Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-13
Movement to Increase Power
Plant at Rock Island.
SAVING TO GOVERNMENT
Congress Asked to Appropriate $3.50,
900 for Improvement.
Arguments Made for Increased Fa-
Artillery Equipment Proposed.

In order that the only important gov
ernnlent-owned hydro-electric power plant
| in the country may be utilized to full ca
pacity and all Of the ten immense shops
| at the Rock Island arsenal. two of which
are now idle, may be operated. the ord
| nance officers of the War Department
and the commercial interests Of Daven-
| port, Iowa. and Rock Island and Mo-
| line H., are urging Congress to make
an appropriation of S25O,0Oo at the pres
ent session to enlarge the arsenars plant
| for the manufacture of field artillery
equipment.
| Albert +. Dawson, former representa-
| tive from the second Iowa district and
now president of the First National Bank
OF Davenport: Irving G. Norwood, secre-
tary of the Greater Davenport commit
! tee and the Davenport Commercial Club.
and William A. Meese, a prominent at
torney of Moline. are in Washington to-
day to appear before the House appropri-
ations committee and urge that the ap-
preparation be granted
The keen interest of the tri-city COM
merclal interests In the proposed appro-
priation. of course. lies in the fact that
the arsenal pay roll of $3.50 coo a year
IS largely spent in the several commune
ties in question. But, realizing that mat
ters from other sections of the country
cannot be expected to feel concerned
over tins feature of the proposition. the
delegation has prepared data showing
that should the appropriation be made
the government would save not less than
sl,oOO.OOO on field artillery equipment In
the next ten years, and prOba bly, a great
deal more.
Figures in Evidence.
AS evidence Of this fact it is only nee
essary to cite the recent purchase by the
government of 1872 limbers for a certain
type OF field artillery at a cost of ap-
proximately 81. 400 per timber from a pri-
Vate manufacturer, whereas the Rock
Island arsenal manufactures the identi-
Cal carriage at $3.50 each But the ar
senal is two years behind on this equip
nent, owing to lack of adequate facili-
Ties. ana the ordnance officials deemed it
unwise to place any further orders there
at this time, pending the desired appro-
priation by Congress.
The fact that two Of the ten immense
arsenal shops are now being used
simply for storage purposes, and that
with a minimum Of expenditure could
be utilized for manufacturing purposes.
seems to appeal with considerable force
10 many members Of Congress as an
quarter of million appropriation
should be allowed. Then. again, the
government waterpower plant at the
ROCK Island arsenal is recognized as a
model m OF Its kind, and provides power
In ample quantities for any demand that
would be created by the operation of
the two additional shops. In fact, only
Z,2oO horsepower is now developed by
this water through the use Of twenty
one OF the forty turbine openings. With
all these openings in use about $500
horsepower could be developed and the
government has the right. should it so
desire. to harness the entire Mississippi
at this point and develop minimum
Of $4,000 horsepower. This latter figure.
however. is far in excess of any present
or estimated future need.
Up to date the government has spent
So. $4,000 in the construction of the
splendid modern manufacturing plant at
the arsenal. and the tri-city delegation
has suggested to the appropriations com
mittee that inasmuch as the additional
1900 requested would increase the
100 per cent. 1t should be granted on
the ground of business efficiency and
government economy.
Prevents Dismissals.
Unless the appropriation is granted, it
| is declared, $50 skilled mechanics at the
Rock Island arsenal will lose their jobs
at the beginning Of the next fiscal year,
July l. If the money is forthcoming
these men, who are now engaged in the
| manufacture of small arms, of which the
government now has an adequate supply.
will be absorbed into the enlarged field
artillery plant, and engaged in the manu-
facture of gun carriages, limbers, Gals
sions. battery and store wagons. howitzer
batteries, pack outfits Of all kinds and
haNhess and horse equipments for the
mobile artillery.
Messrs. Dawson. Norwood and Meese,
composing the tri-city delegation. have
suggested to the appropriations commit
tee that If the proposition they present
| is not entirely meritorious it should not
be considered. but that if a present ex-
penditure of $4,000 will result in a saw
| ing to the government of $1,5O0.O0O or
more, then the vote for that apprOpri-
atinD Shnuld he unanimous