Evening star., 1936-03-08
- UARD ofhcials are hopeful that
their request Of the Works
Progress Administration for
- an ALLEGATION of A. $50. 600 for

Progress Administration for
an ALLEGATION Of $2,250, 900 for
the construction of armories here for
the proper housing of the training
activities Of the local militia will re-
ceive favorable and prompt considera-
ton. The proposal was submitted to
the Federal body through the District
Of Columbia officials.
It was explained that the funds
sought from the Federal body will be
used entirely for construction purposes,
and incidentals thereto, such as plans.
etc. The matter of a site or sites for
the two structures will have to be
provided with other funds or by desig-
nation by Congress of some land at
present owned by the District or Fed
eral Governments.
Plans are being formulated now to
seek legislation Of Congress for the
designation of a governmentally-
owned site or to provide sufficient
funds for the purchase of two sites.
One of the cites would be used for the
construction of building to house the
two largest outfits here, the 12lst
Regiment of Engineers and the 260th
Regiment Of Coast Artillery, together
with the 29th Division troops allocated
to the District of Columbia. The other
site would be for the 1st Battalion,
272d Infantry, the colored contingent.
While a battalion Of these troops has
been allocated to the District under
the tables Of organization. however up
to the present funds have been pro-
vided for the organization of only one
company.
Under the plan as submitted $2,000,-
600 is proposed for the armory for the
larger units, 100000 for the armory
for the colored troops and $4,000 for
the incidental expenses, such as plans,
etc.
The Guard officials have not select
ed any particular site. In fact, they
are primarily interested in getting the
armory building and will leave the
matter of location to those best fitted
to select it. 1t was pointed out that the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission has indicated that the
armory should be located in the east
ern end of the city on the banks of the
Anacostia River, adjacent to the pro-
posed national stadium. The proposed
site for this is on the west bank of the
AnacoStia River at the eastern ter
minus of East Capitol street. Tenta-
tive plans drawn some months ago
were designed with the idea of using
such a site, but the Park and Planning
Commission rejected the proposal at
that time. Furthermore, the National
Parks Office decided that it did not
have authority to designate Govern
ment site for the armory, and for that
reason Congress will have to author
ize the land for the purpose, or provide
funds with which to purchase land now
privately owned.
However, the officials are hoping that
the funds will be allocated, and that
the matter Of site will be left to Con-
gress. In presentation Of the project
to the Works Progress Administration
the Guard proposal is entirely divorced
from the proposal to erect municipal
stadium.
If the funds, as requested, are au-
thorized, the $50,000 can be used i'm
mediately for the preparation Of plans,
and it is hoped by that time that Con-
gress will have made provision for a
site. Then the entire project can be
pushed to completion.
The conditions in the present build
ings used as armories are constantly
getting worse. The buildings are in
need of repair, particularly to protect
the thousands of dollars worth of Gov
ernment property. The building used
by the Coast Artillery regiment was
formerly used as an armory for the
Naval Militia when that organization
was a part of the National Guard It
is located on the Washington Channel
water front and it was said that in
heavy rains the roof leaks badly, con-
stantly jeopardizing the property stored
in the building. The heating plant is
also said to be in such poor condition
that the structure cannot be properly
heated during the Winter months
"HcA lie tioopS oIc lequHcu W Ol III
INDOORS. Other units, including the
l2lst Regiment Of Engineers and the
divisional special troops, do not have
a satisfactory drill hall and their train
ing during the Winter months is con-
fined principally to class room instruc-
tion in quarters wholly inadequate for
the purpoC. This building is the old
National Hotel, at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue.
Even If the funds for the construc-