Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-12
HISTORY OF ARSENAL
Interesting Address BY Maj. 8.
&. Blunt Before Tri-City
Business Men.
MILLIONS IN BUILDINGS, ETC
Now Prepared to Meet Ali De-
mands Made On 1t by
Government.
IN BUILDINGS, ETC

Business and professional men of
the three cities met together in
Davenport last night.
The gathering was under the aus
pices of the Davenport Business
Mems association and was held in its
elegant quarters in the Masonic tenn
pie. Mem bers of the commercial or
gan izations of Rock Island and Mo-
line were present by invitation, spec
ial tr aims on the Tri-City railway hav-
ing been placed at their disposal by
the Davenport association. The fea-
ture of the evening was the address by
Maj. S. f. Blunt on s'Recent Improve
ments at Rock Island Arsenal" in
which was Traced the history of the
arsenal from it's establishment July
II, 1862, to the present.
"Then Gen. Burlington took charge
of the arsenal its constructive period
Nas practically at close" said Mai.
Blunt. Manufactures had succeeded,
but only upon moderate scale. He
improved many of the methods, or
ganized thoroughly the operative
force, and brought the administration
of the arsenal to such high standard
that when, five years later, he was re-
lieved, but few changes beyond those
incident to the ordinary growth of any
establishment were. necessary to place
the arsenal in condition ready for
the development which soon followed
during the subsequent war with Spain,
and which has since continued under
the stress of the increased supply of
equipments required for our present
army.
Conducted on Moderate Scale.
''At the time of Gen. Builington's
relief from command, in March, 1897,
just four years ago this month. the
total expenditures for the establish
ment of the arsenal had been nearly
nine million dollars. OF this about
three-fourths of one million had been
required for the substantial bridges
connecting the island with three
neighboring cities, and one and one
half million for the arsenal water
power, and for the portion of it.
which, under the agreement with the
original owners, had to be developed
for neighboring factories; six and one
Lalf millions had been spent for the
erection of the shops, storehouse
quarters, the numerous other small
buildings, and the preparation and
Improvement of the ground.
"Eor the machinery in the shops,
the real soul of the establishment, and
for a continuous shaft running from
which, of course, the buildings were
merely the shell, only $211. 600 had
been expended, it having been i'm
possible to procure from congress |
more liberal funds. The arsenal was
being conducted at the moderate scale |
required for the supply of the small
army our government was then main
tanning. Carriages, libers, and Gals
sons for field batteries; carriages and |
limbers for 5-inch siege guns and !
Finch howitzers, and the numerous
appliances necessary for their opera
ton in drill or in battle, formed the
output of one department.
In others, all the articles of cav
airy, infantry and horse equipments
were fabricated. The list of these is |
almost endless and would be only |
weaIisome to you. 1t includes many |
articles in which the soldier has a |
stronger personal interest than in
others pertaining to military equip
ment. His canteen, haversack, sad
die, bride, pistol holster, and so on
almost without end, are all made at
this arsenal and issued to him.
beside that rifles made at SPRING
field, metallic cartridges from Frank
ford, powder obtained from the pri-
vite manufacturers, other stores
fabricated at other arsenals were sent |
here and distributed to the western |
and central coasts. Less than five |
hundred men were being employed;
the monthly pay roll did not exceed |
s25, 900 to $50. 900, and all the work of
occupied but three floors
in one shop and portion of another,
or only about II per cent of the total