Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-18

Man H-1Sover n me mt Loss Est i'm ted at
$4,000, Finest Arsenal in World.
The arsenal at Rock Island, H., was
visited by a fire which caused loss of
about 100000 in the destruction Of
storehouse "A" the principal shop of
issUe of the governments immense ord
nance aud equipment factory, and Of its
entire contents.
A thrilling incident Of the FIRE was the
discharge of 100000 rounds Of t[ras-
Jorgeasen ammunition, the cartridges ex-
ploding in one continuous fusiIla1e. scat
tering bullets to every part of the island
and endangering he liy,s of scores of
men who had been called out to fight the
flames.
Soon Beyond Control.
The fire started at about o'clock,
and was soon beyond the control of the
arsenal fire department. Appeals for
help were sent to Davenport, Rock ISL
and and Moline, which lie near by ON
three sides the beautiful island on which
the arsenal is located.
Fire companies were Immediately sent
to help save the building, but found
themselves powerless because of the fly
ing bullets. As result the firemen's
efforts had to be confined to saving the
rest of the plant. In this they were
successful Storehouse "A" went up in
smoke, with all its contents, including
a large quantity of military equipment.
Estimate of Loss.
Major S. f. Blunt, the arsenal com
mander. SAYS that the burned building
cost $250,000, and that its contents were
worth over $1,500,000 1t was the most
costly fire that ever occurred in that
vicinity and probably entails the heaviest
loss upon the arsenal system Of the
United States that has befallen it in
time of peace.
The Rock Island arsenal is the largest
in the United States, having a greater
capacity than any other and being adj
vantageously located, comprising ten inn
mense and substantial buildings with
thirty-four floors and covering in all
thirty acres of ground area. 1t repre-
sents an expenditure of $l2,000,000.
The site of the arsenal, the island of
Rock Island, has been repeatedly report
ed by army officers to the War Depart
ment as not only the most beautiful and
one of the largest in the Mississippi,
but as possessing extraordinary natural
advantages from a military standpoint.
General Ramsey, chief of ordnance,
wrote to the Secretary of War in 1864
that lit is perfectly secure from an enc
my advancing either by lake or river.
From it supplies can be transported III
any direction at any seasoi. of the year.
Rising from fourteen to twenty-thEee
feet above the high-water mark of the
river, it lies midway in the stream, with
Davenport and its 10000 people Just
across to the north and with Rock Island
and Moline on the south bank. with Il
total population of about 10000 more.
The island stretches east and west along
the course of the river for a distance of
about two miles and three-fourths, with
a width of from one-fourth to three
fourths mile Bridges, all owned by the
government, span the river and connect
the three cities with the island and with
each other.
Description of the Plant.
Located practically in the very center
of the island the buildings have been
built on the highest point of land. On
either side of the main avenue there is
a row of shops-hve on the south for the
arsenal, five on the north for the armory
Driving through the main entrance from
the west the road leads past the head
quarters building, down by the shop
rows" and on to the driveway and bridge
leading to Moline On the northern
shore is the handsome residence of the
commandant at the end of hedge row,
and elsewhere are located the barracks,
equipped for six families and 10 men,
and another building where the officers
live.
The general plans of the shops are
uniform. Each is built in II shape,
with the opening in the rear forming Il
court 90 feet wide and 23S feet long.
The parallel wings are 60 by 100 feet.
The total area Of each shop is 44,2S0
square feet--a little more than an acre.
The center building in the arsenal row is
the forging shop and foundry. Opposite,
in the north row. is the rolling mill and
forging shop for the armory. The walls
of the building are of Joliet limestone.
and throughout the structures are of the
most substantial kind
Nothing like these shops is to he ound
in the country. and it is doubted if they
are equaled in the world-all things con
sidered. Besides the main buildings there
are six freproof stone storehouses and
ONE powder magazine.
The arsenal as such dates its birth
back to July II, 1862, when Congress
passed an act locating it ON the island
and set aside 100000 as a beginning.
Ground for the first building was broken
on Sept. I, 1868.