Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-12-29
At ARSENAL
Extent of This Years Improve.
ments Under Maj. Blunt's
Direction.
AN EXPENDITURE OF $4,000
Preparations Under Way for the
Installation Of the New
Small Arms Plant.

The year 1900 has been q particu
larly busy one at Rock Island arsenal,
the principal constructive work I'M
der Mai. S. E. Blunt's direction being
in connection with the preparation
for the installation of the new small
arms plant recently provided for by
congress.
A new boiler house for the central
steam heating plant for the armory
row has been constructed in the court
yard of shop "F." at cost of 81 600.
This building also includes the neces-
sary lavatory, and clothes and closet
provision for the workmen in this
shop A new elevated coal bin, with
the approaching railroad tracks and
necessary side tracks and switches,
has been built at cost of SIS, 600. A
new brick power house has been con-
structed on the dam to replace the
one destroyed by fire about IS months
ago. 1t is much longer than the old
house and affords accommodation for
the additional wheels needed for the
power for the small arms plant. Its
cost has been $4,000.
V.st Improvement In Power
The eight old water wheels former
ly in the dam, which were of only
moderate capacity, developing not to
exceed 500 horse power in all, have
been replaced by II new turbines OF
125 horse power each In connection
with this the old wire rope method OF
transmitting power from the dam to
the shops has been removed and gen
orators installed directly upon the
main shaft upon the dam, and power
transmitted by underground wires tc
motors on the different shaft
throughout the shops. The contract
for the electrical portion of this work
was made with the General Electri,
CO mpany at the price of $67 600.
Work in the shops.
A large amount of work has beer
performed in the shops of the armory
row preparing them for the reception
of the small arms plant. This briefly
includes the steam heating, the water
supply, lav4tories for the workmen
work benches. shafting, partitions fol
separating Val IOuS CldsHSS VI lHe WI
fire protection, underground tunnel,
for the transmission OF electric power
and light wires and steam piprs, an
for the tram cars to carry com ponents
of the arms from one shop to another
during process of manufacture. The
total cost of these preparations in the
shops exceeds $50 600.
In addition to the above, and fea'
ture which the public thoroughly ap.
preciates, the arsenal drives have been
improved at cost estimated at So
900.
Plans for Small rms Plant.
Bids were opened in October for
about 400 machines required for the
small arms manufacture and also for
the esta blishment of the fuel oil planI
tor the forging department The con-
tract for the latter has been awarded
to the Rockwell Engineering com
pany, of New York. for $40 5S7. Con-
tracts for the machinery have not yet
been let The bids have for some
time past been before the chief of ord
nance for his final action.
The greatest number of men en-
ployed at any one time during the
year was !, 5S7. during the month OF
June, just before the close of the
fiscal year. The number has averaged
about 1920 through the year. Over
900 are now employed.