Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-17
ARSENAL is NOW
WELL IN THE RACE
Tavenner' Resolution Puts
Rock Island in Competition
With Other Cities.
lSnecial to The Argus J

Especial to The Argus.)
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE Rock Is
land arsenal trait of $50 acres is Of
ficiaily entered in the race for the
site of the proposed s7,000,0O0 govern
ment armor plate factory, as a result
of the resolution introduced in the
house by Representative Tavenner.
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and two or
three cities in New Jersey are also
competing, and undoubtedly there will
be still more entries. for the prize is a
rich one to any community.
Mr.. Tavenner is conducting a sys-
tematic campaign for the mCnufac-
ture of field artillery ammunition at
Rock Island, and his idea i'll introdue-
ing the resolution calling attention 70
the advantages of Rock Island as a
manufacturing center was TO kill two
birds with one stone, believing that the
more he can impress members of con-
gress with the exceptional advantages
of Rock Island, the better chance he
will have this winter of obtaining the
desired enlargement of the plant.
Here is the Tavenner resolution in
full:
Whereas the secretary of the
navy recommends a government
armor-plate factory at a cost OF
approximately $7,000,0C0 TO take
the manufacture of armor plate
out of the hands of a ring of pri-
vatc manufacturers who have for
years been outrageously over
charging the government while at
the same time paying low wages
and imposing unfair conditions
upon its employees; and
Whereas the secretary of the
navy has publicly advocated that
any and all cities believing they
have satisfactory sites for the
proposed armor plant should urge
consideration by the government
of the alleged advantages of such
respective sits, to the end that the
government may ultimately pur-
chase one of the sites for the pur-
pose of erecting the government
armor-plate factory thereon; and
Whereas the government al
ready owns $50 acres of land at
ne flOCh ISldHu IS
land, H., every acre of which is
especially adaptable to use for
manufacturing purposes: there
fore be it
Resolved. That the secretary of
the navy be. and he is hereby.
directed to investigate and care
fully consider tn advantages of
the Rock Island Arsenal military
tract rs a site for the proposed
government armor-plate factory
and report his conclusions on same
to the house of representatives
before deciding upon any other
site. and that in making said in
quiry especial consideration be
given the following dvantages of
the Rock Island military tract
site:
First Everlasting free water
power possibilities, the govern
ment ownings its ow~ plant in the
Mississippi river.
Second. Its central location
geogr, 9hically, making it conven-
lent to ship the finished product
to either the Pacific, Atlantic, or
gulf coast with economy in both
time and transportation costs.
Third. It's strategic location
froL- military standpoint. Being
we'll in the interio. of the country,
it \. ould be much safer from at {
tack and possible capture by an {
enemy in time of war than would |
a site on or near either coast.
Fourth. Should ~oal be needed, =
thee is a greet abundan of ex-
cellenu coal being mined almost at
the very door of Rock Island, and
it is a the same time convenient
to the orefields of the north.
Fifth. BY utilizing a part of the
$50 acres in the Rock Island mil
itary tract several hundred thou
sand dollars which would probably
be necessary to purchase a site
elsewhere would be saved to the
government.
Sixth. The advantages of Rock
Island as manufacturing cen.er,
as demonstrated by the fact that
at the Rock Island arsenal shops
the government is now manufac-
turing rifles, field artillery gun
carriages, and other war equip
ment at from 20 to 30 per centum
below the prices of private manu-
facturers. For instance, three
inch caissons, consisting of wag-
On for carrying ammunition chests,
are being produced st Rock Island
for s1,0S1, as against a cost of
81, 70S when purchased from pri-
vate manufacturers; three-inch
gun carriages proper (the vehicle
on which the gun rests and from |
which IT is fred are being pro- !