Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-10

or very nearly 80 per cent of the entire
number. The total disbursements for
wages are at present about S145,00O
month. of which about $4,000 goes to
employees in the armory. The addition
of small arms to the operations of the
arsenal has therefore resulted in an
increase of employees from 100 to
> 400 and of monthly wages from a lit
tie over 100000 TO S145,000. The
plant. with small additions in a few
special places. which could be made
without much delay in an emergency,
is capable of manufacturing $50 rifles
per day. instead of the 125, at which
rate it is now being operated. Doubling
the output would be accomplished with
out doubling the number of employees.
Probably not more than 600 more men
would be needed. The total labor cost
of the plant when run to its capacity
would probably be about $4,000 per
month.
Through Efforts of Club.
1T would seem. therefore. as if the
efforts primarily of the Rock Island
Club. in behalf of the arsenal. had re-
suited in the addition of machinery to
the value of nearly S1.000.000, and af-
forded present employment to 700
men. with disbursements in wages of
$4,000 per month, with a possibility
of an expansion in time of emergency
that would employ 1900 men and dis
burse $S5. 900 per month. The first ap-
preparation was made by the army ap-
preparation act. approved March ,,
1899, the item being, it is generally I'M
derstOOd, included in the bill in conse-
quence of recommendations of the
chief of ordnance and the active inter
est and personal representations in
Washington of a committee of the Rock
island Club
Il bring this up" said Mr.. White. ito
show that the experience of this club
has been that where there has been
well directed effort there has been no
occasion for Offering bonuses This
committee has always found local cap
ital ready TO invest, but in many III
stances this has not been found neces-
sary. The factories were ready to come
if shown that the city was wide-awalle
and enjoying such advantages
in the way of shipping and
otherwise. that appeal to great in
dustrial institutions. 1t has been dem
onstrated that the Merchants associa-
ton and the common council. as well
as the other representative bodies of
the city. may always be relied upon to
cooperate to the fullest extent in eff
fort and influence TO the attainment
of any worthy end in this line"
The Auditorium Project.
On the question of the auditorium
project, G. j. Searle and G. j. LarlIin
made reports to the effect that the club
committee, in conjunction with the
committees representing the Mer-
chants association. the city council the
Tri-City Labor congress. and many of
the societies of the city, had formulated
plans up to the point of the formation
of a corporation and the application for
incorporation papers. By the time of
the next meeting The committees
chairman, Maj. c. w. Halves. expected
TO present a full report.
Welcome to Visitors
DR.. J. r. Hollowbush spoke of the
coming 10 Rock Island next week of
the 55th annual convention of the Hi
nois State Medical society. He sug-
gested that the delegates would no
doubt appreciate any courtesy that
the club might offer in the use of its
club house for social purposes. and a
motion was thereupOn adopted extend
ing the cOurtesies of the club to the
visiting physicians and authorizing the
secretary to issue visitors cards to
them.