Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-28
SALE or ARMY
SURPLUS AIDS
U. INDUSTRY
General Eur Tells EAtarians 81
Policy Which War Depart.
ment Has Followed.

Methods followed By the war de-
partment in disposing Of surplus
supplies and in settling war con-
| tracts have had much to do with
the restoration OF normal iadus-
trial activity in this country Ma
ior General George ". Burr. for
mer commanGant az Rock Island
arsenal, told Rock Island Rotar-
ians about it at noon today Gen
eraI Burr is an honorary member
of the local organization. or
ciaIlv he is director Of supplies Of
the army. and disposal-of surplus
supplies and settlement Of con-
tracts fall under his general super
vision.
Approximate q billion dellare
has been received from the sur-
plus 50 far disposed Of and the
government has realized 81 per
cent Of the original cost. There
remain supplies valued at perhaps
twice as much. but less readily
saleable That has been selected
for prior disposal which is most
needed in civil life
Talks in Billions.
Last January there was a vast,
work ahead in settling war con-
tracts. of which $4,000 100000
worth were outstanding at the tine
the arn1istice vas signed No less
than 2s.0o0 prime contracts and
nearly four times as many sub
contracts were TO he handled. So
expeditiously has the task pro-
gressed that $4,000 holders Of
prime contracts have been COM
pensated, with q saving OF So per
cent to the government, counting
the loss total il the contracts had
been filled and the materials all
used in war
General Burr tcld something OF
his experiences abroad during the
VAR. Of the tri-eity men he met in
France and England and Of the ex-
tent to which women replaced men
in the making of war munitions
over there. Fully IS per cent Of
the factory workers were women
and the few men left were either
wounded or infrul, and unfit for
service in the army. The speaker
paid high compliment to the Brit
ish and the French people. He di-
crossed for a moment to pay his
respects to men in industry who
are trying to reduce their working
hours daily to six and their work.
days in the week to five. mo man
who ever amounted to anything
won success on that basis" said he.
The general came to Rock Is
land arsenal on an official mission.
He spoke highly of his tri-city CON
nections. saying this community
seems more like home to him than
any other spot on earth.
Plan Seasons Work.
No program had been arranged
for today's meeting and sugses-
lions were in order for the seasons
work. A number of them were
forthcoming and more will be
heard from them later Dan Ward
was made chairman of a commit
tee to arrange for the first of a Sc
ries of quad-city Rotary meetings.
Hugh Crawford was appointed
manager of a minstrel show for
the purpose Of raising money to
pay expenses of the Rotary band
at the international meeting next
summer.
IN order to keep the Milan road
shoothed and crowned the Rotary
club is to have q drag made and
left on the ground with a sign read
ing Drag Me to the Other End of
the Road" as an Invitation to pass
ing motorists. Materials we're do
mated by various members and A.
z. Horst agreed TO build the drag.
The suggestion was offered that
signs be placed on the bridges
urging drivers to keep out of the
ruts and SO avoid the chief cause
of depreciation.
Rock Island members are ar
ranging for a special car in which
to go to Champaign to a Rotary
meeting Nov. Is Davenport, Mo-
line. East Moline and Kewaqee are
expected to be represented in the
party.