Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-23
ALEXANDRIA ARMoRY

important Letter From Acting Com
rnahdet National Guard
Editor, The Gazette:
The Alexandria Light Infantry. it
Will be remembered, was reorganized
by CAPTAIN Louis ". Duffey following
reports OF threatened attempt to
"burn Alexandria" by negroes from
Washington. The reports of expected
trouble served TO emphasize the need
Of Alexandria for an efficient Mill
tary organization, properly armed
and equipped. The new company was
organized as aunt Of the Federal
National Guard and was accepted as
such July 2sth last. The State au.
thorities Immediately began shirs;ng
uniforms, arms and equipment, hcre.
so thu. now we nave company Of 81
members equipped exactly as az tie
regular army organizations. They
havr service rifles ard Browning az
tomato rifles, with 10000 roui'ls Of
ammunition: they have winter uni
forms and summer uniforms, over
coats and raincoats, underwear, both.
winter and GUNNER. shoes for parade
and shoes for field wear, in short, all
the equipment Of a regular army
soldier, including tentage and cooking
ranges. The value Of this property
runs into the thousands Of dollars.
The armory, which Is lie property
Of the city Of. Alexandria, has been
used for. various purposes. including
chat Of, roon,ing house for ship
yard employees. until it has almost
lost its resemblance to a military
Structure. 1t has been leased as a
skating rink and athletic hall for
more than year, and since the or.
Ganization Of the company has been
available for military purposes only
in a limited way.
It is sincerely to be hoped that as
soon as the present lease expires, or
March 10; the city: authorities will
lose no time in remodeling the ar
mory and placing il in condition FOR
military use. The company has used
funds supplied by the State in making
temporary repairs. but in its present
condition the building is plain in
vitation for thieves to break in and
Steal. Already two rohberies have
Occurred and have been duly report
ed to the police and to the Depart
ment of Justice, but no trace OF the
property has been found.
: In order to attract and hold the
intereft Of the members Of the com.
many the arn,orv. should be made an
attractive place, with some CLUB fea-
lures, ami IL Is primarily for this
purpose that the State. supplies a
small sum annually: The adjutant
general of Virginia has recently
written to the company commander
suggesting that: =
effort should be made to take
advantage Of the law which author
ICES the enrc ,iment Of 80 coftribut-
ing members at $500 each, and this
should appeal to the business men OF
Alexandria, both from a patriotic
point of view end as a business prop
osition, inasmcch as contributing
membership excmpts them from jury
duty"
The money derived from such con-
tributing membership would be at
the disposal Of the company without
any restrictions, and could be used to
supplement the repairs to be made
to the armory by the city. An ade-
.quatc heating plant should be in
stalled by the city, the only heat al
present comes from two stoves in
one end of the drill hall. Lockers are
required for tic men to store their
equipment, ard steel lockers should
be provided. Athletic equipment ard
shower baths and a reading room
could be installed and would appeal
TO the members.
Other cities in the State smaller
than Alexandria have come forward
and given both moral and financial
support to their National Guard conf