theretofore the home yard of the ship. Altogether the accumulation or assembling of this large reserve fleet makes a general demand upon the yard which is beyond any development for which the yard has been heretofore planned or provided.

Mr. BUTLER. As I understand, the increased use of this yard shows that it is very desirable as a repair station?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; and especially a station for vessels in reserve.

Mr. LEE. Admiral, on page 47 of the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912, he makes the following recommendation regarding graving docks:

With a view to natural increase in size of vessels, a 1,000-foot dock for the Atlantic and one for the Pacific coast is recommended, the locations to be determined later. I have introduced a bill, known as H. R. 17760, and I will read the bill.

A BILL Authorizing an appropriation for a dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of constructing at the Philadelphia Navy Yard a dry dock extending from the Delaware River to the back basin, approximately a length of 1,700 feet, of depth and width corresponding with the locks of the Panama Canal, and capable of accommodating two of the largest battleships of the Navy, there be appropriated the sum of $3,000,000: Provided, That said dry dock be so constructed with a middle gate or caisson that one or two vessels may be handled, as the occasion may require.

I would like to know what it would cost, in your opinion, to build a dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 1,700 feet long, connecting the Delaware River with the back basin?

Admiral STANFORD. There has been a preliminary estimate of $3,000,000 made to cover that work.

Mr. LEE. Can you give me the cost to construct a dry dock at any other point, say a thousand feet long?

Admiral STANFORD. We can give you the cost of the docks which have been constructed. There is one under contract at Pearl Harbor which will cost approximately $3,480,000.

Mr. LEE. What is the length of that dock?

Admiral STANFORD. It has a net length of 1,000 feet, between the caisson when in position and the head of the dock.

Mr. LEE. Why can a dry dock 1,700 feet in length be built at Philadelphia cheaper than at any other point?

Admiral STANFORD. The proposed situation at Philadelphia has the advantage that no great difficulty on account of foundations would be anticipated. There is a firm stratum of gravel which is found at a desirable depth for the construction of the dock. There is also available a local supply of sand and gravel which would very materially reduce the cost of concrete as compared with construction work at other stations where such supply is not obtainable. The location is also convenient to the general supply market. The cement would probably be as inexpensive as at any other place, and likewise other materials required in the construction. Those are the principal physical reasons which would be of advantage in connection with the Philadelphia construction.

Mr. Foss. When was the 700-foot dock built?

Admiral STANFORD. It was completed in the last two or three years.

Mr. Foss. How long did it take?

Admiral STANFORD. The original appropriation was made in 1899, but there was much difficulty with the contractors.

Mr. Foss. Was there not great difficulty in finding the proper foundation?

Admiral STANFORD. The dock was first designed without piling for the support of the bottom, and it was afterwards considered that piles were necessary for the proper support, and they were provided under a supplemental agreement.

Mr. LEE. What was the length of the dock?
Admiral STANFORD. Approximately 744 feet.
Mr. Foss. How much did it cost?

Mr. LEE. I think I have that here. long and cost $1,471,550.67.

The dock is 744 feet 61 inches

Mr. HOBSON. Was that the total cost?

Mr. LEE. Yes, sir.

Mr. HOBSON. Including the supplemental contract for piling? The CHAIRMAN. If a dock was built at Philadelphia, would it not be a matter of ultimate economy to make it run from basin to basin, from water to water, instead of being a thousand feet long?

Admiral STANFORD. It was thought at the time the construction of a dock 1,700 feet long was recommended that a length of 1,700 feet would be desirable, inasmuch as the cost of a 1,000-foot dock with long approaches

The CHAIRMAN (interposing). The difference between the two would not be a matter of economy in the ultimate use of the dock? Admiral STANFORD. It was not so considered.

Mr. HOBSON. Would it be materially cheaper to extend the existing dock clear across to the other water than to build a new dock from water to water?

Admiral STANFORD. I would not recommend such reconstruction for the reason that it would be necessary to entirely reconstruct the entrance to the dock to provide the necessary depth and width for the enlarged structure. That reconstruction work would result in eliminating construction work which is now serviceable and complete.

Mr. HOBSON. Could you not build from the other water out to the existing dock and build that part of it a thousand feet long?

Admiral STANFORD. That could be done. The objection to that would be that one of the principal needs for this dock is to provide an independent connection between the reserve basin and the Delaware River, and the width of the present dock is not sufficient to afford passageway for the largest vessels.

Mr. HOBSON. Ånd to provide a new channel?

Admiral STANFORD. Which would be absolutely reliable at all times. At the present time the reserve basin is entered through a channel from the Schuylkill River, and there is very rapid and heavy sedimentation or deposit at the junction of this entrance with the Schuylkill.

Mr. HOBSON. It would be an inlet to the reserve basin as well as to the dry dock?

Admiral STANFORD. That is the reason for recommending a dock 1,700 feet in length.

Mr. HOBSON. Has the department made that recommendation?

Admiral STANFORD. The department has not committed itself to a Philadelphia dry dock.

The CHAIRMAN. At what precise point would it be located if located at Philadelphia?

Mr. LEE. I have a map which shows the location.

Admiral STANFORD. It has been recommended that it be placed to the west of the present dock with axis parallel to the present dock. The center line of the proposed dock would be approximately 400 feet west of the center line of Dry Dock No. 2.

Mr. BATHRICK. What is your opinion?

Admiral STANFORD. The need for a dock is a matter of military necessity which involves questions of policy which should properly be answered by the department.

Mr. LEE. Admiral, what would be the result in the event of a battleship grounding on leaving the reserve station at the entrance into the Schuylkill River with the dock in the back basin?

Admiral STANFORD. It would tie up or bottle up every vessel in the basin until such time as the obstructing vessel could be removed or until such time as a new channel could be excavated or dredged around the obstructing vessel.

Mr. LEE. In order to avoid such a contingency, would you not recommend the construction of another outlet from the reserve basin to the Delaware River?

Admiral STANFORD. If the reserve basin is to be used for any considerable number of important vessels there should certainly be some reliable entrance and exit provided, and if the present exit or entrance is not absolutely reliable there should unquestionably be provided a better connection.

Mr. LEE. How many vessels can you dock in the back basin?

Admiral STANFORD. At the present time there is a sea wall sufficient for 14, and there is a piece of wall under construction which will provide berthing space for the fifteenth vessel. That statement is upon the basis that each vessel shall be immediately alongside of the sea wall. If vessels were banked or doubled up or moored out in the center of the basin the number could be increased very considerably. Mr. HOBSON. Are you familiar with the two approaches to the basin?

Admiral STANFORD. I am quite familiar with them.

Mr. HOBSON. Is there any possibility of dredging the Delaware entrance?

Admiral STANFORD. To dredge the east entrance to the basin would require that there should be a bulkhead or sea wall constructed on each side of the channel for the reason that the material on each side is very soft flowing mud or silt which would quickly fill in any deep channel which might be dredged, unless prevented by this sidewall construction.

Mr. LEE. Would not a dry dock, such as my bill proposes, serve the double purpose of an additional outlet and be sufficiently large to dock the largest battleship in the Navy?

Admiral STANFORD. It would.

Mr. LEE. Is it not also a fact that the present outlet has certain difficulties that can be avoided by the construction of this dry dock? For instance, the entrance to the present back basin is about 250 feet wide and is there not some trouble going in and out?

Admiral STANFORD. As I stated before, there is a very rapid and very heavy deposit of sediment in this entrance, where the entrance adjoins the Schuylkill River.

Mr. HOBSON. Have we spent any large amount of money in maintaining that channel? What does it cost, currently-a large amount to keep it open?

Admiral STANFORD. A requisition has just been approved in the amount of $9,700 for dredging that entrance. The entrance was pre

viously dredged two or three years ago.

Mr. HOBSON. You estimate about $5,000 a year?
Admiral STANFORD. Probably $5,000 a year.

Mr. HOBSON. Have any of our important vessels ever gone aground?

Admiral STANFORD. They have touched, but have not stuck fast. Mr. LEE. Have you had any trouble there by anything being sunk in the channel at this particular point?

Admiral STANFORD. I was told by the commandant that a coal barge had been sunk off Girard Point, and he was very much surprised to later find that it had been carried by the current from the place it sunk quite a distance down the Schuylkill and had finally lodged on a bank just before reaching the entrance to the basin. Had the barge gone a little farther it is not impossible that it might have been stuck fast in the channel.

Mr. LEE. There has been quite a controversy in regard to the docking of vessels at League Island. Can you give me the time that it would take to dock 10 vessels at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 10 vessels at New York, or 10 vessels at Norfolk-that is, the difference in time?

Admiral STANFORD. You mean in one dry dock?

Mr. LEE. For instance, if you wanted to take the vessels to the Philadelphia Navy Yard from the open sea, how long would it take to bring 10 vessels to the Philadelphia Navy Yard from the break

water?

Admiral STANFORD. Ninety miles; they would come up in the course of a few hours.

Mr. LEE. How long would it take to dock the same number of vessels in New York? Has not the tide something to do with the docking of vessels at Norfolk and New York?

Admiral STANFORD. It is customary to dock on a rising tide. A deep draft vessel naturally would be docked when the tide was somewhere near the flood stage. In other words, the vessels would naturally wait for a favorable tide no matter whether docked at Philadelphia, New York, or Norfolk.

Mr. LEE. Is it not a fact that you can dock 10 vessels in shorter time at Philadelphia than you can at any other station on account of the tide ?

Admiral STANFORD. I do not see why. The advantage of the Philadelphia yard would result from the fact that they have so much water front berthing space that they could have the vessels accumulate there and they could go into the dock in sequence as the work upon the vessel in dock made possible.

Mr. HOBSON. In carrying out such a program, would the question of current and difficulty in passing up the channel of the Schuylkill River have any material influence upon your decision, assuming that

you wanted to put them in the basin? In other words, has the use of this reserve basin been materially hampered by the difficulties of approach?

Admiral STANFORD. To the best of my knowledge, no. It has recently been the policy of the department to assemble a considerable number of vessels in reserve in the Back Basin, and they were sent there without any question as to the capacity of the yard for receiving and taking care of them.

Thereupon the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, December 11, 1912, at 10.30 o'clock a. m.

THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

Wednesday, December 11, 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 estimate for the complete rebuilding of building No. 7 for central offices was submitted last year?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. We had that matter up and we disallowed it because of the lateness of the submission of the estimate.

Mr. BROWNING. Is that the building which was burned?
Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. We have full information in reference to it. We all saw it.

Mr. Foss. What will you do with the building when rebuilt? Admiral STANFORD. It will be a central office building, and nearly all the officers of the yard will be assembled in that building. Mr. Foss. That was your intention last year?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir. There has been no change in the plan in the meantime.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Sea-wall protection, $12,000." Where is that protection to be, and how much protection, etc.?

Admiral STANFORD. The sea wall is faced with what are called fenders, made of timber, that receive the chafing of the vessels. These timbers decay rapidly because they are alternately wet and dry and exposed to the weather. They are, generally speaking, in a wornout condition, and this appropriation is to provide for their renewal. The CHAIRMAN. Will it be the same character of construction? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Water system, extensions, $15,000." Please explain that, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. That is an item which is required for the service of the reserve fleet. I can describe in detail what is proposed. The CHAIRMAN. Please put that in the hearings.

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

There are two systems of water on this yard, one being supplied from the Delaware River for fire protection, which water is absolutely unfit for drinking purposes, and the other system is supplied with the filtered water of the Philadelphia water system,