Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-08
GEN. FLAoLeR's REPORT.

Ria Recommendations ~ Co Rock Ielsnd
Arsensl.
Gen. ID. W. Flsgler, chief Of ord.
nance, U. s. A., has completed his re-
port to the secretary Of war. It
deals with the various arseuals,
showing what has been done during
the year, and contains recommen-
dstions rs to what is needed for
their future maintenance and i'm.
provement.
Gen. Tlsgler gives 0 thorough and
comprehensive review Of the work at
Rock Island arsenal. He speaks OF
the water power and the trouble at
the tail race. Moline, which IL being
remedied now; says the Rock Island
and Moline bridges have been re-
painted, and suggests that some
minor details OF the draw mechanism
Of the Rock Island bridge may have
to be strengthened or further ad.
justed, but work will not be neces-
sary before the close OF navigation.
Gen. Flagler says the painting will
have to be renewed, and the wagon
bridge replSnked. He also recon-.
mends repairs to the arsenal railroad.
Referring to new buildings, Gen.
Flsgler states:
The buildings which have been
used for many years as post hospital
and upper and lower stables are old
frame structures. originally erected
as temporary barracks during the
civil war, about s. years ago, when
the island was occupied as a post for
prisoners OF war. They are all. os-
peciaily the former, unfit for the
purposes to which they are now put.
Il Is almost cruelty to patient to
send him for treatment to such q
building. the like Of which probably
does not exist st any other military
post. The inspector-general Of that
district, in bis report OF a recent In
spection Of the post. states: The
hospital is an old frame building.
utterly unfit for hospital purposes
and not worth repairing Estimates
have been repeatedly submitted,
and they are again included this
year. During the fiscal year the in
fadtry equipments. cavalry accouter-
ment. horse equipments. material
for target practice, artillery har.
ness. field and siege carriages, Gals.
sons. projectiles and many other ar.
ticles required by the army. colleges
and militia have been made direct
from this arsenal. The construction
Of the field and siege carriages with
their limbers, caissons and battery
wagons and FORCES, has also been
pushed at this arsenal to the extent
that the limited plant available for
this work would permit. for the &C.
cumulation of the reserve of tho car
riages that will be required for i'm
mediate issue in case Of emergency.
Economy indicates the advantage
OF manufacturing all our field and
siege carriages at the arsenal. Am
pie and most excellent shops were
completed many years ago for this
purpose and arc available. Shop G
was especially designed for this
work. The limited plant which has
been accumulated for this work was
installed in Shop c and the general
machine shop, which occupies two
stories Of one wing Of this building.
1t is totally Inadequate for produc-
ing carriages as fast as 1t is neces.
sary. and has seriously crowded and
interfered with the other manufac-
lures carried on in this shop. The
installation Of this machinery in
Shop G has therefore been COM
menced. 1t is very desirable that
o sufficient plant should be
installed for the production per IN.
mum Of about $50 field carriages, 225
caissons, % battery wagons and
FORCES, and about sc siege carriages,
with their limbers. This is the low
est rate of production that will pro-
vide the supply of carriages that
would be absolutely necessary for
immediate Issue in case Of emer-
gency, aud common prudence die
tates that this plant should DO at
least provided. In installing the
plant the work must be SO done that
the plant can be quickly extended in
time OF war to occupy the whole
three acres Of available shop floor in
this shop. An estimate Of $28, 900 is
included in she annual estimate this
year for this plant. The work is of
such extreme Importance that pru-
dence makes It almost imperative. ="
In referring to the reconstruction
OF tho Rock Island bridge, Gen Flag
Ter says that for q structure Of its
kind. the expense will compare ia
vorably with the cost Of any bridge
OF like character now existing.