Evening star., 1925-10-11

business men In providing home for
the National Guard Of the District of
Columbia are being made by Maj.
Gen. Anton Stephan, commanding the
National Guard of the District of Co.
lumbia. The local Guard will have to
vacate its present quarters on June
80 next, but as yet no suitable quar-
ters have been found.
Writing to William T. Galliher, Gen
Stephan said
The National Guard of the Dis
trict Of Columbia has been advised
that the lease for our armory ad-
joining Convention Hall will not be
renewed on July 1. 1926. This means
that armory facilities will have to be
located elsewhere in the city. 1 have
caused an examination of the city to
be made and do not find any suitable
premises available for occupancy at
the rental which the National Guard
of the District OF Columbia can pay
as authorized in the District Of CO.
lumbia appropriation account.
Il am considering the possibility Of
interesting a group of business men
in this city, or a builder, in the prof.
ect of erecting a suitable armory for
the District Guard with the idea that
the premises would be occupied by
the Guard until such time as Congress
should make appropriation for an
armory for the organization.
Il will appreciate it very much If
you will consider this matter and give
me such advice in this connection as
you may desire and whether or not
you believe the plan to be feasible
and a paying proposition. The pres
ent appropriation for rental for an
armory and drill hall Is 81 900 and this
could possibly be increased to $500.
The present armory contains approx
imately 10000 feet of floor space eX-
elusive of the drill hall and covers
q plot approximately 140 feet by $50
feet.
Your past efforts in connection
with our endeavors to secure provision
by Congress for adequate armory IA
cilities are very much appreciated. and
/ hope will bear fruit during the COM
ing session of Congress. However, be-
ginning July l next. we must at least
have temporary quarters, and In the
event that an armory Is authorized by
Congress 1t probably will take five
years to complete 1t.
Gen. Stephan wrote also Harry
Wardman, explaining the local armory
situation, asking If he would consider
the matter of constructing building
to house the organization, with the
priations We're made for the support
of the Guard and until Congress might
authorize the erection of a suitable
armory building the premises would
be occupied by the Guard.
Samuel j. Prescott was written also
asking if he would be interested in
the possibility of erection of a build
ing for the Guard. II will deeply ap-
preciate it, he said to Mr.. Prescott.
dHyiG hot hav
or not you think such proposal Is fea-
sible and what character Of building
and how much floor space we should
expect to get with the funds which
we have available"
With the approach of Winter, with
no drill hall available for the National
Guard, and the possibility that they
will have to drill in the street, Gen.
Stephan has asked the Commissioners
for consideration Of a proposition of
allowing the Guard to use one of the
school halls. Writing to Cuno II.
Rudolph. president of the Board Of
District Commissioners, Gen. Stephan
said:
LAS I have previously advised you,
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia has been notified to vacate
its present armory on June 80, 1926.
us 10 d SulIdDlc
have failed thus far and / have Won
dered whether or not 1t would be fea-
sible to use the gymnasium or drill
hall in one Of our larger public schools
one or two nights a week during the
coming year for drill purposes, with
the idea that we might secure nearby
suitable buildings for storage and as
sembly purposes.
AT the present time we have no
1yin hoy Lob ~
courtesy are using the public streets
for drill purposes. The weather will
make this impracticable very shortly.
and If such a hall is available in any
of the District buildings it will be OF
very material assistance to our organi.
Zation. Your consideration of this re-
quest will be deeply appreciated"
In his plan to seek to have Con-
gress make some provision at the com.
ing session of Congress to provide ad-
equate armory for the local National
Guard, Gen. Stephan Is seeking the
aid Of the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict. He has written to Chairman
Rudolph of the Board Of Commis-
sioners as follows:
THE time has come when the Ma
tional Guard of the District ID deeply
in need of the aid and support of the
Commissioners in its endeavors to Sc
cure appropriations and authority
from Congress for an adequate ar
mory as future home for the organi-
zation. I recently visited Gen. Lord.
the budget officer, and requested his
recommendation for the passage of the
desired legislation and the inclusion
Of the necessary funds in the budget.