Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-28
Fifteen Hundred to Be Add
ed by April l Says
Colonel Burr.
BIG BOOM FOR CITIES
Housing of New Families Is
Problem Put Up to Com
mercial Bodies.

Fifteen hundred additional wOrkmen
will be needed at Rock Island arsenal
by the first Of next April, bringing the
operating force up to 4 600 This state
ment is made by Colonel George W.
Burr. Commaudant at the arsenal.
Total appropriations for the local
government plant for 1916 are an
nounced as S11.S16.OOo. Il is hoped to
manufacture all Of the army supplies
IN the contracts assigned TO Rock Is
land in the time specified, but if this is
not possible work viii be sublet TO tri-
city factories 10 relieve the arsenal of
such portions as 1t is unable to manu-
faCture.
Colonel Burr has put up to the COM
merCial organizations of the COmmun-
ity the problem of housing new fam
lilies that will be brought here through
employment AZ the arsenal. He ex-
poets also that the bodies will aid in
supplying the men that are needed. Al
ready the Davenport Commercial club
has got busy. 1t held a meeting yes
terday TO discuss the situation Real
estate men were present and gave ex-
pert counsel as TO the type of homes
that would he most attractive to the
new families that will come here.
More fat buildings were urged, as we'll
as small modern homes bringing reas-
enable rental
Thus IL behOOveS Rock Island and
Moline 10 make similar moves if they
are 10 get their share of increased
population that will result from the
expansion of the government plant. 1t
is 10 be hoped that the mistake will
not be made here of stiffening rentals
in anticipation Of rush for houses.
That will only have the effect of driv-
ing the newcomers to neighbOring cit
les. Rock Island right now needs more
houses and fat buildings The fam
lilies that Will be brought here will re
main. The expansion Of the arsenal is
permanent to all intents and pur-
poses. There are several cities sur
rounding the arsenal where the en-
ployes can find housing acCommoda-
tiOns for their families. Naturally
they will locate where the living cOndi-
tons are most attractive
Expansion Of the local arsenal is
one Of the first fruits OF the campaign
Tor government manufacture of war
munitions begun a few years ago by
Congressman Clyde II. Tavenner Of
the Fourteenth district. The midwest
preparedness conference held in Dav-
export last fall centered attention on
location for munitions factories. Con-
gresham Tavenner and the late Con-
gresham Pepper CT the Second Iowa
district did effective team work in be-
half Of Rock Island arsenal. Con-
gresham Hull, now representing the
Second Iowa district, has carried on
the work where Congressman Pepper
left of. with accomplishments graft
flying alike to the people of the dis
tricts of Congressman Tavenner and
Congressman Hull.
Facts Arouse Public.
Tavenner paved the way in his agi-
tatiOn before congress, supplemented
by his newspaper campaign, wherein
he showed by actual figures how the
government could save millions by
manufacturing its own munitions. The
development of dhe local arsenal
merely proves that the government is
gradually becoming converted 10 the
position assumed by Congressman
Tavenner after an investigating of the
contracts between the government and
private manufacturers and an expose
u the fabulous profits accruing TO
those interests among whom the gov
eminent was parceling work II could
turn out in its own plants at an enor-
nous saving 10 the people.
OF the 81, SIG. 103.47 which has been