Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-31
The World Wide War Trust

, onsi Burr. the oomnAudant AZ the arse
nal. power Is being developed az a
cost OF seOO3e per kfiowatt hour Con-
trast this cost in a government-owned
plant with the fact that some 50 or 30
miles down the Mississippi river Is
the great privateiy-owned heokuk dam
and water power. the greatest on this
continent. Using the same water in
the same river. the private company
90 developing power which IS costing
consumers from 10 10 "A cents per kilo-
watt hour. which IS nom 80 10 90
times more than Il costs 10 develop
the power az the Rock Island arsenal
And Colonel Burr states that the ca
pacity OF the power plant az Rock Is
land can a. = very small expense be
greatly increased
Z have eadeavored 20 Impress upon
congress what a really great prize the
government has IA its Rock Island ar
seual property. pointing out the fact
that its capacity for money saving can
be- greatly enlarged az comparatively
small expense have called the at
tention OF congress 90 these special
advantages or Rock Island arsenal;
Firrt Everlasting cheap WATERPROOF
or possibilities. che government own
ms Sos own plant in The Mississippi
river
Second. TIE eeutral location geo
graphically making % convenient 20
ship the finished product 20 either the
Pacific Atlantic or Euif coast with
economy in both time and transporta-
zion costs.
Third It's strategic location from
military standpoint. Being well IN tie
interior o. the country. Dc would be
much safer from attack and possible
capture by an enemy in time OF war
than would o. E.to on or near either
coast
Fourth should coal be needed.
there o. great abundance of excel
lent coal being mined almost az the
Fery door 1f Rock Island. and it is al
the same time convenient 20 the ore
fields of tho north
Fifth HE utilizing a part Of The $50
acres ir the Rock Island military tract
several hundred thousand dollar
which would probably De necessary 90 .
purchase "a Eite elsewhere would De
saved fo the government.
SIXTH The advantage of Rock Is .
land nE O mauufaciuFiuF center. az .
demonstrated by the fact that at the .
Rock island arsenal shops the govern.
merr is now manufacturing niles. .
Heid-artulory gun carriages. and other T.
var equipment 40 from 20 20 so per
cent below tha prices of private manu-
Iarturrrs
seventh The location uf the mills
larry tract iu che heart of great man
lIHctgr.ug center. being within tao
miles of Rock Island. Moline. East AI0-
ire Ui. and Davenport. Iowa. an of
which arc essentially uluufacturirE
.ItI.-. embracing combined ucuula-
ION OF more thu 100000 people. at-
urd.rs employment 90 thousands of
mechanic and furnishing am ideal
'rid from which The government may
'rlw IfE s.iiCd labor and other help.
.FiHf ls very Important con idera-
ion lu such au industrial cuterpr SCI
.s % great government ulitary manu-
arfuruE center
There arc also sf Roe. Island arse
.ai tvo great stone nuGliuz-. orig
-slIy constructed Tor manufacturing
purposes lf cost OF approximately
ZOO 600 each. FuI being used only
1r storage purposes. These two build
r-H arc magnificent structures. and r
70 cost % S-rNrnn each could Dee
ug.ppHf with the necessary uaeEiu- g.
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