The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-31
HIS LAST YEARS WORK.
What Has Been Done by Col. FlSgler
During the Close Of his Arsenal
Service.

The Davenport Democrat publishes an
review of the last years oper
atoms at the arsenal under Col. Flagler's
the last fifteen years Of SER
vice as commandant at the post 1t is
as follows;
On the 30th day of June, 1885, Col.
Flagler reported to the government his
operations ending on that day. Shop H.
IRON finishing shop for the armory, which
was commenced in August, 1873, had
been rooted and completed; and the COM
pletion included down spouts of the cols
onels own invention, which prevented
the spouts filling with ice and the water
backing up under the stating and freez-
ing ON the inside of the building Shop
K. finishing and stocking shop for the
armory. which was commenced in 1881,
and the last of the shops in the plans for
both the armory and arsenal, had
progressed to the finishing of the walls
to the second story. The walls of store
house A, commenced in April 'S3, were
completed, and massive retaining walls
for the wagon ramps leading to the
basement were built. The roof was put
on. There was q construction of $50
feet of sewer, a strong gutter and side
walk along the south side of Main ave-
nue. to the west end of the island. new
4.lnch oak floor was laid on the bridge to
Rock Island city, the construction of a
10000 gallon iron tank under the roof
peak of shop c. with the necessary
pumps, pipes, water gates, and hose, for
the better interior fire protection of the
building aud shop E. This is the plan
recommended by the colonel for the bet
ter protection of each shop. A large
amount of work was done in the water
power pool. Five thousand marksmens
pins, 1900 sharpshooters' badges, 5000
skirmish targets, 1900 of steel and man
shape, 1900 skirmish target cloths, and
"a, 600 skirmish paper targets. were man.
ufactured. This. beside large amount
Of general work on the island.
The past years operatiOns-workf in-
ished by Col. Flagler since June, 1886
leaves the work in the following condi-
ton:
Storehouse A was entirely finished in
November, 1885, and all the grounds,
railroads, roads, etc, in its vicinity
everything ready for instant use. This
storehouse is a model for three more
storehouses, B, and X, to be located 10
the rear of the shops so lettered, two OF
which he hoped to begin in July next.
The ornamental lake was entirely fin
isned in the fall of 1885. The colonel
named it Willow Lake" because willows
have been so planted as to make them a
mas, of foliage, covering the banks
everywhere. except where lawns run back
to the walks and other shrubbcry.
The lumber storehouse, with railroads
and roads. was finished early this spring,
and lumber stacked in it. 1t cost S12,-
600. 1t is model for one more lum-
Der storehouse, and two artillery store
houses. which is hoped would be
finished this year and next.
Shop X is the only incomplete shop in
the whole plan for the arsenal and
armory. The colonel leaves it with all
the materials on hand for completing it
the stone all cut, ready for finishing the
walls; the roofs, windows and stairs
partly made, and everything on hand
ready for finishing, except lime and
stucco.
There was hard work for it many years
before an appropriation was secured for
the fire-proof building for officers. Il
was commenced last year; it is only about
half built, but all the materials are on
hand to finish it, the last stone cut and
carved ready for setting, and every min.
utest detail fixed for furnishing every
part; fire proof floors, doors (metal)
vaults, and record rooms, heating, venti-
lation, plumbing, drainage, lighting, etc
During the year Colonel Flagler ha.
manufactured and purchased large
quantity of new machinery for increasing
the manufactures at the arsenal, and for
weeks has been engaged in receiving and
setting up machines. He has built foul
new pattern water wheels, with all theil
plant Of shafling. fixtures, pensto ks, ant
expected to set them during low watel
next fall. This would have given eigh
wheels in all; enough to start the grea
permanent transmission at which Colone
Flagler has labored for thirteen years
He had intended 10 commence this trans
mission machinery next winter.
The last work of the colonel was In,
building of the battery near the south ent
of West avenue, which he has named
Battery Hancock" after his old friend
the lamented General Hancock. The es
! Inmates for next year, commencing july
LIST next, and ending June 30, 1887, al
recommended by Colonel Fiagler and in
corporated in the appropriation bill now
before congress are as follows:
For shop K, $35, 900.
For commencing storehouse /, 10 bt
located in rear of shop l, $65 200.
For commencing storehouse X, to be
located in the rear of shop X, $65, 600
For brick artillery storehouse, 52 fee
by ga feet, $4,000.
For one block of officers quarters
stone, $4,000 The block will consist o.
two resideuces-one facing east on Eas
avenue, and the other facing north OF
Terrace road.
For machinery and shop fixtures, $40.
1000.
For general improvements, care of tn,
property, ETC.. $26, 900.
Thus the estimates fer the carrying
forward of the work on the Island fOl
the year ending June 80, 1885, as recon-
mended BY Col Flagler, calls for a tota
appropriation of $250,000.