Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-22

| Armory-A Large establishments Pro-
posed-Other Recommendation.
The recommendations to congress
for appropriations for Rock Island ar
senal have been heretofore referred TO
in THE ARGUS, but the annual report of
Gen. A. X. Burlington, chief of ord
nance, treats the subject more in de-
tail, and contains much of interest to
the people of the three cities, and in
cicates that the prospects are daily
growing brighter for Rock Island
arsenal. the capacity and Importance
of which are being gradually recog-
nized by the government.
Under the general head, ''Rock ISL
and Arsenal" Gen. Burlington speaks
of the great increase of work and the
increase in importance of the arsenal
on account of work performed there.
As a consequence of this increase he
recommends additional quarters for
officers at the arsenal. Two sets of
officers quarters are asked for and
estimates furnished. The chief of
ordnance calls the attention of the
department. W Iut COuultlOH VI tHC
buildings at the arsenal, many of
which he declares to be unfit for
further USE He asks improvements
in this particular. Such points as
railroads and bridges. electric light
ing and fire alarms. arsenal water
power, field and siege carriage con-
struction, arsenal output and working
force" are discussed at length.
For the Small Arms Plant.
Discussing the proposed small arms
plant. Gen. Burlington says. following
out the facts dwelt upon in Command
ant Blunt's report:
Under the appropriation of $780,
600, made by congress during the past
year for this purpose. plans have been
drawn up in preparation for the work
and careful examination has been
made of the plant at Springfield ar
mory, which is capable of an output
of 200 rifles per S-hour day. The
three shops, b, ID and F, to be devoted
TO this purpose, will permit the es-
tablishment of plant of, perhaps,
| the same capacity as the shops now
being utilized ut the Springfield ar
| mory.
The first essential in the establish
| ment of Il manufacturing plant after
the necessary buildings are provided,
as in the case under consideration, is
proper provision for the development
of the power to run the machines to
| be installed. The arsenal water pow
er is sufficient for the purpose, but
| only a small part of it now is utilized,
and of the Al openings in the dam
only eight are supplied with turbines.
and these turbines are not OF the most
| modern or efficient design. The tur-
bines now in use are fully required for
the operation of the present shops, to
| which the power is transmitted by
! wire ropes. 1t is believed that this
power should be electrically trans
| mitted to the shops instead of through
the medium OF wire ropes, first em-
ployed as temporary expedient
| mum Der of. years ago and never re-
placed by more satisfactory method.
Machinery and Fittings.
The necessary running machinery
and fittings for repairing these three
buildings, it is estimated, ~ ct
about sos 900. This is indepen>
of the special machines necessary t.
the manufacture, and these. it is esti-
mated. will cost about $4,000 In
addition. tie special fixtures for these
machines, depending on the model of
rifle to be fabricated, will cost, it is
estimated, 1852, 600. About $500
gauges of various sizes and shapes
will be required also, ut a cost of
about $11S. 900.
The aggregate of these sums is
1858. 900. toward which congress has
as vet appropriated but $3.50, 600.
In expanding the sum appropriated
it is proposed to proceed as far as
possible in the order named above,
| first procuring the machines for de-
veloping and transmitting the power,
then the fixtures for the shops, and
so on.
ITO carry out the evident design
of congress it is necessary that bal
ance of 500, 900 should be appropri
ated."
1t is the intention of Gen. Buffing-
| ton to place Rock Island arsenal on
the same plane as Springfield arsenal
as regards the manufacture of small
arms. Gen. Burlington is starting at
the bottom and intends to build fine
structure. He does not propose 10
use The $3.50, 900 for the equipment of
a small arms factory. That money
he proposes to use in preparation for
the establishment of large factory.
He proposes, therefore, to spend the
| appropriation in getting the power
aud fitting out the three buildings re-
ferred to-. Not cent of the $780, 900
will be spent for equipment. AL of
it will go toward laying the founda-
ion for a large establishment.
Ali the foregoing points with refer
! ence to the small arms plant were
furnished the ordnance department
by Maj. Blunt. whose experience in
the manufacture of these arms was
made thorough by his work while
stationed as sn officer at Springfield.
and while Gen Burlington has DEM