Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
Will Introduce Series OF
Six Bills Calling for
$1,O3O,OOO.
INCREASE IN PLANT
Shows Government Economy in
Manufacture of Artillery, j
ETC., Here.
Especial to The Argus.)

Washington, Aug. 23.-Congressman
Clyde H, Tavenner will on Tuesday in
troduce in congress a series of six
bills that will ask the government to
make an additional investment of ST.
030,00 at the Rock Island Arsenal for
the equipment of plants for the mali
ufacture of field artillery ammunition
and small arms cartridges, which
would be entirely new lines of manu-
factures for Rock Island, as no ammu-
milton whatever is being manufactured
there now.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars of the $1,030,000. however, is for
increasing the capacity of the plant at
Rock Island for the production of field
artillery gun carriages and vehicles.
and field artillery materials. AS suf-
ficient appropriations have heretofore
been made to enable the government
to manufacture approximately two
thirds of its field artillery vehicles at
Rock Island, this additional $250,000
provided for in Tavenner's plans,
means that he contemplates that the
government will entirely cease buying
field artillery equipment from private
manufacturers, and will henceforth
manufacture practically its entire sup
ply at Rock Island.
The present program of the war de-
partment authorizes the pnrchaSs--of.
| $50, 100000 worth of field artillery am
&sst1
artillery gun carriages, vehicles and
materials. Up to this time the gov
ernment has been in the habit of pur-
chasing from private manufacturers
one-half of it's field artillery ammu.
milton and about one-sixth of its small
arms cartridges, and two-thirds of its
| field artillery gun carriages.
| CONGRESSMAN TAVENNER's PLAN.
Congressman Tavenners plan pro-
vides that the government shall here
after manufacture it's own army ord
nance materials, and contends that
Rock Island is the most economical
and advantageous place to do the man.
ufacturing, both bee luse Of its central
! location geographically and because of
an abundance of water power which
may be had at Rock Island almost
without cost, the government already
owning a damn and power plant in the
Mississippi which is now in use.
! Congressman Tavenner has been
working on his plans ever since his
election last November, and announces
that he is now ready to present the
matter to congress for it's considera-
tion.
Not the least interesting feature of
/ Tavenner's contention is that although
his project calls for more than $1,000
000 the government he says, will save
every pennyNof this initial investment,
and perhaps great deal more, in the
first Is months OF Lts operation.
He bases this statement on the
charge that the government is now
paying from one-fourth to one-third
more for small arm cartridges, and
from one-third to one-half more for
field artillery materials and ammuni-
tion, than it can manufacture them for
at its own arsenals.
REASONS FROM FACTS.
why" asks Congressman Taven-
ner, should the government pay pri-
vate manufacturers $25 for 4.7-inch
schrapnel, the ammunition used in the
heavy field guns, when it can manu-
facture them in its own .lrsenals for
one-half that figure.
'If the government only intended
buying a few thousand dollars worth
OF such ammunition, we could under.
stand it. But the government intends
to purchase $2O,00O,00O worth of field
ARTILLERY ammunition. By manufactur-
ing all of its own ammunition for field
guns the government could without
} question save several million dollars.
!, Ball cartridges, caliber 80 for serv-
ice rifles, we're made at Frankford ar
: senal in 1912 for $2695 per 1000, in.
: Guiding all overhead charges. For the
same cartridge private manufacturers
/ charged and received S3S.G4, or S11.O9
3 more than the government could manu-
facture them for.
Here are some queries for any av.
erage business man: Why should the
government pay 81, 70S for 3-inch Gals
sons, which consists of a wagon for
, carrying ammunition chests, when 1t
is manufacturing them at the Rock
Island arsenal for $1,0S1?
why should the government pay
private manufacturers $3,268 for the
3.inch gun carriage proper (the vehicle
on which the gun rests and from which
; il is fired and which is attached to
the timber), when it is manufacturing
,