Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-04
AT THE ARSENAL.
Report Of Chief Of Ordnance
Flagler.
MAKES SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.

Speaks of tho New Bridge AMI Water
Power. and Advis-s Addise - the Ne
chsescsi Department for the Msnefscsure
Of Artillery.
In his annual report to the war de.
partment Gen. d. w. Flsgler, chief
of ordnance, makes extensive refer
ence to Rock Island arsenal-in which
he has always taken a personal inter-
est since he was commsndant here
speaking OF the additions TO the me-
chsnical department made there dur
ing the year. and of the completion
of the new bridge. He also speass
of the increase of the water supply
system, and the Improvement Of the
dikes about the island, and says fur
Their:
1.-The work 70 be carried on in the
various departments at the arsenal
included the completion Of 30 81
inch field gun carriages, with their
iimbers complete. 90 5-inch siege gun
csrrisges, and IL finch howi,ze.
| carriages.
The receipts at this post from the
army. with smaller lots from the
militia sud sundry persons, consisted
of $50 lots, weighing about $50. 900
pounds, and the issue principally to
the army amounted to 1884 lots, ag-
gregating in weight 1,S00, 600
| pounds.
THE arsensl designed for the
manufacture Of the carriage. nipple.
ments and harness for 10th fed aud
siege artillery, is the Ro,k Island
arsenal. II is the one that is best
lifted for this work. All OF these
carriages are OF steel and are Of new
types. and the require nents admit
of only the highest excellence in the
character Of work that it is possible
to obtain. No special appropriation
for the plant for these msnufactnres
has been made and the only proyis-
ion is that OF the machine shop.
forging shop and foundry. which
were fitted up with the plant ne .es-
sary for the economical erection of
the arsenal. and the . .di.ion Of few
machines OF special importance that
could oe added with funds available
for the work from time to time.
This provision il not the very best
for convenient and economical work.
and even when crowded unduly its
utmost limit Of capacity is the pro-
duction OF about fifty field steel car.
riages and Iimbers. Sd caissons aud
linn bers, eight combined battery
wagons and FORCES, aud 90 siege car
riages and limbers per annum.
| Double the Outp1t.
"The arsenal shop specially design
ed for the manufacture Of these car.
risges is the shop east Of and ai-
j4cent to the forging shop (known MS
shop G). 1t is proposed to insIill
power, heating aud lighting in this
shop, and ut the present tim. enough
machines to rather more tean double
the capacity or output pr annum,
and TO arrange for more economical
aud convenient work. The plans en-
brace also the installation in the al
jacent wing OF the forging shop
shop ~ the necessary increase Of
forging plant, which constitutes q
large and important part of thi.
work Al estimate o. S75 SIS for
this purpose Is included in nv an
nual estimates for this year. and. az
is indicated by what has been stated.
the introduction OF this plant is
deemed OF the utmost importance TO
our military establi-hm
1.-The plans contempllie the ulti'
mate addition TO this plant of all the
machines that the shop & mentioned
can accommodate, for use in times
Of emergency. and il is believed that
the shop has sufficient. capacity wher
so utilized, in connection with such
work as could still ne performed 10
the general machine shop. 20 make
the annual output about go field
csrrisges, 500 caissons, 30 combined
battery wagons and forCes. 80 trsvel
ing carriages and limbsrs FOR the
5-inch siege gun, 80 carriages and
lin bers for the finch siege hogi,zer
and 30 carriages for the finch siege
mortar per anuum."
. The general also speaks OF the
work on the new Rock Island bridge
the water power ct Moline, etc.
Capt. Russsii's Magszias Pistol.
Capt. Russell, OF Rock Island arse
nal, is greatly interested in a ne~
magazine pistol. which he hes jus
received from Germany. IL delivers
shots a good deal like n revolver
save that the recoil Of the shot thai
Is fired elects the empty shell and
places the next ore ~ position foI
: nring. thus making IL an easier arm
. to operate than the revolver. Capt
Russell IL going 10 make series d
tests Of the weapon at the arsenal.