Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-28
SMALL ARMS PLANT.
That Seems to Be Assured at
Rock Island Arse
nal.
RESULT OF GEN. FLAGLERs VISIT.

to Be Greatly Increased Beyond n Doubt
Ordinance Chief Talks of His Plans
in Convincing way-Compliments Mai.
Blunt.
The prospects of a great increase
in the capacity of Rock Island arsenal
were never so bright as now. AS
predicted would be the case, the visit
of Gen. ID. w. Flagler, chief of ord
nance, to the arsenal the past week,
will prove highly advantageous in
bringing to the plant the opportuni
ties which have for many years been
sought in its behalf. The war with
Spain, as heretofore announced,
proved the convincing argument in
the arsenal's favor as capable of
meeting every requirement that
might be made for it and upon it.
Gen. Flagler knew this, and when he
came to the arsenal, which for so
many years had been his home and
the source of his just pride and best
hopes, he was more than gratified
over the manner in which the in
stitution had advanced its own
strongest argument. While neither
Gen. Flagler nor Maj. Blunt feels in
position now to discuss in detail the
future of the arsenal, it is believed
the result of their recent conference
at the arsenal will result in not only
many general but in many special i'm
provements. The long anticipated
small arms plant is understood to be
prominent among the new additions
to be made to the ordnance industry
here. While here Gen. Flagler mad e
a close inspection, with Maj. Blunt,
of all the shops in use as well as those
capable of being utilized, and he goes
back to Washington fully equipped
with all the information necessary to
back up his argument in the arsenal's
behalf.
Gen. Flagler Talks.
Apart from these surmises, which
are not based upon idle information,
Gen. Flagler said a few things to a
Leader reporter in Davenport yester-
day which are highly pertinent.
In response to query relative to
what had been accomplished here dur
ing the war he said: Il knew very
well what could be done here and was
greatly pleased with the fact that it
came up to my expectations. The
trouble, as you here well know, was
that the Rock Island arsenal was not
equipped for such an emergency.
When the emergency came, however,
it was equipped and put in shape with
great rapidIty, and the work accom-
plished was not only satisfactory in
the quantity turned out. but in quail
ity as well. / felt sure that it would
be so, and my expectations were re-
allied in every respect
Dalofiua tn ha fnti1Yo Of tho rSopal
he said:
My recommendations will be con-
tanned in my report, which will be
out in a few days, but do not mind
giving you some idea of what is pro-
posed. The needs of the arsenal here
have been most apparent to those in
touch with such matters, and it has
now become more apparent to the
public generally. At the present
time, as, 1 presume you know,
We are manufacturing field and
siege gun carriages. 1t is my
desire to increase this department to
two-and-a-half times its present Ca
pacity. For this purpose l desire to
have the machinery manufactured and
installed. The work at the arsenal in |
this department has necessarily been
slow when the amount of work that |
was needed on short notice is con-
sidered. The call was sudden, as it |
must be when the necessity arises for |
the supplying of a great army, and
the arsenal was not prepared to do the |
work. 1t is my desire to have it in
at all times to meet to a |
much greater degree the sudden de-
mands which it may be called upon |
to meet, in an event such as arose /
early in this year. have at all
times urged the necessity of equip
ping this arsenal, located 5 is almost /
in the center of the nation, and L
know well what it can do in the event /
that it is properly equipped. 1 have
also recommended in my report the /
of plant here for the
of small arms cartridge |
as well as for the manu-
facture of ammunition for field and
siege guns"
Praise for Maj. Blunt.
Gen. Flagler took occasion to speak
of Mai. Stanhope E. Blunt. command
ant at the post, in flattering words.
other things he said. The
work of Maj. Blunt during the past
few months has been very satisfactory.
1t was not a surprise to me. 1 knew
what he could do when put him
here. His removal to this arsenal
was not made without sacrifice, but /
felt that he was the man for the
place His training in the past has
peculiarly fitted him to take charge of
the line of work being done here, and
l placed him here feeling that in his
hands the greatest good would result
| think my position in this matter has
been fully demonstrated.
Il have many friends here. and