The Washington times., 1921-02-18
BIG ARSENAL
FOR ABERDEEN
Army Officers Plan Great Gen.
trail Plant, Cost $500, 900.
Ask Flying Field, Too.

Army officers attending a confer
ence in the office OF Senator John
Walter Smith yesterday revealed that
the Ordnance Department OF the
army has definitely selected Aber-
deem. Md, as the most available site
for a great arsenal.
COST TO BE S5.bOo,Ooo
The maximum cost OF this arsenal,
the officers said, would be $500, 900,
and, regardless OF whether an appro-
prlation Is allowed this session OF
next there Is no division OF opinion
In ordnance circles that the arsenal
should go to Aberdeen.
1t was brought out at the confer
ence that the War Department 10 dis
posing OF the Old Hickory, Amatol
and Nitro powder plants and the
Tullytown arsenal. The army pro-
gram Is to take $500 900 out OF the
proceeds OF the sale OF these plants
and construct a great central arsenal
at Aberdeen.
ASK FLYING FIELD, TOO.
The conference was held In the Of
fice OF Senator Smith at the sugges-
deem chamber OF commerce. These
representatives, headed by the presi-
dent and secretary OF the chamber.
asked the Maryland delegation not
only to make efforts to obtain an i'm
mediate appropriation for the arsenal.
but also to bring the army aviation
field to Aberdeen.
Brig. Gen. w. s. Peirce, assistant
chief of ordinance; Col. J. II. Rice and
Maj c. T. Harris. OF the ordnance de-
partment. attended the conference. In
addition to the Aberdeen delegation
others in attendance. Congressman ].
Charles Linthicum, Charles p. Coady.
Carville ID. Benson and William N.
Andrews, of Maryland.
APPROPRIATION BIG POINT.
as II the plan OF the War Depart
ment to dispose Of these other prop
critics and have a centralized arsenal
at Aberdeen" asked Congressman
Linthicum.
Yes said General PIERCE. 1.-The
sale OF these powder plants was or
dered anyway. but the program is to
construct a big arsenal at Aberdeen
The Aberdeen site has been approved
and recomme nded by the Secretary of
War, and there Is no question that II
Is the one selected by the army. The
now IL TO get tnt
Senator Smith said on account OF
the disposition in Congress TO pare all
appropriations to the bone at this SEES
sion 1t would be difficult TO put
through an appropriation between
now and March 4.
EDGEwOOD NOT SELECTED.
Senator Smith said he understood
aviation sites at Edgewood, Aber-
deem, and points in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey were under consideration
at. the War Department.
"Edgewood has not been selected"
said Senator Smith. Il have been in
terested in seeing the field go to
Maryland, and / called up General
Menoher. head Of the air service, and
he told me positively that no selection
had as yet been made, and a number
of sites in Maryland and other states
are being considered"
Congressman Coady said he had
sounded out sentiment in the House
Appropriations Committee regarding
a 35.500,000 appropriation for the
arsenal
The Aberdeen delegation presented
resolutions recently adopted by the
Chamber of Commerce urging the To-
cation OF the arsenal and also the
aviation field at Aberdeen. which is
now the site Of the proving grounds.
Afterward the delegation called at the
War Department and presented the
resolutions to the Secretary of War.