Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-11

1905. have been manufactured. In
addition many spare parts have been
fabricated and a large amount OF re-
pairs completed The cost OF the rifle
under the last order, completed April
10, 1913, was 1886.
Arsenal Shops.
The shops include the mobile artil-
lery vehicle shops; harness shop,
with leather and cloth departments;
. blacksmith shop; foundry; equipment
shop; tin shop; polishing and plating
shop; and the woodworking and paint
ing shops. The output of these shops
for the year has el.braced great va
riety of articles. including the manu-
facture and alteration of carriages,
limbers, caissons. battery wagons,
store wagons and reels and carts for
mobile artillery. the manufacture OF
artillery harness. pack OUTFITS Tor
mountain artillery and machine guns,
horse equipments for cavalry. personal
and mers equipments for all arms OF
the service. targets and target-practice
supplies. marksmen's insignia, car
fridge storage cases and other mate
rial for coast artillery, in addition TO
the repair for reissue of unserviceable
but repairable material of these diff
ferent kinds turned in by the service
for that purpose. Much experimental
work of all kinds has been done. All
of these departments have been very
busy during the year. The shop equip
ment has been kept in good condition
and up to date.
Aside from the quantity and variety
OF work continuously in progress in
these shops during the year, promi-
neut feature of their operation has
been the continued effort for improv-
ed methods and designs and proper
economies \ few instances are here
given: The substitution for manufac-
turing purposes of commercial gas, !
purchased locally. for gas made from /
gasoline. has resulted in saving Of !
S3ll per month: the design OF an i'm !
proved currycomb without leather
back, lighter and much more compact /
than the present model. which can ,
be fabricated for about Is cents, as /
compared with a manufacturing cost /
of 80 cents for the present model; the ,
development of machine method of
rubbing leather. replacing the old
hand method. which greatly reduces |
fBt COSl bl lillS Opti Aht use VI
cuttings from occasional spoiled i'm
pressions of the printing machine. in
place of new paper. for wrapping tar
gets. has resulted in saving of 80
cents per 900 targets; wooden fenc-
ing sword has been designed, follow
ing the lines of the new cavalry sword /
and of a design permitting the use OF
machine finishing at a cost of SO.O6s
n So lNa
old model.
Field Artillery Plant.
The sundry civil act approved June
%. 1913, carries an appropriation of
$3.50, 900 for increasing the capacity
OF the field artillery plant at this ar
senal. II is intended TO extend the
mobile artillery plant to include all of
shop l building transferring the har-
ness shop from, shop ! to shop X,
which latter has heretofore been used
as a storehouse. Plans fer heating
and lighting and for office, sanitary
and other facilities required to INT
shop for its new use have been pre-
pared and the work is being prose
cuted.
Proving Ground and Drafting Room.
The work in the drafting room has
been Of the usual character and has
been kept up to date. Eight hundred 1,
and fifty-four rounds have been fired
at the proving ground in proof and
experimental work. Twelve different
road tests of experimental vehicles
or devices, aGgregating several thous-
and miles, have been conducted and
reported upon. Il
Light and Power Plant.
The operation of the arsenal power
plant has been continuous and salts
factory throughout the year. No in
terruptions on account of ice or water
conditions have occurred. While the
power plant was up to date when in