Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-19

also made general repairs. All the
other arsenals are used as depots Of
deposits. receipts and the issue of
stores.
The history of Kennebec arsenal
dates from the beginning of the wear
1871. On the 10th of January bill
from the committee on military affairs
to establish the arsenal att Augusta
was reported to the Senate by Senator
w. ii. Harrison. afterward President
of the United States. The bill became
law on March Sd, the same wear. The
act required the secretary of war to
purchase, as soon as it could be
effected, on reasonable terms. a site for
an arsenal, in the town of Augusta, in
the State of Maine, and to cause to be
erected such an arsenal as should be
deemed proper for the safe keeping of
the arms and munitions of the United
States. for the northern and eastern
frontier
80 q NAAN, Ao.', thC sCtiSldIy VI Wal
sent Major Talcott of the United States
Engineers to Augusta to make surveys
with a view to selecting a site Major
Talcott made several surveys on each
side of the river, but finally chose the
location on the east side, on account Of
the combination of the greatest advan-
tages. In September of the same year
proposals for materials of construction
were issued. under the direction of
Lieutenant j. Hills.
From estimates furnished by Colonel
George Bomford of the ordnance de-
partment the sum of $4,000 was APP
propriated for the erection of a small
depot for military stores, to be sup
a more thorough study of the matter,
and when it was considered that the
two posts were some 200 miles apart.
and that in case of war water COM
muncation between them was very
liable to be cut off by an enemy, it was
decided that larger and stronger post
should be established, and accordingly,
on February 90 1928, Colonel Bomford
reported that part of the country so
seat of war; required that an arsenal
should be established upon such a scale
as would be adequate to furnish the
military supplies for it's defence, and
recommended suitable buildings of
proper dimensions, adapted to the
various purposes of an arsenal of large
size, such as would be requisite for
fabricating military supplies. The
wisdom of the recommendation was
recognized, and an additional appropri-
alton of $50, 900 was made for the pur-
pose.
Work was begun early in the spring.
and June 18th the corner stone of the
main building was laid. AS the work
/ went on it was found that more money
would be needed, and on March q, 1879,
| another appropriation of S45o0o was
| made, making total appropriation Of
$50 900 since the first bill for the estab-
lisbment of the arsenal was reported.
Fifteen buildings We're then erected, IL
of them being constructed of unham-
mered granite, and built in a very sub
stantial manner.
The lot secured contained 40 acres,
| and was enclosed by a heavy IRON
fence eight feet high. set on founda-
ton of granite deeply embedded. A
heavy bank wall was built along the
river front. with a wharf of granite, at
which vessels of average draft could
lay at any time.
In addition to the original appropria-
tions. large sums of money were ex-
handed from time to time, for erecting
the buildings, grading, and placing the
post in a completed condition.
The main building is 12oxS7, three
storied. and has a large basement. IL
is situated As feet above low water
mark. and is 211 feet from the kenne-
bee river. In the first story 264O boxes
of rifles can be stored; second Story
1916. and in the third PIP.
Two magazines were constructed a
large and small one, with capacity
for 1900 barrels of powder.
Other buildings erected at the time
the arsenal was established are
storehouse SOx3O, two-storied; officers
small o,1arters, barracks, quarters for
the commanding officer, stable black
smith shop, armorers' shops, wheel
wrights' shops, etc.
June 10. 1856, the land and buildings
were valued at $155, 154 and the military
stores at 1894, $50 Among the latter
,,,are "a 313 muskets. 1,936,30O pounds of
,,usket nowder, and $4,000 pounds of
cannon powder, besides projectiles and
cannon.
During the Rebellion, as large guam
titles of ammunition were made at the