Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-12
BIG ABERDEEN ARSENAL
To SUPPLY AMMUNITION
Government to Erect Complete
Plant for War Supplies
in Maryland.

Washington, May l2.-Plans of the
war department for the establishment at
Aberdeen, Md, of a gigantic ammunition
arsenal, TO be known as the Aberdeen
Ammunition Arsenal, were revealed yes
terday for tho first time when House
leaders were requested to make an appro-
priation of S5,500,000 for the project.
Consideration was given to the sngges-
tion that the appropriation be included
in the sundry civil appropriation bill,
upon which the House was working, but
as the bill was about ready for passage
the Maryland appropriation failed To
get in.
The appropriation will be inserted in
the bill when it gets TO the Senate, ac-
cording to the present plan. The war
department in its request for Congress
to take immediate action points out that
immediate savings of more than $4,000
900 can be effected If the Aberdeen pro-
ject is approved.
Representatives I.inthicum, Coady and
Benson have been comforting with the
war department relative to the project
and it is understood the information they
have given has been helpful TO the de-
partmcnt in making its decision.
The appropriation is to be obtained
through the salvage Of ammunition plants
constructed during the war at Tullytown,
Pa; Amatol, \. j., and Jacksonville,
Tenn. These plants are to be abandoned
and the entire ammunition production
of the government concentrated at Aber-
deem
1t is known the plans have been adopted
by the war department after long study
bv a special board of officers who lnvestl-
gated the various government projects.
Through location and concentration of
the ammunition production at Aberdeen
the war department expects to increase
the efficiency of that department and also
To effect a considerable saving, both IN
the salvaging of the temporary plants
and in the future maintenance of the ar
senal Mt Aberdeen.
The magnitude of this enterprise is
revealed in the study given by the appro-
priations committee of the House Of the
existing status of ammunition production
During the war the government built
q temporary smoleless powder plant at
Nashville, Tenn. the cost Of which was
about 500, 900 900. \ propelling charge
loading plant was built nj Tullytown,
Pa. which cost about 81 600, 900, and a
high explosive shell loading plant at
Amatol, \. j., cost about Sl1 100000.
The maintenance of these plants has
been burden upon the government and
this burden would increase as the tempo
rary facilities deteriorate. il is known.
In choosing the Aberdeen site the
war department experts had IN mind
the opportunity offered by the proximity
of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and
the Edgewood Arsenal (gas center).
With these conditions, the best facilities
will be offered for the solution of the
many problems which arise with the
production of ammunition. The pro-
duction of ammunition is recognized as
the most difficult problem OF the munitions
program.
The proposed powder plant will have
capacity Of 10000 pounds per eight
hours. which IS the smallest capacity
that viii enable manufacturing conditions
to be fully tried ont and understood and
viii give satisfactory data as to cost
The other portions of the proposed arsenal
Will be in proportion to the smokeless
powder capacity.