Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-05
YEAR ON THE ISLAND
Good Showing Made in Annual
Report of Commandant
Blunt.
SUMMARY OF THE EXPENDITURES
Scope of Manufacturing Plant In
creased to Meet Govern
ment Needs.

The annual report of Maj. ). Il.
Blunt, commandant at Rock Island
arsenal, for the year just ended has
been published. The growth of the
shops and the arsenal generally dur
ing the past five years is the feature
of main interest, particularly to peo-
pie of this locality. The progress that
has been made in the past year in
preparing and installing machinery
in the small arms plant and the in
creasing of the manufacturing IA
cilities so that in time of war the
government will be enabled to dis
pense with the manufacturing con-
tractors that were so much in evil
dence in 1895, is another point that
is worthy of attention.
\ table is given showing that there
has been expended for labor at the
arsenal since the place was formally
established by the government in
1868, nearly $1O,O0O,OOO. Considerably
over a third of this sum has been paid
out during the last five years, or
during the time that Maj. Blunt has
been in command. As fully n third
of the total sum has been spent in
this city, the value of the arsenal to
the community can be understood.
Another table shows the amounts
that have been expended in the cree
ton of buildings, perfecting the wat
er power and purchasing and INSTALL
ing the machinery since the arsenal
was established. The total amount
has been over S1O,OOO.OOO of which
So. 6S3, 316.9S went for buildings, sew
ers and roads; S1,730. 773.S2 for the
water power; $93O,o61.9 90, for ma
chinery and shop fixtures and $793,-
s65.17 went for bridges. The sum of
81, 10. 2S1.42 has been expended for
improvements and repairs during the
period Mai Blunt has been in com
mand. There is much of general in
tcrest to be CLEANED from the report.
Roads and Drives.
There are now over 21 miles of
main streets and drives on the island
and as all have been thoroughly
worked over in the last few years,
they are now in good condition and
much frequented for pleasure driv-
ing by residents of the adjacent cit
les. The main street across the is
land forming the roadway between
Rock Island and Davenport is OBS
miles in length and is paved with
brick. OF the other most Travelled
streets and drives As miles have,
within the last three years, been sur
faced with macadem and 81 miles
with cinders thoroughly packed and
rolled. There are also SO miles still
covered with only gravel or an old
and somewhat worn macadem and 4.6
miles of ordinary dirt roads. These
latter will be further improved as far
as funds and opportunities are avail
able.
Last fall drive, leaving the main
avenue at the western gate, was con-
structed along the northern shore of
the island, making accessible to the
public the old building known as the
Davenport house." which, having
been erected many years before the
arsenal was established, is quite n
landmark and an object of much in
terest in the neighboring cities.
The road known as Park drive. eN-
tending from the vicinity of the bar
racks to the east and parallel to the
Main avenue for about one and one
fourth miles, has been widened- this
spring resurfaced with cinders and
being now an excellent and attractive
road, relieves the Main avenue of a
portion of its travel.