Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-27
PAY Of ARSENAL
tmPLUTtSH IljriEk
Wages OF Men are Increased D Per
Cent for the Last Fiscal Year
Over Those oil 1918.
PUSHING MANY IMPROVEMENTS
Plans for Construction OF $4,000 Oil
Storage Plant Approved-SJaArt
Work Immediately.

The average individual wage Of the
empIoye at the Rock Island arsenal
was $ per cent higher last year than
in 1913, according to Colonel George
W. Burr, commandment, who argues
that this statement shows that the ar
senaI is not so unfriendly to labor.
For the year ending in June, the TO-
tai expenditures for labor reached
S1.635,9S5 and the total purchases
made reached $1,631,1 1872, making a
grand total for disbursements Of So
467,l17. The average number OF en-
ployes for the last year was 2,012-
a number Of important projects are
being pushed at the arsenal at the
present time. Shop H building, now
used for storage purposes, is being
repaired The walls are cracking, due
to a faulty foundation, and these are
being taken down and the foundations
are being rebuilt. 1t is proposed to
move the equipment department to the
new building from Shop c, leaving the
latter structure to be used exclusively
Tor wood work.
Because the basement Of the lower
arsenal building. the old storage plant
on which the big clock is placed, is
SO damp that it cannot be used, an
area way has been built around it.
An appropriation Of $2400 for this
purpose has been made, It is expected
the improvement will make the cellar
perfectly dry and give room that is
much needed.
Construct New Plant.
One OF the biggest improvements to
be made on the island this fall will be
the erection OF an oil storage plant at
d cost Of $4,000. Plans for the struc-
ture have already been made and ap-
proved and actual work on it is 10 be
started at once. 1t is to be placed on
West avenue, just across the road /
from storehOuse A. and viii be used
for storing oils, paints, varnishes and
other infammab1e materials used in .
the service. 1t is to be strictly fire /
proof building, of reinforced con /
crete. fire doors. and heat proof win /
dows.
The sum of $4,000 is to be spent in +.
painting and refooring the viaduCt
bridge. The subfouudati0n is to re- /
laid The cid plankiug has become /
rotted and in it's place CTeos0ted wood /
blocks viii be installed The street +
car tracks Will have to be torn up and /
traffic viii necessarily he interfered /
with to some extent. However, it is /
proposed to do half of the work at one
time and it is probable that the car /
service may not he seriously cur
tailed, by the use of one track. All
motor vehicles and buggies will be /
barred during the work, but pedes-
trian travel willtn be stopped at all +
Extend Water Mains.
1t is proposed TO spend the sum Of /
$4,000 for the extension Of watermains.
In this way dead ends will be con-
r-oted and the fire protection for (
the buildings increased,
The Improvement OF the. roads on
the island continues. about $4,000 hav-
ing been appropriated for the work
this year. It is proposed TO build at
least a mile of taroid macadam road.
The road now extends from the main
gate TO the shops and this will be con-
tinued, westward to the bridge toward
Davenport and then eastward from the
shops toward Moline. The latter pro
ject may not be completed this year,
but will be continued in 1916. if con
Erass gives sufficient money for the
work.
The Appropriations.
The principal appropriations for the
ordnance department this year and
last follow, although just what part of
the money for this year will come TO i
this arsenal has not been determined: +
Ordnance atores-$125,00 last year;
100000 this year.
Small arms and target practice
S750,00O last year; 100000 this year,
Manufacture Of arms-S450,0 900 last
year; $250,0 600 this year. None Of this
appropriation viii go to Rock Island
arsenal.
Ordnance stores and supplies
$750,000 last year; $1.0o0,000 this.
Most Of this sum viii come here.
Field artiIIery-$2, 100,0 900 last year:
81 100000 this; Large part of this will
be used at Rock Island arsenal.
Armament Of fortticauons-$45 900 +,
last year, $450,000 this
Lieutenant Fred H. Coleman has ar !
rived at the arsenal. coming direct
from Schofeld barracks, Honolulu.
with his wife and two children, sue
ceeding Captain Norton, who has been
transferred TO the east. An order has I
also been issued transferring Lieuten- !
ant Lee 0. Wright from Fort Rose ]
Grams. San Diego, Cal, to the arsenal J
here. He is expected 70 arrive in a j
few weeks. {
FUND FOR BUTLER rs {
-~ I