The CHAIRMAN. Building No. 42 surrounds building No. 43, does it not?

Admiral STANFORD. No. 43 is in the interior of the square formed by building 42.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Dredging, to continue, $10,000." Admiral STANFORD. That is for removal of deposits in the slips to maintain them at necessary depth.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Sewers and drains, $3,600." Admiral STANFORD. The north end of the yard is being filled in, as result of which drains have been blocked off, and this item is for the purpose of extending the drainage and sewer system.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Additional oil storage, $5,000." Admiral STANFORD. The present oil house was constructed at a cost of $20,000, and it is represented that the amount of oil to be handled and stored is greater than the oil house can accommodate. It is considered necessary that a new building of equal capacity should be built adjoining the present structure, so as to double the storage capacity. At the present time certain oils and combustibles are stored in adjacent buildings for lack of space in the oil house, which is a dangerous and uneconomical procedure. The amount in the estimates, however, is but a part of that which was requested by

the yard.

The CHAIRMAN. Is it proposed to simply start it with this?

Admiral STANFORD. The amount would not permit of an extension along the same lines as the original structure. Five thousand dollars would provide a shelter or some less expensive storage room than the one previously constructed.

Mr. ROBERTS. Is that used for the storage of machine oil?

Admiral STANFORD. It is used principally for the storage of oil for distribution to ships, lubricating oil, etc.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Extension to yard dispensary, $2,800."

Admiral STANFORD. It is desired to enlarge the dispensary in order to provide accommodations for the dentist and his assistants. This estimate will also permit of building a room for two hospital apprentices who have to be on duty at night.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Air compressor, power plant, $35,000."

Admiral STANFORD. The engine room is now provided with one 5,000-foot air compressor, and this item is to provide an additional air compressor of the same capacity as a safeguard against any disabling of the machinery which is now installed. It is very important that there should be no failure in the supply of compressed air to avoid the delay which would result in shop operations and the loss which would thereby be occasioned.

The CHAIRMAN. And that is used for power purposes?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; for drilling, chipping, and general work in shops and aboard ships; compressed air is a very important and essential adjunct to the yard.

Mr. HOBSON. Many of the tools are operated by that power.

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; and there should be no failure of the supply of compressed air, because it is a most efficient power, and if the supply should fail it would mean that many workmen

using pneumatic tools would be idle and the work upon which they were engaged would be delayed.

The CHAIRMAN. With reference to the items in this paragraph, I will ask you to put in the hearings a statement indicating the relative importance or necessity of these various items. For instance, in that statement you should refer to the item you regard as the most important as No. 1, the next in importance as No. 2, and so I make that suggestion so that if the committee should not see fit to allow all of the items, or if the House should desire information as to the relative importance of the various items, we would be in a position to state which items are the most important and which ones are relatively less important.

Admiral STANFORD. I can answer that at once, Mr. Chairman, if you like, by stating that the items would seem of importance in the order in which they appear in the paragraph, except that the item for the remodeling of building numbered 40 should be at the bottom of the list.

The CHAIRMAN. Then, with reference to these other items here for public works at the Portsmouth yard, insert in the hearings a statement showing the relative importance of those items.

Admiral STANFORD. I would say in the order in which they stand. Thereupon, at 1.15 o'clock p. m., the committee adjourned until to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock a. m.

THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Tuesday, December 10, 1912. The committee this day met, Hon. Lemuel P. Padgett (chairman) presiding.

STATEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL H. R. STANFORD, CHIEF BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS-Continued.

The CHAIRMAN. The Admiral states that he wants to correct or modify a statement that he made yesterday with reference to the radio appropriation.

Admiral STANFORD. I find upon further inquiry and investigation that the appropriation was made under the Bureau of Equipment, and the Bureau of Equipment funds are allotted by the Secretary with the approval of the President. The appropriation was not made to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, as stated yesterday. There has not yet been any official apportionment or distribution of that item of $1,000,000 by the President.

Mr. ROBERTS. They are going ahead and spending the money? Admiral STANFORD. They are going very slow in obligating that amount pending the obtaining of certain information from the tion of the Arlington station.

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Mr. ROBERTS. How could you spend any of that money if there has not been any apportionment? The Bureau of Equipment does not exist. You have spent some of it?

The CHAIRMAN. Not a dollar goes to Arlington.
Admiral STANFORD. No; not a dollar.

The CHAIRMAN. The authorization of $1,000,000 and the appropriation of $400,000 was for stations at Panama, on the California coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, and the Philippines, but it did not take in Arlington. That plant was in the course of construction when we appropriated the other money.

Admiral STANFORD. Yesterday there was considerable discussion on the item of $425,000, which is a limit placed under the appropriation "Maintenance" for the employment of clerical and technical assistance. From the annual report of the Paymaster General it is determined that the expenditure last year on account of office force was $293,186.26, or less than the limit by considerable; in the annual report of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, just issued, it is noted. that the total value of the work performed during the last fiscal year under the supervision of the bureau was $9,500,818.98, or, there was something less than $300,000 for office and technical employment required for the expenditure of over $9,500,000, which is a very small percentage.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is on page 55 of the bill, "Navy yard, New York, N. Y.: Paving and grading, to continue, $25,000, instead of $15,000 appropriated last year. What is the necessity for that, how much grading and paving have you to do, and what is the nature?

Admiral STANFORD. Extensive work is necessary for the reconstruction of worn-out pavements and for extension to portions of the yard which are not yet properly paved. This expenditure will undoubtedly result in very large savings in the routine operations of the yard. The item is not to cover any one continuous piece of paving, but it is for the general improvement of the paving throughout the yard and of such portions as are worn out and are not now in really a serviceable condition to permit of the hauling of loads which must be hauled incident to the operations of the yard. A portion of the amount is to better pave to the vicinity of the new piers which are under construction and to permit of the better utilization of the northern portion of the yard, that is the portion on the opposite side from the basin from the principal part of the yard. The CHAIRMAN. What does such paving cost you?

Admiral STANFORD. It will probably cost from $3 to $3.50 a yard, dependent upon the character of the paving.

Mr. BUTLER. Is that granolithic paving?

Admiral STANFORD. Belgium or granite block as required for the heaviest traffic, and brick or creosote wood block for other portions. Mr. BROWNING. Do you lay the Belgium block with concrete foundations?

Admiral STANFORD. Ordinarily; yes. There may be some macadam pavement or solid ground where a special foundation will not be required, but speaking generally there would be a concrete foundation.

Mr. BUTLER. This item of $25,000 was submitted to you by the yard officers?

Admiral STANFORD. That was a request from the yard.

Mr. BUTLER. When they sent it down did they indicate in the request where the paving was to go?

Admiral STANFORD. In general.

Mr. BUTLER. They did not indicate which streets were to be paved?

Admiral STANFORD. The approximate areas; approximately, the portion of each street which will be paved.

Mr. BUTLER. Are you personally acquainted with the place that they propose to pave?

Admiral STANFORD. I am not with this particular bit of work, because it is a little here and a little there. It is not one large extensive work; it is general work.

Mr. BUCHANAN. The repair work can be done at the same price as other work?

Admiral STANFORD. I doubt if it will cost any more than new work, because instead of requiring excavation or preparing of the site it would mean that they would take up the old paving to replace it, which would be less expensive, probably.

Mr. BUCHANAN. The foundations would be all right?

Admiral STANFORD. I think so.

The CHAIRMAN. What length of street paving have you in the yard-the total?

Admiral STANFORD. I would have to refer to the record.

The CHAIRMAN. Please put that in the hearings.

Admiral STANFORD. Twenty-five thousand three hundred and fifty linear feet.

Mr. TRIBBLE. What is the character of the paving now?
Admiral STANFORD. Mostly granite-block paving.

Mr. TRIBBLE. How long since it was put down?

Admiral STANFORD. The oldest was placed from 50 to 60 years ago and the last has been in use for about 9 years.

The CHAIRMAN. When you use the Belgium block and one side becomes worn and irregular, can it be taken up and reversed? Admiral STANFORD. Very frequently that is done.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you do that?

Admiral STANFORD. All material saved from old construction is conserved most carefully and used to the best advantage possible. Mr. BUCHANAN. What do you mean by Belgium block?

Admiral STANFORD. Stone roughly hewn to the rectangular form, using some tenacious or hard stone. This type of paving is very desirable along the water front where the loads are particularly heavy.

The CHAIRMAN. I will be glad if you will put in the hearings a statement showing the amount of roadway that is in the yard.

Admiral STANFORD. The total paved area?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir; so we can see how much there is in the aggregate on which this money would be expended. As I understand, it is a general-improvement scheme? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What will it cost to relay the Belgian block, assuming that you can reverse the block and reuse it?

Admiral STANFORD. If the foundation is such that it simply means the addition of a little bed sand in order to bring the blocks up to grade, it should not cost over 40 or 50 cents a square yard.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you any data in your office from which you could give us information as to the approximate amount of the Belgian block that could be relaid?

Admiral STANFORD. I can obtain it.

The CHAIRMAN. And put it in the hearings?

Admiral STANFORD. Probably 1,000 square yards.

Mr. BROWNING. I did not know that the Belgian block ever wore out. It can be relaid at any time. If you put Belgian block on a concrete foundation I do not think it will ever wear out.

Admiral STANFORD. The chances are that it can be relaid having the same face exposed as originally used.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Yard railroad, extension and equipment, $40,000," instead of $10,000 last year. Please fully explain that.

Admiral STANFORD. Increased traffic and the large increase in the weights of loads transported require that considerable portions of the track system shall be replaced with heavier and more modern construction. A new locomotive, an additional locomotive crane, and additional cars are also required.

They are experiencing considerable difficulty in the New York yard because of the type of track which is in service because it does not lend itself to efficient paving up to the rail. There is always difficulty at this junction line, and they wish particularly to put in switches of different type in order that the streets may be more efficiently paved and made more serviceable and should especially reduce the difficulties experienced in time of freezing weather when water gets into the switch and prevents its moving, unless dug out, or freezing prevented by sprinkling salt or other means.

The CHAIRMAN. Please put in the hearings a statement as to the amount of railroad track to be constructed, as explained, and also the equipment which you expect to purchase, and a statement as to the cost of each; for instance, how much of the $40,000 will be appropriated to relaying the track, how much for the purchase of a locomotive, how much for the purchase of a crane, and the items for which the $40,000 will be expended.

Admiral STANFORD. Rebuild and relay 8,000 feet of track, at $3.25, $26,000; one locomotive, $5,500; one locomotive crane, $6,500; four flat cars, $2,000.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item, "Dredging, to continue, $100,000," instead of $50,000. Please state to the committee what that is to dredge, the character, etc.

Admiral STANFORD. This estimate is based upon dredging the navyyard basin and its berths and approaches to a maximum depth of 33 feet below mean low water. At the present time an attempt is made to preserve a minimum depth of 30 feet. On account of slight shoaling, due to sedimentation and silting up, the basin is too shallow for modern ships of approximately 30 feet draft, especially considering that at times the depth of water is considerably less than 30 feet,