Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
One of the Most Important In
dustrial Establishments in
the Vicinity.
UNLIKELY TO GROW LESS
Location and Success as Manufacture
ing Plant Warrants Hope Of
Future Extension.
BY LIEUT.. COL. GEORGE w. BURR.

BY LIEUT.. COL. GEORGE w. BURR.
A NJ review of the three score 4
n years OF the life OF The Argus
must include a history of the
Rock Island arsenal, for The Argus
has ever been its outspoken friend
and supporter. always on the alert to
foresee its needs, to point the way
10 greater usefulness and expansion.
and TO exert its powerful influence in
securing congressional recognition.
The Argus can assuredly take pride at
this day IN the results OF its labors
in this direction.
In the infancy Of The Argus, the is
land was largely government property
In charge Of a quartermaster's agent,
and occupied by three or four legiti-
mate settlers and land owners and
by many squatters. Its strategic posi-
ton. when considered from an indus
trial and commercial point of view
was recognized ana many schemes
were Matched 10 secure it. from the /
government.
civil. WAR CREATES NEED.
The war between the states, which /
broke out at about this time. brought /
home 10 the national legislature. the
necessity % having a great arsenal
for supplying government troops with
war equipments and munitions, and
early in that war, on July IL, 1862,
congress formally authorized the es-
adjustment on this island of an ar
senal 10 be known as the Rock Island
arsenal, and shortly thereafter the &C
tual building Of the arsenal began.
The selection OF this site for the
location Of the great national arsen-
al was. OF course, due TO its superior
facilities in respect to transportation
and the supply OF materials, labor and
power. for It was 20 be a great manu-
featuring arsenal. and in the location
OF such a plant these conditions were
OF vital Importance. In addition, as
Il was TO become the governmental
source OF supply OF war materials, its
safety in war time was of prime i'm
portance and consequently its remote
ness from possible frontiers OF attack
was a distinct advantage.
IN TWO PERIODS.
The arsenal was so years old July
IL last. Its life is properly divided
into two periods: First the period of
construction. during which the great
quadrangle OF shops with the outly-
ing storehouses and barracks, quar-
ters. hospital. boiler houses, power
houses. etc, was built This period
extended from the establishment OF
the arsena down to approximately the
outbreak OF the Spanish war. In the
years Immediately preceding the Span
ish war some manufacturing was done
at the arsenal. but II was small IN
amount and the manufacturing plant
was Of limited capacity. The manu-
featuring period Of the arsenal really
dates from the outbreak OF the Span
ish war. when under the spur OF ne
ctsslty, the manufacturing plant was
rapidly increased in capacity and the
manufactured output spoudiugly
multiplied. In the emergency Incl
dent TO the outbreak Of war the need
was FOR output and every energy was
strained TO satisfy the demand. The
plant was Largely increased at that
time but the arrangements were not
entirely satisfactory, and AZ the close
OF the Spanish war a well considered
plan for the development and expan-
sion Of the manufacturing plant was
laid down and has since been follow
ed. At thai time, - years ago, only
two Of the 70 great shops We're util-
ICED for manufacturing purposes BY
the development which has since oc-
CURED seven OF these great shops are
now filed with machinery and appara
tus and in daily use.
FIGURES SHOW MAGNITUDE.
The magnitude OF thc present oper
at!Cus OF the plant will be gathered
from statement that for the past II
years the monthly payroll for labor
alone disbursed I'm this vicinity. has
exceeded 100000 per month. and thai
the monthly outlay for purchases OF
material for manufacturing purposes
has also exceeded 100000 per month
When it is remembered that this eN
poudiGry for labor and a large par
of The expenditure for materia go di
rectly into the hands OF the merchant
OF this vicinity. the great benefit I,
the community OF the establishment
is apparent Moreover. this eXpeud
ture is not dependent upon the stat
OF trade or the condition Of the crops
but is made in carrying out fixe
governmental policy so that in th
arsenal. Rock Island has an industr
that returns dividends with certaint
year after year.
For those who delight in figure
further statistics showing the magn
tude OF the arsenal work are given
The total disbursement for labo
during the so years of the arsenal
existence has been S2S. 155 g
This sum includes only the disburss
ments on the government payroll
and not disbursements made TO col
tractors and others Of that class. o
this sum OF more than twenty-five
millions. the disbursements for labo
IN the last 10 years have been S12
545,S9079, OF. as stated heretofore, a
average OF a little over $4,000 pc