The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-30

tkese armories viii be principally stone and |
iron-wood only being used for flooring, |
doors and sash. All the girders, beams, Pill |
lars, staircases, etc., will be iron-and the
walls will be of either Nauvoo or Joliet stone,
cut to dimensions, rough face ana 1ove
edges. The facade, or front win present
very imposing appearance, and the stfaignt
line of the wing walls viii be broken fw1ce,
or jutted out I'd admit of staircase rogm IN
side. g. y,
have been tested. We believe the Leeiaare
| stona hos been ruled out, and that either the
Wo'',,ao or Joliet stone will have the prefer
anoa These buildings are designed to stand
Coz AGES. consequently none but the very
hest. and most enduring material the country
| Affords will enter into this construction. The
ceiling of each story will be composed of
| numerous brick arches, resting upon wrought
irens beams, and the roofs Of iron severed
/ with slate.
| According to the full plan there are to be
| ten of these buildings, which, with the inter
| vening streets, will cover space of more
| than thirty acres. But for the present only
two have been ordered to be built. The
work thereon will be vigorously commenced
about the first of July, and all the help that
| can be used to advantage win be employed
thereon - probably from five hundred to
eight hundred mechanics and laborers. The
RESERVATIONS were commenced last fall FOR
one of the buildings. -
At the machine shops we found pretty
fair force of men engaged upon various kinds
of work in wood and iron. This department
is under the, supervisory control OF Master
Armorer Fleming, whose assistants are Mr..
Boyington Master Machinist; John Chan
non, Master Carpenter Chief Engineer Tai
bot, and Mr. Hilton, Machinist. The iron
machine department is well stocked with plan
ers, bolt cutters, drill press, index drlil ma
chine, slotting machines and lathes-al o
lthe latest and most approved style, and prin
: cipaily from the mandatory of VIM. Sci
lers & Co., Philadelphia. The large plane
is about 40 feet in length-oapable of plan
ing piece of iron 81 feet long and fee
, square 1t is the largest machine of tn
, kind west of New York.
, The woodworking department Is also sur
piled with ample machinery. Under TIN
> shou is an immense dry room where an
i quantity of lumber can be made absolutel
t dry in q short time by means of sewers
3 thousand feet of steam pipe that IS cole
: | about under the piles of boards. The forge
Is are all blown by air supplied by huge far
e forcing current through pipes leading INT
Y the blacksmith shops. All this machinery
- run by ninety-horse power engine, whlc
is model of excellence and power.
J, At the Arsenal at the lower end of the i
s. land we found Master-mason Lloyd an
il Master-carpenter Downs, pushing their won
forward to completion as fast as possible
:, They think the building win be inishe
81 within the next ninety days. The tower hi
a. to travel up some forty feet further yet, whit
tie is slow job. By the way, this tower is
er be of use to our citizens, for it Ia to be de
grated with an immense clock, the dials
x which will be twelve feet in diameter, al
as the hands sufficiently large to enable i
= people of our city to see the time of d.
- without drawing their-watches. A bell of 81
ficient strength of voice to be heard +
ng miles around should and probably will attel
as the clock. -
~. Thus twill be perceived that immen
labors are to be performed upon the lsla
III this year, and we hope to see 1t progrt
ay from year to year under its present eficie
management until that magnificent spot
~. earth shall become what it deserves to be
the great armory of the nation. Alrea
has it undergone wonderful change;
as vet it has reached but its first and fai
ew est touches.-Dar. Dem.
la |