Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-06

Col. j NJ. Whittemore, the new COM
msndsnt at Rock Island arsenal, finds as
responsive chord in the breasts of our
national legislators as they do with the
citizens OF the tri cities, it may be de-
pended upon that there will be consid.
cradle Increase in the industrial force on
the island of the near future. For years
affairs At the arsenal have been conducted
in lethargic sort of way. necessitated.
OF course. by the mesgreness of the
appropriations, and very few of the
numerous fine shops have been util-
lied for manufacturing purposes
From his remarks before the meet
ing a. the Harper house Saturday
afternoon. it was evident to all those
present that Col. Whiitemore proposes TO
reiuvenate and inject new life in arsenal
affairs here. if he can secure the coopera-
ton Of the ordnance department. He
had drawn plans and specifications which
will be submitted to headquarters. and
which declare that Rock Island arsenal is
probably the most suitable place in the
United States for the location of gun
factory His idea is to utilize the idle
shops 10 some manner and he thinks a
plant for the manufacture of heavy guns
the proper incentive in that direction.
The statement made in the ARGUS
couple of weeks ago that Col. Whitte>
more was the inventor and protector of
the new American gun which had Just
been satisfactorily tested in the east.
aroused local interest in the gun that
centralized in meeting of representative
citizens Saturday afternoon to discuss the
feasibility of urging an appropriation
from congress for the manufacture of the
gun here. To better comprehend the de
tails and scope of the essential prelim-
inaries for manufacturing, Col White
more had been invited to diffuse a little
light ON the subject. This he readily
consented to do, and when he stepped
into the parlors of tie Harper house he
found quite an audience present to re-
ceive HIM, the following gentlemen being
present:
Rock Islsnd-Morris Rosenfield, DR..
@. G. Craig. Capt. T j. Robinson, H. B.
Sudlo1. Mayor McConochie, Fred Hass,
A. Z. Dart, Oliver Olsen, Fred Denk>
mann, Henry Carse, Col. Henry Curtis,
J. NJ. Buford. S. W. McMaster. Maj H.
G. Con nelly, WIN. Jackson. J. J Reimers,
E p. Reynolds. E. E Parmenter, s. s
Kemble, Phil Mitchell, C. F. Lynde. Prof.
j. ii. seuthwell, Frank Nader, G. A.
Rose, DIR. J. w. Stewart and others.
nport-Chsrles Beiderbecke, S.
P. Bryant, Judge French, Geo. W. Ca
BILE, Henry fischer. Geo. W. French, s.
F. Smith. j. s. Wylie, Henry E. Peter
sen, A Burdick.
Moline-S. s. Davis, s. II. Velie, John
W. Good, VIM. Kerns.
Ex-sIayor Henry Carse called the
meeting to order. and j. S. Wylie, of
Davenport. was called to the chair. and
S. S. Davis. of Moline, made secretary.
Upon invitation, Col Whittemore ex.
planned at considerable length the neces-
sary requirements for equipping a factory
such as he had conceived with a capacity
Of eighteen 12-inch guns per annum.
The factory at Wstervliet arsenal, West
Troy, \. Y, was established during his
there, which he stated was
The only plant in existence in this coun-
Try for the manufacture of these heavy
guns. These were 1000 of these guns
required, and if Watervliet alone was ex~
pected 20 supply the demand, it would
AXE one hundred years to do it, He
'ery rightly conjectured that it would be
more preferable for the government to
select two or even three arsenals to do
the work than depend upon one. If our
sea coasts required protection at all it
would De good public policy to equip
them a. quickly as possible, and one hum
ired years was a long while to wait.
Col. Wnittemore said the water power at
.be Rock Island arsenal was strong
point N favor of any extended work
here. al it was far superior to any other
Arsenal, and II freight rates were anything
near equal, there would be large pre-.
of argument on Rock Is
and's side for cheapness and rapidity of
None of the present build
ngs a. the arsenal were properly con-
;tructed for the work, but alterations
could be made without any great expense,
they would be thoroughly suit.
able. In connection with the power
question. Col. Whittemore said lie had
been carefully celebrating as to whether
would not be less expensive
and more satisfactory than the shafting
system and that he had arrived at an af,
firmatiye conclusion. 1t was also his in
tention to illum mate the island by cleo
.ricity. and relieve the Egyptian dark
ness which finds its abiding place there.
After Col. Whittemore had de,
ivered himself of all the informs
ion desired remarks. were made By Capt. |
T. j. r obinson, Maj H. C. Connolly. A.
G. Dar., VIM. Jackson, Phil Mitchell,
Oliver Olsen. Henry Carse and others.
looking to the adoption of preliminary
steps with view of presenting the i'm
portant matter before our senators and
This was done by the
adoption of motion by Maj. Connolly
hat committee of nine be appointed.
three from each of the business associa-