Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-28


ton OF that body calling for report on the
present condition of the government
works at Rock Island and the views OF
the secretary as to the propriety. econo-
my and desirability of utilizing these
works as gun factory for finishing and
assembling heavy ordnance. Incorporat-
ed in the answer to the resolution are the
opinions Of Col Whittemore, command.
ant at the arsenal, who. as all know. Is
favorable 20 the project and that OF Gen.
Benet, who was of the opinion that the
distance OF Rock Island from the present
sources OF supply Of forgipgs and from
proving ground at which guns can be
proved before their issue, and from the
sea coast where guns must be mounted.
rendered is location unfavorable TO the
establishment of q gun factory. Secre>
tary Proctor says In his letter transmit,
ted:
without approving or disappearing
plan submitted. in my view the arsenal
at Water,liet should be first completed
according to the original plan. and ap,
propriatlon made for mounting guns al
ready authorized by law. There is
needed place for mounting these guns
and also & place for the manufacture of
larger guns. 1t is quite probable that II
will be desirable to manufacture some of
them at Rock Island and Watervlet ar
senal. and IL may be that provisions will
be made for heavy guns. so that some of
these can be assembled at Rock Island.
That il An excellent location with good
light and power. am in favor of es-
tablishing some branch for their manu-
ordnance and field material that will be
required. But it is impossible now to
decide what will be required and what
work can be done there TO the best ad-
vantage, and / think it is the part of
wisdom and prudence to complete the
work in hand and defer beginning the
msnufac ure at Rock Island until we can
judge be ter what will be required"
Todays Chicago Tribune contains q
column of special correspondence rels-
tive to tie gun factory project under the
heads Of mo Western Gun Factory
Manufacture of Cannon at Rock Island
Lacks Endorsement-Judge Costs Plan
Does moi Meet with the Full Approval of
the Secretary of War" The Tribune
article. after containing the substance of
Col. Whittemore's recommendations and
his plans for utilizing the shops now on
the island. goes on to say:
Col Whittemore says the establish
ment of gun plant at the Rock Island
arsenal would unite the interests of the
Mississippi Valley with those of the sea.
coast. AS TO the possibilities of obtain
ing the rough tempered and annealed
forgiDgs in that vicinity. he says that they
can be purchased at no greater distance
than Chicago and al other places in the
west large works are in process of con-
s,ruction. He Gays he is Informed that
the Chicago Steel works. with capital
of $40, DOC, 600. are to erect a Martini
Siemens plant TO cost "a, 000, 900. and are
competing successfully with the most
prominent Pittsburg firms In the produc
ton Of iron and steel. Iron ore of the
best quality can be obtained from the
Lake 81 perior mines. which ship ore In
large quantities to the iron msnufactur-
ing ceniers In other states.
chief OF ordnance, says the grounds at
Rock Island embrace the whole island.
which contains e70 acres. and lies ada
cent to the cities of Moline and Rock ISL
and, Ill and Davenport, la 1t Is Access
sible to the railroads entering Rock ISL
and Davenport. but the depth of water In
the Mississippi at that place is not sufh
Gent ard the channel too uncertain for
the transportation of heavy guns. The
worksh Dps are two stories high with base
ments, the first floor being about ten feet
from the ground. and they were not de-
signed ior heavy gun work. The distance
Of Rock Island from the seaboard, from
the ordnance proving ground, and from
the source of supply for such manufac-
lures does not commend 1t as the most
suitsbls place for the establishment Of 3
gun factory. The department 10 engaged
In the erection Of gun factory at Wa
tervliet arsenal in accordance with recent
legislation, and appropriations have
been made By congress for the
purpose. Should its capacity prove
insufficient for the public needs
Il could either be enlarged. or per.
haps part of the work be given out by
private contract This would be In the
direct inc Of economical and efficient ad-
minis,ration and production.
In smother letter addressed to the Sec
rotary OF war, under date of Feb. 81,
Gen. Benet says: The total floor space
In shop E, recommended for adaptation
to the manufacture of guns. is about 30
per cent less than that of the present
north wing of the army gun factory at
WateIvliet. The number of large MAJ
chine tools needed for the equipment of
the shop Is about the same ss required
for the north wing of the army gun fac
tory, ior which the estimated output Ia
equivalent to about fifteen twelve>inch
guns Der annum 1t thus appears that
the et timated output of the thirty to thir-
" 1--we twelve,inch guns per annum for
shop Z Is at least 100 per cent too large.
The cost of the necessary machinery
for ar. outfit of fifteen twelve inch guns
per anpum would be not less than $780,,
600. and would require at least three
years for its delivery. As at present con-
struc ed the narrow windows OF shop L
and the proximity Of the much higher
build inQs on either side cut of the supply
OF ight necessary for the fine machine
work required In gun manufacture. The
dista nee of Rock Island from the source
of su pply of forgings. from proving
ground, aud from the seacoast where the
guns must be mounted. render Its locs-
ton unfavorable for the establishment OF
/ r--.z-- nla Msao{ootrpt rivap In