Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-05
Capital Comment
BY CLYDE II. TAvENNER
CONGRESSMAN from tbs Fourteenth District

As above stated. / have been work
| ing as best l could to pry some OF
the artillery ammunition contracts
loose from the private contractor ana
while reports of these efforts have ap-
peared in the newspapers, suil the
average citizen of the tri-cities Is no
doubt not fully informed as TO what
am doing. how l am going about 1t
and what l expect to accomplish in
the end. Therefore feel should stop
moment and report, as briefly as
possible, the exact status of the sit
uation at this time.
The government now has on hand
only % per cent Of the quantity OF
field artillery ammunition which is
considered by the war department
necessary as a reserve.
Therefore the program OF the de-
partment calls for s20,000,000 worth of
field artillery ammunition, s6,000,000
worth the coming year and the re-
manning $14.O0o.0oO worth as fast as
congress will make the necessary ap-
preparations.
AS a result OF the foresight of the
friends of the ammunition ring in
congress and in the war department.
for manufacturing only S1,5O0,000
worth of this ammunition, or even less
than that. This means that the work
which can not be handled in the gov
eminent arsenals will go to the am
munition ring.
The only remedy for this situation
is to induce congress to enlarge the
capacity of the arsenals so that II can
do a larger amount of all of its man.
ufacturing. This is what / am en-
deavorng to do.
Ny hope is to bring the artillery
ammunition contracts TO Rock Island.
1t would mean the saving of hundreds
and hundreds of thousands of dollars
to. the government, and 1t would also
mean employment for a great many ad-
ditional men. This proposition is.
therefore. of the greatest importance
not only to the quad-cities, but to the
small towns near by as we'll.
On, of the first questions which
naturally arises is: What arguments
can be. advanced to justify the gov
eminent in sending the work to Rock
Island?
The best arguments are that we
have free water power at Rock Island,
and a 100000 building erected for
manufacturing purposes, but which is
now being used only as a store house. |
This structure would make an ideal
home for an ammunition plant. Two
hundred and fifty. thousand dollars, it
is estimated, would equip the building
for the manufacture of artillery am |
munition, and this sum could be saved |
the first four months the plant was
in operation. An additional 100000 |
store house and a $4,000 magazine |
in which to house the projectiles 1
when finished, would also be required, (,
although not absolutely necessary to I
start with.
Representatives Donohue and Ed |
munds of Philadelphia are carrying on !
an enthusiastic campaign to obtain |
ammunition contracts for Frankfort 1
arsenal, located at Philadelphia.
Rock Island has several advantages |
over Philadelphia. Every available 4
square foot of the frankfort arsenal .
is now utilized. The government !
would be required to buy additional !
land and erect expensive buildings TO
increase the capacity of Frankford ar
senal. And frankfort does not have |
the advantage of free water power, |
but must develop its power with the /
use of coal.