The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-11
MAJOR SHALER ARRIVES
CAME To THE CITY YESTERDAY TO
TAKE CHARGE OF THE ARSENAL.
Major Varney's SuccessOr-He Was
in Ia Ordnance Department.

Major Charles Shaler, the new command
ing officer Of the arsenal, arrived in the city
yesterday noon and at once assumed COM
mand- Major Shaler is at the Bates and
does not expect to bring his family here
until fall. He was asked last evening re-
garding the possibility Of DETECTING to this
arsenal some of the work done at the Rock
Island arsenal, and laughingly replied:
Why. l cannot say anything about that.
L have just arrived here and have not had
time to look over the ground. These small
arsenalS are maintained, not for constant
work, but for emergencies such as arose at
the outbreak Of the last war. This arsenal
was completed, 1 believe. about the close Of
the civil war. 1t is we'll situated, as it is
practically In the heart of the leather in
dustry and it is admirably situated as to
any foreign war. 1t is near several lines
or railroad and not far from the Ohio and
mississippi valley so that shipping facilities
are good. 1t is but a short distance from
the lakes, so that outlet is not far off. Ar
senals are located with the view to foreign
war and not TO civil war. No government
provides against that, and this one is we'll
located. In case of necessity the ground
and the buildings are here and work can be
turned out in enormous quantities. We do
not appreciate the resources of this coun-
try. 1t was the same at all arsenals as at
this one here when the war with Spain
broke out. The arsenals we have are am
ply sufticient TO turn out equipment for
men raster than the regiments can be called
into camp and organized, with two months
notice. 1t was not money we needed at the
outbreak of the war with Spain, but it was
time. That war came on US unexpectedly
and 1t takes some little time 10 get the ma
chinery started. For instance. the Rock
Island arsenal employed about 80 men and
was turning out infantry equipments at the
rate OF about seventy-ive sets a day. With
In two months there were over three thou
sand men at work and equipments were be-
ing turned out at the rate of over six thou
sand sets g. day. This country can adjust
ltself 10 conditions more rapidly than we
realize. When the war broke out We had
much trouble with the railroad companies
over lack of shipping facilities. The rail-
roads did not have sidings enough and we
were compelled TO keep the wires hot 10
have shipments sent out as W. desired.
About two months later we ordered some
rifles sent from Springfield, Mass, to Au-
gusta, Ga. l am not sure but L believe II
was ten thousand stands of arms we or
dered sent. Two days later we thought it
would not be necessary and we telegraphed
not to send them and received word that
they had all been shipped the day before.
mat would nave been Impossible Wnen the
war first broke out. This country has I'M
limited resources and can adapt itself 20
conditions within a remarkably short time.
So far as this arsenal and canvas equip
ments are concerned ii is some distance
from the canvas supply, as that IS chiefly
In the East. If the arsen9ls do not have
sufficient capacity when the emergency
arises there are many manufacturers who
can supply the deficiency. For instance, the
government feared that il could not turn
out equipments fast enough and sent sew
eral manufacturer to the Rock Island ar
sental to see what work was being done
and how IL was done, and within another
month we would have had ten private fac
tories experimenting the work of the gov
eminent. ~arsenals. 1t is not good policy TO
manufacture a large amount of supplies
ahead for within a few years they may be
obsolete. The government now has a vast
amount of supplies on hand"