Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-04


Transmission and Manufacture of Small
Arms-Matters Pertaining to Proposed
Armory Making Most Encouraging Pro-
gress.
The following is from the Davenport
Democrat:
Some idea of the consequence of
the government water power to the
future of Rock Island arsenal and to
the future of all this locality, may be
gathered from Il glance at the four
new Samson Laselle turbines that
have recently been received at that
post for installation in the govern
ment dam there nj IN early date.
The old wheels, of which there are
eight now in use, do generate some
power. With the old head OF water,
as it was before the Davis company
made the up-river extension of the
wing dam, they turned about thirty
five horse power each onto the shaft.
The raising of the head of water some
thing more than three feet with that
wing dam has increased their efficien-
CIV. of course, but they are still very
low in potency compared with these
new wheels. They are expected 10
shaft. Tnev are on the ground, but
it is not possible to do anything to-
ward setting them in place until
working weather comes. When that
weather does come, they will be put
in position, and then the shops will
get out Of those four new wheels, with
the same gate openings. twice the
power il has been getting out of the
eight old ones, and will have power in
plenty. unless there is great increase
Of the amount of work.
For the RIne Factory.
1.-The four new turbines that are
now on the ground are not all there
are to he OF them. Eight more are
coming in due time. They will be of
the same high order of efficiency. The
four that have been received are for
the operation of the shops as they
stand. in conjunction with their eight
old wheels, which will be retained for
a lime yet. at least. But the eight
new ones just mentioned are to fur
nish electric power current for the
new small arms plant that is to be.
That plant is some distance ahead,
but not so very far. These eight
Wheel, which will unitedly yield to-
tai potential of over LOO horsepower,
are intended for the operation of the
small arms factory. That sounds en-
cOuraging. A shop that takes l, 100
horsepower is not Il small one.
The small arms plant has not de-
veloped vet, in any degree, a. far as
the unaided eve can perceive on a visit
to the post. But matters in that rela-
ton are coming on. Maj. Blunt's
sketch plan has been returned to him
with the approval of Gen. Burlington.
chief of ordnance. Mai. Blunt. furth-
ermorc, is buying line shatting, and
other things needful in that connec-
ton, and making other preparations
for the carrying out of those plans.
In the course of few months more
there will be chance to report SUBJ
stantial and visible progress in this
matter. In the meantime it is in an en-
couraCing state. If this session of
congress grants the half million that
i needed for the establishment of a
small arms factory equalto that of the
Springfield armorv, and this is likely
10 be the case, it will not be long till
things over on the island will be on the
jump by way of getting the new fac
tory in trim for work.
Electrical Fermentation.
The arsenal power plant has been
imperfect for years, when viewed
from the stand point of fairly-down
to-date plant OF that kind. The wire
rope transmission of the power from
the dam to the shop, for one thing,
has been costly. annoying and other
wise mere makeshifJ for want of a
better thing.
I'm connection with the installa-
ton of four new turbines that shall
place 500 horse power on the shaft at
the dam is to come another new thing
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