Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-21
Reports of United States
Inspectors on Our Armories

The following extracts from reports
of United States inspecting officers re-
lating to the conditions of the armories
OF the Maine National Guard from the
year 1909 to the present time will be of
interest to everyone. especially as the
important question of erecting arm
cries in various sections of the State,
particularly Lewiston and Bangor, is
now before the Legislature:
Major. John X. Cree, c. A. c., L. s.
A, inspecting officer, 19O9-The State
does not possess armories in the sew
eral cities where the companies of the
National Guard are situated, but pays
the municipalities a certain sum each
year ($200 per company | believe), for
which the municipal government rents
or provides an armory or drill hall. In
my opinion the mean and squalid con-
dltlon of many of the armores pro-
Vlded for the LIST Regiment lowers the
standard of the National Guard in the
public esteem and seriously detracts
from its efficiency. con-
sider it absolutely impracticable for
the National Guard of the State of
Maine to attain a reasonable efficiency
so long as this system continues and
the sooner its defects are recognized
and remedied the better.
Captain Louis H. Bush, 5th Inf, U.
S. A, 10000. G, I'd Inf, Bangor.
Armory facilities: Old City hall, very
inadequate in size. Facilities for care
of property poor owing to crowded
condition of locker rooms. Proper
modern armory needed.
Captain NJ. G. Spinks, C. A. c., L. S.
A., 1912-Sth and 9th Cos, c. A. c.,
Lewiston. Armory is poorly heated
and lighted Three squads at drill
shake the building so that no work can
be carried on. Doors and locks frail,
could be easily forced and property
stolen.
Captain II. NJ. Merriman, c. A. c.,
L. S. A.. 1913-Sth and 9th Cos, Lew
iston The armory is not at all suited
for the purpose. The building is in
bad repair. Other quarters should be
provided at an early date. The pres
ent building can not be made attrac-
tive in any way and any money spent
on repairs, etc, would be spent to no
permanent advantage. State authori-
ties should take this matter under con-
sideration and provide better armory
for the Sth and 9th Cos.
Government property cannot be Sc
curely or properly cared for under
present conditions. Armory has been
broken into and property stolen on two
occasions. No fit place for govern :
ment property. The armory used by
these companies is exceedingly poor
The drill hall is in the top story of an
old unsafe building. Steps should be
taken to secure more suitable quar-
tiers.
From Capt. Merriman's correspond
badly needed in Lewiston and Bruins
wick. | believe State authorities
should act promptly in securing better
quarters for these companies and with
this in view / would recommend that
the Division of Militia Affairs take
this subject up with the State. These
unsatisfactory armory conditions have
prevailed for several years. (Since
that time the town of Brunswick has
appropriated $500 in 1916, and pro-
vided a suitable armory with steel
| lockers.)
| A. l.. Mills, brigadier general. gen.
eral staff of chief of Staff-The Lewis
ton armory is believed to be a very
poor fire risk and is easily broken into.
| Inspecting officers comment, 1914
The drill halls are reported as made
quate for the instruction of the en-
tire organization. The construction
and equipment not such as to encour-
| age enlistment and re-enlistment
They lack club and gymnasium fea-
lures.
! Lieut. George f. Turner, c. A. c., L.
S. A., 1915-Sth Co, c. A. c., Lewiston.
The condition of United States prop
erty in this company is particularly
excellent considering its miserable
armory; credit for this is due almost