Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-09
CALL ON CRoz|ER
Chief Ordnance Officer Receives
Committee of Tri. City
Citizens
AS TO ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL
Explains the Condition of the De-
partment as Applied to Work
ing Forces.

Gen. William Crozier, chief of ord
Island arsenal last night and is the
guest of Col. S. E. Blunt, at the COM
mandant's quarters. This morning the
cooperative committee of the Tri-City
Press committee arranged for an inter
view on the part of the general tri-city
committee on Rock Island arsenal con-
1itions. the hour being set at noon in
the commandments office The general
committee embraced the representa-
tives of the business organizations of
the three cities together with the Press
club committee, and was comprised as
follows:
Rock Island-H. E Casteel. /. S
White Frank Mixter. T. ]. Medil. J. X
Brandenburg. and j. ]. LaVelle
Moline-Dr. p. II. Vessel. f. E Nor
gan, W. A. Meese, NJ. J. McEniry, r A
Landee. P. S. McGlynn.
Davenport. r. Lane. Z. p Adler.
The joint committee. after assemb-
ling at the arsenal selected Hon. J. r.
Lane of Davenport as its spokesman.
The committee was cordially received
by Gen. Crozier. and after Mr.. Lane
had explained the mission of the com
mittee, reciting the interest of the COM
munity in the arsenal. the effect of the
diminution of the working forces. and
stating that the committee would like
an explanation of the cause of the con-
ditions if it could be had, Gen Crozier
addressed the committee at some
length.
Pleased TO Receive Committee.
II was a source of delight TO him. he
said, TO meet the committee. as it was
an unusual privilege in visiting the ma
tional arsenals to meet the representa-
tives of the business men of the com
munity contiguous TO such arsenals.
He was glad 10 know of such lively in
terest in this particular arsenal In
effect Gen. CroZier stated that the grad
ual reduction in the forces at Rock Is
land arsenal was not due to the letting
OF contracts TO private contractors for
the manufacture of ordnance supplies
such as are ordinarily manufactured in
arsenal plants. AS a matter of fact
there had been but one contract let.
and that was for gun carriage manu-
facture in excess of what could be
done at an eastern arsenal.
building up "a Reserved supply.
Instead of the work legitimately be
longing To the arsenals being taken
away from the arsenals. Gen. Crozier
explained that the government set out
AT the conclusion of the Spanish-Amer-
lean war To replenish and build up its
reserve supply, with the result that il
had now almost reached the maximum
unit OF that reserve in infantry and
cavalry equipment. In this connection
Gen. CroZler called attention to the
TACT That prior TO the SpaniSh-American
war, the working force at Rock Island
arsenal embraced but 200 men. where
as the present force includes in round
numbers Loo men. 1t had. of course
been much greater than this as the
eXlgencies of war and the require
ments OF the department IN making up
the reserve supply demanded, but as
the output enabled the government to
approach the limit of what was requir-
ed in the way of reserve. the forces
were reduced. Ii was fortunate for
this arsenal that the small arms plant
had been moved here from the east. as
with the inevitable shaving down of
the working forces as need for the men
diminished there would have been
considerably less men on the rolls here
than has been the case.
No More Extensive Reductions Expected.
In consultation with Col Blunt. who
was present during the conference.
Gen. CroZier announced that il was rea-
Sonable TO presume that altogether
there would not be more than 100 more
men relieved. between now and July,
1907. that this, however. would be con
tingent upon congressional action rel
alive to ordnance department esti-
mates.
The stories about any policy of the
ordnance department embaTking in ex
tenSive systems of private contract