Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-09
CROz!ER IN FAVOR
ARSENAL AS MAIN
MUNITIONSPLANT
fsief nf Ordnance nj United States
Army Endorses Move 81 Con-
gresham TaFenner.
poryTs 10 ADVANTAGES HERE
Strategic Value Of Local Site in Being
Situated Ear Inland IL COM
mented On.

mented On.
Brigsaier General William Crozier,
| ebief of ordnance Of the United States
larmy. has endorsed officially plan for
ll,be construction of munitions factor
II los in the middle west. Rock Island
arsenal being one OF the sites favored
by him. Thus the head Of the ord
nance department finally lends his
support 70 q movement which Con-
gresham G.. II. Tavenner has been
fstheriug during the four years he has
represented the Fourteenth district
General Crozier's approval is set
forth iu letter written TO Congress
man william ". Wilson Of Chicago,
who is in Washington preparing for
TIE coming session OF congress.
Mr. Wilson, who is keenly alive to
the advantages Of the middle west in
connection with the manufacture of
munitions, addressed a letter TO Gen
eraI Crozler asking the chief Of ord
nance for an expression Of opinion on
the following six points:
!. Are the munitions factories of the
United States concentrated in any
section Of the country?
2 II So, is such concentration in the
interest Of the government?
3 II not, where should the factories
be located2
l. Where should government fac
tories be most sdyantageously To-
Gated.
g. Would the arsenal at Rock Island,
Ill.,, he strategically valuable as a
site for a munitions factory?
g. What would be the cost of a gov
eminent plant capable Of turning out
a reasonable supply of ammunition?
Most Factories In East.
Here is General Croziers letter
making categorical response TO each
Of Alr Wilson's questions:
Hon. William W Wilson, member
o. congress. Willard hotel, City. Dear
Mr.. Wilson:
Answering some of the inquiries
contained in your note Of Nov. 3, I can
say 10 you that.
"lal Most OF the munitions factories
in the United States are within a ra-
dus Of I5o miles of New York City.
"lbf Such concentration is not to the
interest Of the government.
"ic I think that the greater part of
these factories should he located be
tween the A1leghanies and the Sierra
Nevada
"tei II would be to the military adj
vantage of the government if its own
Establishments of this nature could he
moved west of the Allegheny noun
tains.
Rock Island Good Site,
"ttl The Rock Island arsenal would
furnish an excellent site for such a
factory,
tgl A plant capable of turning out
a reasonable supply of ammunitions
+ would cost approximately S1,0000o0
exclusive of land and power.
Il will send you a further answer in
regard to the cost Of munitions manu-
featured by the government and also
I when purchased from private manu-
: laeturers Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM CROZIER,
"Brigadier General, Chief of Ordnance,
L. :. A."
Commenting upon the desirability OF
making the middle west the center of
the munitions industry in the country
Mr.. Wilson said at Washington:
When ! read in the Chicago Herald
some days ago the suggestion that mu-
nitions plants should be located in the
Piddle west / became deeply i'm
pressed not merely by the desirability
Of such action but by the necessity OF
il from a military and strategical point
Of view.
The states Of that great region
either produce coal or natural gas or
iron and steel. and there is an ample
labor supply at convenient points, In
addition. there are thousands upon
thousands of horse power developed
rom streams, or capable OF develop
ment which could be utilized in the
manufacture Of munitions.
This particularly is true of Rock
island. which. I understand. manufac-
Mred munitions for time, but which
no longer Is in that business Rock
island draws upon Illinois and Iowa
LOT lis labor, and there is no difficulty
IN getting plenty of men
Coal and Power Near.
The Illinois coal fields are conve
flienl, and Of course there is the water
power ar hand. Moreover, Rock Island