Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
ARSENAL USES $2,648,778 IN
PROJECTS OPERATED ON DURING
LAST half OF ITS FISCAL YEAR
Buildings and Roads Take. 81 go.
SIS for Work, and Bridges
Require S1SS02.24.

Duu0inSS ana HOo06 Y1k0. l,zoUys
SIS for Work, and Bridges
Require s1S,S02s4.
Rock Island arsenal expended .
total of s2,s4S,7sS.6s for the various
main items in the upkeep of the is
land plant during 1919, to the close
of the fiscal year, June Is. The
sum of $1,2S0,518.13 was used for
constructing repairing and pre-
serving buildings. roads, Sewers
etc. Bridge construction, repairing.
and preservation used up $18,-:
S02.24. The sum of 1894 ,035.1S was
spent on Rock Island water power
dikes and dams, while machines and
shop fixtures received $1,115, ,423.1
worth of attention.
the year included a number Of ware
houses, some additions to shops.
and many miscellaneous structures.
Two big new features were the
hydro-electric plant, installed Jan.
l, and the cafeteria for employees.
opened for business Jan. 5, at .
cost Of $4,000.
Coincident with the signing Of the.
armistice which stopped hostilities,
in the world war came decrease I'M
the great volume of war munitionsl
orders, and q consequent dismissal
Of surplus employees. The year OIL
1919 began with payroll of s,224l
at the arsenal, although the maxi
mum list of 1928 had prevailed
only q few months before. BY thel
end Of the fiscal year, in June, the
number had shrunk to 1900. Later
It went as low as $500, but 1t pres
ent there are nearly 1900 employees
at the island plant and at Savanna.
Is Tank Center.
The sudden increase in the past
months was 0ccasioned by another
important innovation for the ar
senal-making that plant the center
Of the United States tank. tractor
! and trailer division Of the trans
portation department. This dis
tinction became attached to the arr
senal when it was found that such 4
center was needed, q place where
the three motor vehicles Incorporate
ed in the name tank, tractor and
trailer division" should be assem-
bled, received for repairs and dis
trfbuted for service. Accordingly
quantities Of these three vehicles
have arrived at the plant, and spe-
cificAtions for others are ON hand.
Besides this work another gov
ernment job has succeeded in keep
ing q number Of machinists and la
borers busy for months. That is
the salvaging Of ordnance equip
ment and other supplies which
/, were in use overseas or at train
| ing camps. Many rides, guns, and
miscellaneous articles of general
service usage have been turned in
to be cleaned, repaired and stored
away for future use.
Employees Welfare Important
In the annual report to congress
concerning the activities of the
arsenal for its fiscal year, q point
Is made Of the fact that care for
the welfare Of employees has al
ways been . strong factor In the
works performed by the arsenal
administration. In attempting to
discover the very best method Of
bringing the needs of the employe
and the demands Of the employer
face to face for gaining the fairest
decision on both, Commandant Co.
lionel Harry B. Jordan late Ia the
summer encouraged the Institution
among the workers Of Q central
council. This body, formed 20: ~
to Be representative proportiohail5
Of all factions In the plant, holds
regular meetings. when any Ques1
tion rs to the local rules and reg.
ulations about the arsenal grounds,
Improvements Of any kind regard
cd a. needed by the delegate sug-
gesting them, or 40 to working con-
j citions or wages. are deliberated
upon. Its membership is composed
VI three workmen fro meach de-
partment, foremen being ex-olnclo
members. and Q certain systematic
delegation of officers from the per
manent staff.
j As suggested in the annual re-
port, two needs Of the arsenal al
present are Q permanent fireprooi
extension of the present once
building and some additional sets
Of officers quarters. An appr0pris
ation of $150,000 which has been
allowed for Office buildings Is suf-
ficient to build only two-flfths ol
the structure necessary to alter -ths
present building. The office force
70 much increased and the moo,
space has not grown accordingly
SO that consequently the place Il
crowded.
j Fewer Officers.
Starting the year with more thar
nifty Officers stationed at the is.
land. together with varying mum.
ters Of soldiers maintained as I
guard. the end Of 1919 saw the ON.
cial star cut to its pre-war stand.
Ing of Is. apportioned among tht
various departments. No regular
army men are retained for guard
the company which was thers hav.
ing been sent farther west during
midsummer.