Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-02
cheaply at Rock Island arsenal than at
any other place.

cheaply at Rock Island arsenal than at
any other place.
Make ExtraVaGant Charges.
Il do not know where the gentlemen
who have spoken get their figures as
to the cost of power at Rock Island.
but in reaching their conclusions they
have evidently added all the sums ever
spent on the power plant and charged
interest on these sums, and they make
It appear that the power developed
there is very expensive. / may be
wrong about it, but contend the gov
eminent does not pay interest OH this
investment But even il this power
plant has been very costly in the past.
submit that that is no reason, now
that the government has the plant.
why II should not take advantage of IT.
There are at Rock Island two large
stone buildings originally erected for
manufacturing purposes at a cost of
approximately $500, 900 each, which are
not now being used except for storage
purposes. II congress will equip these
two buildings for manufacturing, il
will not cost any additional money for
power, because. with the small-arms
plant closed down. there is sufficient
power not being used to operate plants
in these buildings. While l have no
objection TO the Frankfort arsenal be-
ing enlarged, can hardly see as a
business proposition why the govern
ment should buy land in Philadelphia.
when il has $50 acres of land at Rock
Island and two large stone buildings
already there. There is plenty of
room TO expand there
Mr. Donohoe. Mr. Chairman, will
the gentleman yield?'
Mr.. Tavenner. Yes"
"Mr Donohoe. want to ask the
gentleman. in his argument in favor
of the government manufacturing its
own ammunition, where he got his
figures?"
Government Overchsreed.
Mr.. Tavenner. got them from the
Rock Island arsenal and from the
frankfort arsenal. and | will say that
in every government arsenal the gov
eminent is manufacturing at from 20
TO so per cent below the prices of the
private manufacturers This is only
partly due to the efficiency of the ar
senals The real explanation is that
the IlllE mas DteH
the government: both army and navy
officers have been permitting private
manufacturers to overcharge the gov
eminent for munitions of war. The
Frankford arsenal and every govern
ment arsenal is doing work at from 20
to 90 per cent below the prices of the
private manufacturers.
The chairman of the great appro-
priations committee Mr.. Fitzgerald
has stated that when the government
gets ready to centralize the manufac-
ture of its war munitions in one great
national military manufacturing plant
il will not select Frankford arsenal: il
will not select Springfield arsenal: it
will not select Watertown arsenal: but
that il will select Rock Island arsenal
where the government can do its man
ufacturing the cheapest.
Il only wish every member of this
body could come to Rock Island and
see what a magnificent property the
government owns there. The tract
covers $50 acres of d beautiful rock
island in the Mississippi river. every
acre natural park. with beautiful
shade trees and stately drives in evil
dence on every side.
The island is adjacent to the enter
prising and thriving cities of Rock Is
land, Moline. East Moline and Daven.
port, which cities have a combined
population in excess of 100000 and in
the very heart of one of the most
promising manufacturing sites in the
middle west.
Worth Vast Sum.
THE arsenal plant. including build
ings, machinery, and so forth, is worth
s9,492,329. Approximately $500, 900
worth of work was turned out of the
arsenal last year. On Nov. 80 last
1859 men were being employed.
Il am firmly convinced that this
piece of property offers the best site
that can be found for the proposed ST.
100000 government armor-plate fac
tory. and / have introduced a resolu-
ton III. Res. 306J requiring the secre-
tary of the navy to carefully consider
the advantages of Rock Island before
determining upon any other site.
wish to extend an invitation to mem
bers of congress who may be passing
through the Fourteenth congressional
district, the garden spot of Illinois,
10 stop off at Rock Island and meet
the commandment. Colonel George w.