WILL Of course, help in
many ways. For instance. ii was
necessary 10 send for,y-two men in
stead Of a team OF eighteen to Camp
Perry Tor tho national rifle shoot last
year, solely because there was no
range in this State where the men
might have their try-out with 4 view
10 picking the team.
But local ranges arc also necessary
II will be the policy Of the Military
Hoard to encourage in every possible
way the lease or purchase and equip-
mcnt OF ranges wherever military
company is located, so that the men
lnay practice rifle shooting and be
ready 10 compete in state matches on
The state range. II is only niques-
ton of money, and perhaps within
Iew years the board can manage il.
Wants Arsenal
Tho State badly needs an arsenal. At
present there is nothing but a storage
room under the offices OF the Second
Auditor and the State Treasurer, III the
state Library building I, is so dark
that artificial light must be used, and
so damp that IT is not a III place for
tho storage OF property.
This stora gc-room is inaccessible for
wagons, and the property is loaded and
'snioadcd by a hand elevator through
Hindow. Because of stcep bank At
i3,au a two-horse wagon load OF sup
s,lies. No place exists where tents may
he dried if they ire returned in a damp
Sufficient room is not had in which 10
tlteep All adequate supply in case of
such as n fire. For IN
stance, supplies cannot he sent to En-
sporia, where there was recently fire,
iuntil they can be secured from the War
department. Thcre should be a large.
airy room on a street, accessible with
wagons. and With wide doors. through
which large boxes can be handled. In
,Quiry is now being made AS TO whether
or not ii would be better for the All
iutant- Generals department TO own a
horse and wagon to do the hauling.
Give Uniforms 10 officers.
An important innovation Which would
he adopted If the State had the money
would be an allowance from military
funds for purchase OF uniforms for
officers. The funds are not adequate
70 permit this. The officers OF the
militia do much more work than 10 the
enlisted men, yet they get no pay at
All and must now buy their own uni
forms. BY the time they buy all the
.nilitnry suits required OF them, with
An overcoat, field glasses sabre and