Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-10-25
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL.


BY an Array OAcer.
The Omaha World Herald speaking
of the equipment Of Uncle Sans
army with new magazine rifles, at
tributes the appended remarks to
ian officer 1t army headquarters, :"
and the circumstances point very
strongly to that officer being the
popular Lieut.. J. T. Thompson, late
of Rock Island arsenal:
Considering the time required, at
the Springfield, Mass, armory rate
of %, 900 new model magazine rifles
per annum, to manufacture the arms
for immediate use of $4,000 regular
and 100000 national guardsmen and
for reserve supply for at least $780,
600 citizen volunteers, the necessity
for utilizing the immense arsenal and
armory of the Mississippi valley at
Rock Island, ILL.,, becomes apparent.
Here the government possesses q
beautiful island of 1000 acres in the
middle of the Mississippi river, upon
which over SIC, 200, 600 in permanent
Improvements have been spent since
'63. The last war proved the need
of such an arsenal and armory for
arming and equipping the troops OF
the Mississippi valley. Gen. Thomas
j. Rodman, ordnance department,
the noted artillery engineer and ord.
nance scientist, was assigned the
duty of beginning the arsenal, which
upon his death, was carried to a sue.
cessful completion, after long and
brilliant work, by Col. ID. W. Flag.
Ter, now brigadier general and CHIEF
of ordnance United States army.
The Plant.
1.-The plant consists of 10 i'm.
mense fire proof stone shops, with 8
water power of 5000 horse power
and the necessary store houses, mag
azines, laboratories BARRACKS ant
quarters. Three bridges connect the
island with the adjacent tri-cities O
Davenport, Moline and Rock Island.
Five of the large shops are intended
as an arsenal for the construction O
ordnance and ordnance stores, anc
the other five shops for an armory
for the manufacture of small arms,
such as rifles and carbines. Tn,
armory and arsenal are built on ,
war basis, and, when in working
order, would turn out per day thu
armament and equipment complies
for a regiment of infantry and cav
airy of 1000 men. For this purpos,
10000 workmen would be required
In Times of Peace.
During peace times, however
only a few of the shops are run, EN-
bracing machine, carpenter an,
leather shops, blacksmith shop an,
foundry, employing about five hun
dred men. with pay roll of nearl,
$50, 900 per month. The administers
ton of the government shops at al
of the arsenals is excellent. and tn
relations between employer and EN-
ployed would form a model for man,
manufacturing institutions of tn,
present day. Steady work, will
short but easy hours per day, goo,
wages, just treatment, clean and air,
shops with proper conveniences-al
make the workmen contented an,
prosperous. Strikes and other labo
troubles are unknown.
''At present the Rock Island al
senal is engaged in supplying tn
equipments for the army, Nations
guard and military colleges, and ais
machine. field and siege gun an
howitzer carriages, being the arm
small gun carriage factory. Colone
A. r. Burlington, ordnance depart
ment. commanding. was for over tel
years in command of the Springfield
armory, and is a well-known in
ventor and expert on all question
relating to small arms. With in
creased manufacturing and transpol
tation facilities, small arms could b
! economically manufactured in tn
west as well as in the east, thu
affording employment to many skill
full mechanics now idle. For thi
purpose but a small congressional az
, preparation would be necessary"