ARSENAL MANUFACTURES

Practically every article which a soldier in the United States army, members of the state national guards, and students of military tactics in the colleges and universities receiving government aid, may need is made here. The arsenal manufactures in addition to the saddle in all its parts, beginning with the lumber used in the saddletree, the bridle, saddle bars, harness, rifle, halter, horse brush, uniform, scabbard, cartridge box, saber belt and numerous other similar articles known as cavalry and horse equipment, canteen, cup, meat can, knife, fork and spoon, the haversack, tents aud other accoutrements of duck and other material and the bits, spurs, picket pin, etc., of metal.

Many sets of artillery harness are annually manu­ factured and pack outfits for mountain artillery when it is necessary to carry guns and ammunition on the backs of pack animals.

The arsenal also manufactures field guns, carriages, limbers, caissons, battery wagons and their tools, implements, etc. All of the field artillery carriages manufactured at the arsenal are tested on the island, a special observation tower providing a river range for firing up the river of approximately 6,500 yards being provided. Wooden, paper and similar targets, steel silhouette frames and pasters used in target practice, as well as the insignia indicating the soldiers' classification in markmanship and that on saddle cloths, rosettes on bridles and similar ornaments in jewelers' work, are all manufactured here.

ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION

An enviable record has been established by the arsenal for economical production. Many instances could be given where in competition with commercial firms, it has produced better material at a much less cost to the government. The manufacture of carriages for field guns and other vehicles aud material for field artillery is one of its principal productions, but the capacity of the plant is such that it can produce about one-third of the total quantity needed by the government, the remainder being bought from contractors. Could it all be made here, a large savins in cost would be effected. The current sundry civil bill for 1913 carries an appropriation of $250.000 for the purpose of increasing the facilities for the manufacture of mobile artillery material and it is hoped that this amount will soon be available so that the arsenal may be able to supply the entire needs in this line of production. With the present capacity the actual cost value of the annual out­put is approximately $2.750,000.

 

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

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