Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-28

secured. S1.917.2O0 is for new build
ings The remainder. 1898. 9O3 At. will
be for turning out the manufacture
pTOduCt-material and labor.
These appropriations are not in
Guided in the amount of about $50. 000,-
900 appropriated for the arsenals OF
the country and of which amount the
arsenal, it is figured, will secure be
tween 100000 and $5,000000. 1t is
the problem Of getting out the addi-
tional work therefore, which faces the
commandant of the arsenal.
Colonel Burr has been directed to
20 ahead and manufacture all the
products he can himself. If he cannot
turn out the materials at the Rock
Island arsenal, he is directed to pur
chase them on the market. If he can
buy them in this community as cheap
" as elsewhere, he will do SO. Other
wise he will go into the open market
If he can get the men and manufacture
the materials himself, it will mean
that the money expended for this pur-
pose surely will be spent in the com
munity.
Artillery Munitions Plant.
These figures do not include the men
who will be needed to operate the new
field artillery ammunition plant which
will be erected at the arsenal. 1t Will
be nearly a year before this plant can
be finished and the number of men to
be employed will then be added TO the
5000 or 5000 who, it is expected, will
be on the payroll by that time.
The new field artillery ammunition
plant will cost $3.50, 900. Major King
from the arsenal is now in the east
visiting the munitions plans with a
view to getting ideas for the erection
Of the building He will be home in
about a month and will place his ideas
before Colonel Burr. Plans will then
be prepared and bids called for. 1t is
expected that ground for the plant will
be broken early in the spring and the
building will be completed early in the
fall.
The money for the operation of the
small arms plant, where Springfield
rifles will be made, is not included in
the amounts which have been directly
appropriated for the arsenal. This
will amount to about 100000. The
Springfield arsenal was TO get two
thirds Of the amount and the Rock Is
land arsenal One-thiTd. Owing to the
fact that expert small arms workmen
are being employed in private NUM-
lions plants in this country and Can
ada. It is almost impossible 10 get this
class of labor.
II will be necessary, therefore, to
train wOrkmen for these positions.
More men are being put to work con
stantIv I'm this department at the ar
senal and Colonel Burr expects to be
able TO turn out the first parts for
these rifles in about a month. The
first Of the finished product will not
be completed for about six months.
Other Labor Benefited.
The erection of the new buildings, !
costing $l.917,200 will require all
kinds of skilled labor employed in
lines. Besides the field
artillery ammunition plant there will
be erected storehouses for field artil- /
lery and other manufactured products
and nitrate, costing over $25O,0OO
These figures indicate the tremen- /
dous activity which will prevail at .
the Rock Island arsenal and point out
problems which the people Of the com +
will have to help solve. il they 1
are TO reap the full benefit of these
additions TO the arsenal.