Admiral STANFORD. I think this should be $300,000 instead of $350,000.

The CHAIRMAN. Does that apply to the other place where we considered the crane?

Admiral STANFORD. I think that was $300,000.

The CHAIRMAN. There is the same necessity for this and there is the same reason that you explained heretofore?

Admiral STANFORD. The same apparatus.

The CHAIRMAN. Is this to be a floating crane or a stationary crane? Admiral STANFORD. I would prefer not to commit myself until after I get further data and information. The appropriation is sufficient for the more expensive or floating type; and in case one of the land type should be determined upon, the full amount of the appro priation would not be required.

Mr. LEE. You ask for $350,000 for the crane at Philadelphia.

The CHAIRMAN. And now you say that $300,000 will be sufficient? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Yard wall extension, $12,000." What wall is that?

Admiral STANFORD. That is to provide for a wall surrounding the navy yard.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of that wall?

Admiral STANFORD. The addition of the Schmoele tract results in placing part of the old boundary wall within the boundaries of the enlarged yard and renders necessary the construction of new wall on the new boundary lines.

The CHAIRMAN. Will it be of brick?

Admiral STANFORD. Probably reenforced concrete.

The CHAIRMAN. What will be the distance?

Admiral STANFORD. About 3,500 linear feet, it is estimated, can be constructed under this appropriation.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Remodeling buildings Nos. 28 and 29 for boat shop and shed, $30,000."

Admiral STANFORD. The head room of the present boat shop, building No. 29, is too low, and when modern 50-foot steam cutters are being constructed portions project above the lower chord of the second-floor trusses, and there is no provision for handling boats. The size of the boats is continually increasing, and the cost of handling to and from the shop is becoming excessive. This item is for the purpose of remodeling building No. 28 for use as boat shop, making necessary changes to adapt building No. 29 for small-boat storage, and to roof over the area between buildings 28 and 29 and provide necessary track and crane facilities for use for large-boat storage.

The CHAIRMAN. Please insert in the hearings the character of those two buildings.

Admiral STANFORD. Buildings 28 and 29 are old two-story buildings with brick walls, wooden floors, and slate roof on wooden trusses originally designed and used for storehouses.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Dredging, to continue, $40,000."

Admiral STANFORD. The channel between the navy yard and St. Helena is now only an average of 500 feet in width, which is insufficient for the safe handling of the larger vessels. This appropriation is required in addition to balances now available to dredge along the

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St. Helena shore back to the port warden's line. It is expected to use the dredged material for filling low areas, which will improve sanitary conditions and add materially to the usable area of the station.

The CHAIRMAN. You need wider space for handling the very large vessels?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Remodeling building No. 36, $20,000."

Admiral STANFORD. This item is for the purpose of making minor alterations, modifications and extensions in building No. 36, in order to facilitate the operation of the machine shop.

Mr. HOBSON. Which shop is that?

Admiral STANFORD. The one near the head of the dock No. 2.
Mr. HOBSON. Is that hull or machinery?

Admiral STANFORD. The machine shop is under the machinery division.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Water system, extensions, $7,500."

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide for the extension of water mains to buildings which are not at present supplied and is required for the development of the Schmoele tract. The Schmoele tract is being used for storage of lumber and combustible materials, and an extension of the system is desired to better protect the area in case of fire.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Sewer system, extension, $5,000."

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide for the extension of the sewer system to buildings which are not at present supplied. The CHAIRMAN. What character of buildings are on the Schmoele tract?

Admiral STANFORD. Crematory, oil houses, scrap bins, and storage for lumber.

The CHAIRMAN. Did they not have sewer connections on the Schmoele tract?

Admiral STANFORD. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. The old buildings have sewer facilities?

Admiral STANFORD. Some of them are not yet connected, and this appropriation is for minor connections and general extensions. The CHAIRMAN. There are no buildings there?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; as above mentioned.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you have nothing to extend?

Admiral STANFORD. Specific extensions are not yet determined upon. The amount is to provide for emergency renewals, changes, and extensions.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Lavatories and toilet facilities, $5,000." Did we not provide for toilet facilities, etc., either last year or the year before?

Admiral STANFORD. I do not know; I can look it up.

The CHAIRMAN. We appropriated $15,000 last year for waterclosets and lavatories for ships in dock.

Mr. HOBSON. Where would they be located?

Admiral STANFORD. They have been recently shifting the shops in order to better consolidate them. There has been increased activity in the way of providing more sanitary and more convenient locker

rooms, toilets, and bathing facilities for the men. Those facilities have been neglected in the past. The funds appropriated last year have been used for toilet improvements in buildings 18, 36, 84, 9, 33, 65, and 73.

The CHAIRMAN. How far are the closets and facilities that we authorized last year from the shops?

Admiral STANFORD. All improvements were in the shops, except one outside closet for dry-dock use.

The CHAIRMAN. The distance that the men would have to go?

Admiral STANFORD. New toilets provided last year are all within the buildings in which the men work, except the dry-dock closet, which is near the dock.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Compressed-air system, extensions, $5,000."

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide for the extension of compressed-air mains to buildings and water front which are not at present supplied and to the Schmoele tract.

The CHAIRMAN. You have not any buildings there?

Admiral STANFORD. No, sir, except as above mentioned; but air can be used to advantage in connection with the scrap bins on the new tract.

The CHAIRMAN. For what purpose?

Admiral STANFORD. In connection with scrap material. They have the scrap bins, in which are accumulated the different kinds of metal that are scrapped, and in the future they will separate the brass from the iron, etc., in order to get a better sale value for the material. In other words, instead of selling a lot of junk that will have some brass and some iron, they will separate those metals and there will be a pile of brass and a pile of iron, etc.

The CHAIRMAN. And they will get a better price?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; and the compressed air will be useful in separating the different kinds of metal.

The CHAIRMAN. In what way?

Admiral STANFORD. Pneumatic chisels and tools can then be used for cutting up and separating the metals of different character. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Telephone system, extensions, $5.000."

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide for the extension of the telephone system to buildings which are not at present supplied and for new cable and switchboard facilities.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Record vault, administration building, $5,000."

Admiral STANFORD. Offices have recently been consolidated but are not provided with a proper vault for records; this item is for the construction of a fireproof vault for records.

The CHAIRMAN. What did you do with the buildings which were vacated when you consolidated the offices?

Admiral STANFORD. I will obtain that information.

The CHAIRMAN. Can you insert in the record a statement as to what became of it?

Admiral STANFORD. Space vacated in building No. 65 is used for ordnance stores and space rendered available in building No. 19 is not yet assigned for other use.

Thereupon the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, December 12, 1912, at 10.30 o'clock a. m.

COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

Thursday, December 12, 1912. The committee this day met, Hon. Lemuel P. Padgett (chairman) presiding.

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

The CHAIRMAN. The first item is on page 58 of the bill, "Navy yard, Charleston, S. C.: Paving and grading, to continue, $5,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This amount is asked to continue the work of curbing macadam and gravel roads, also to provide additional hard pavement in the industrial part of the yard, especially in the vicinity of buildings 2 and 3, and the proposed new oil house site.

The roads in winter, where not paved with gravel or macadam, get into poor condition, and it is difficult and expensive to maintain them. The cost of transportation and difficulty of communication are greatly increased thereby.

The CHAIRMAN. What does it cost to grade and pave at the Charleston Navy Yard as compared with other navy yards?

Admiral STANFORD. It is about the same as at Norfolk.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Two sets officers' quarters, $18,000." Please explain that, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. There are now in use at the yard four sets of officers' quarters, besides the commandant's. Two of these buildings were acquired with the reservation, one being partly remodeled, but it is still incomplete. The yard is about 7 miles from Charleston, and communication is frequently very unpleasant, due to the crowded and not over clean condition of the street cars. There are no cars after midnight, making it practically impossible for the Government to obtain the service of officers in an emergency after the officers have left the yard. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to secure suitable quarters in Charleston. Building No. 1 is now being fitted for quarters, which will relieve the situation to some extent, but it is urgent that two additional sets of quarters be provided.

The CHAIRMAN. What rank of officers are to use the quarters? Admiral STANFORD. Probably rank of lieutenant. The quarters, however, are not designed for any particular officer.

The CHAIRMAN. We have been regulating the character of these quarters and the amount of the expenditure very much by the grade of the officer who is to occupy it. The Army adopted a schedule, and you will find all that set out fully in the hearings of Admiral Hollyday. For officers of higher grade they have allowed more quarters, and for lower grades of officers less, proportioned somewhat to the amount of allowances for rent of quarters, light, and heat that is allowed in the service.

Admiral STANFORD. This item would provide quarters which would cost $9,000 each, which, it is my recollection, is the amount which has been fixed for quarters in the Army and Marine establishment for officers of junior rank; $12,000 is the amount allowed for officers of higher rank. This request is for two of the smaller quarters. The CHAIRMAN. How many rooms will the quarters consist of?

Admiral STANFORD. Probably three chambers, parlor, dining room, hallway, kitchen, bathroom, and storage room.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Locomotive and crane shed, $5,000." Please explain that, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The present locomotive shed, which is a temporary building, was never large enough to accommodate the locomotives and cranes now in the yard, so that the two cranes have to be kept outdoors. The building is now in such a state of dilapidation as to be practically unusable and is in such a state of dilapidation as not to warrant repairs. It is proposed to construct a building sufficiently large to house both locomotives, both locomotive cranes, several cars which may be under repair, and to provide space to store oil, spare parts, and waste; in short, to provide a roundhouse.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Remodeling dispensary building No. 19, $3,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is for the purpose of providing additional space in the basement of the dispensary building, which is now left unfinished. The dispensary is at present inadequate for the enlisted force which comes here with the torpedo flotillas, and the expenditure of this amount may enable the postponement for an indefinite period of the construction of a new hospital.

The CHAIRMAN. When was the dispensary constructed?
Admiral STANFORD. In 1908.

The CHAIRMAN. You say that $3,000 is to improve and fit up the basement. What was the approximate cost of the building origi

nally?

Admiral STANFORD. It cost $12,000. It is not an elaborate building.

Mr. BUTLER. How many men are employed at this yard?

Admiral STANFORD. The number of employees varies greatly, depending upon the presence of the torpedo flotilla. They not only work men carried on the yard rolls, but also many enlisted men from the torpedo craft, which come and go, and consequently cause a very material change in the number of enlisted men who are on the station. Mr. BUTLER. This yard is only used as a torpedo-boat yard? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; it is a torpedo-boat base. The CHAIRMAN. Do they also keep some submarines there? Admiral STANFORD. I do not know whether submarines are regularly stationed there or not.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Lumber and boat shed, $8,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide storage for lumber and boats and to avoid the loss and depreciation which results from open storage and exposure to the weather.

The CHAIRMAN. What size structure and what character will it be? Admiral STANFORD. The extension will be of wood like the present building, with roof covered with asbestos shingles or similar material and will cover an area about 50 by 100 feet.

The CHAIRMAN. Please insert a full statement and also state the probable number of boats and the amount of lumber.

Admiral STANFORD. There will be about 60 boats and 250,000 feet of lumber.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Torpedo slips (to cost $300,000), $150,000." That is the item that was inserted by the Senate last year?