Mr. TRIBBLE. Is it not possible to locate some of these stations and navy yards at points where there will not be so much dredging? We appropriate millions and millions every year for dredging. Is it not possible to locate these stations somewhere else, where the water is deep enough, and do just as good work?

Admiral STANFORD. The large dredging expense results largely from the fact that these stations were established when vessels were very much smaller than they are now and drew very much less water. When established, the stations were properly and satisfactorily located, but with increasing dimensions of vessels there is not an abandonment of stations which are not suitably located with reference to the depth.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Naval magazine, Lake Denmark, N. J.: Fire and boundary wall, to continue, $2,500." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. An efficient fire barrier is needed on the side of the magazine grounds where it is proposed to build this wall, as so-called forest fires which start in the scrub timber and underbrush in the vicinity are very numerous and endanger the large quantities of explosives stored on the magazine grounds.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Pump house, $1,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The entire water supply for fire-protection purposes at Lake Denmark is obtained from a standpipe, the water being pumped into it from a reservoir, and the present pumping capacity is not sufficient to insure protection against fire at all times. This item is desired for the pump house; the mechanical equipment will be obtained with funds from general appropriations.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you have a pump house at the present time, a pumping apparatus?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Why do they need a new one?

Admiral STANFORD. The one now in use is insufficient to keep the tank full.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Naval magazine, St. Juliens Creek, Va. Wharf and approaches, $40,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The construction of a new wharf at the naval magazine is considered absolutely necessary. This wharf should be about 300 feet long, with its north end at the present north wharf and its south end close to the present south wharf, the front lying along the port warden's line. The wharf should be supplied with standard-gauge railroad track, the approach being the present track approach to the north wharf. On the south end of the wharf there should be provided a storehouse on the inshore side, with railroad track in front. There should also be provided two high-speed electric cranes movable for a range of about 50 feet each, with a capacity of 3,000 pounds and a clear swing of crane 20 feet from the edge of the wharf. The storehouse on the wharf should be of the same general character as the present building No. 14, which is 50 feet by 200 feet, with galvanized corrugated iron sides and roof. The storehouse on the wharf is to be designed for 1,600 pounds per square foot of floor. If an appropriation is not obtained for this wharf, it

will be necessary to construct a storehouse ashore of corresponding character.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Extending buildings 17 and 18, $12,000." Please explain that item, Admiral?

Admiral STANFORD. These two two buildings should be extended three bays of 18 feet. The buildings have wooden roof trusses, brick walls, and slate roofs.

The CHAIRMAN. What are buildings 17 and 18 used for?
Admiral STANFORD. For the storage of smokeless powder.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the buildings and the dimensions of the buildings at the present time, and the construction? Admiral STANFORD. Buildings 17 and 18 are one-story brick buildings, each 50 by 100 feet.

The CHAIRMAN. And also for what purpose used?

Admiral STANFORD. They are used for the storage of smokeless powder.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Fire-protection system, extensions, $2,500." Please explain that item, Admiral?

Admiral STANFORD. It is desired to extend fire-protection system for the protection of new buildings authorized last year.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Railroad system, extensions, $4,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. It is desired to extend the railroad track 1,500 feet to serve new buildings authorized last year.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Shed for repairing damaged powder tanks, $2,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. A building is desired near building No. 14 for repairing damaged powder tanks. This work is in the nature of coppersmith works and the shop would include forge, etc. The building desired can be made of galvanized corrugated iron, have dimensions about 40 by 60 feet, with plank or cinder floor. It may be found desirable to include the forge under a lean-to attachment to the main building.

Mr. ROBERTS. Admiral, that building will always be used in connection with the magazine?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. Would it not be economical for us to put up a more substantial building rather than to put up what you might call a makeshift now and in a few years be told that it is not suitable and be asked for money to put up a substantial building?

Admiral STANFORD. In this case I can not say. The bureau is influenced by the desires of the Ordnance Bureau in this item.

Mr. ROBERTS. As a general thing you would agree that it is economical in the end to put up a substantial building where that building is to be permanent?

Admiral STANFORD. Decidedly. The bureau has only recently protested vigorously against putting up various makeshift constructions at Norfolk as requested by the marine establishment.

Mr. ROBERTS. Corrugated-iron buildings are really expensive in the end, because they have to be painted so often to preserve them. Admiral STANFORD. That is true. The Bureau of Ordnance has stated a number of times that they preferred in certain cases that the buildings shall be of light, temporary construction, because there is danger of explosion, and they prefer in case of explosion that the building should yield readily.

Mr. ROBERTS. This building is for the purpose of repairing damaged powder tanks?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; it is not for explosives.

The CHAIRMAN. Returning again to Fort Lafayette items, you are asking $15,000 for dredging the channel, and you stated that it would dredge a channel 15 feet deep and 200 feet long. Last year in the hearings Admiral Hollyday in his statement said that the channel was then only 9 feet deep and they wanted 20 feet leading up to it, and they asked only $15,000 then for a channel 20 feet deep. Can you explain the difference in the estimates now of $15,000 for a15-foot channel and last year it was $15,000 for a 20-foot channel?

Admiral STANFORD. No, sir; not unless there has been sedimentation in the meantime.

The CHAIRMAN. He said that there was about 9 feet of water last year. Can you insert the present depth of the water?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; present depth is 13 feet.
Mr. ROBERTS. Does it cost any more for dredging?

Admiral STANFORD. There has not been much increase recently. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Engineering experiment station, Annapolis, Md.: Concrete sea wall and pavements, $65,000." How much is for the sea wall and how much for the pavements?

Admiral STANFORD. Approximately $50,000 for quay wall and $15.000 for filling in back of wall, new pavements, etc.

Mr. ROBERTS. hat is the necessity of an elaborate sea wall at the station?

Admiral STANFORD. The experiment station buildings are on filled ground projecting into the Severn River from the shore opposite the Naval Academy. The site is at present protected by timber pile and plank bulkheads, t e area between the bulkheads and the building being paved with brick. The timber work, although creosoted, is very badly eaten by the toredo. Large areas of the filling have washed out and the pavement has fallen in.

A permanent concrete quay wall is necessary to retain the filling and maintain a suitable depth of water along the water front. The failure to provide a permanent construction at the present time will necessitate a considerable expenditure for temporary repairs and will not obviate the necessity for such a construction in the future. Mr. ROBERTS. How many feet of water front at that place?

Admiral STANFORD. About 2 to 3 feet at medium low water directly in front of the wall and about 13 feet at a distance of 20 feet from the wall.

Mr. ROBERTS. Is this appropriation designed for a quay wall for all of the water front or just by the building?

Admiral STANFORD. The only quay wall at this station is the quay wall about the buildings. The total length is about 600 feet. It is intended to replace practically all of it.

The amount asked for will be sufficient to complete the work, unless additional land is made by future dredging. In that case additional quay walls would be necessary, the cost depending on the amount required.

Mr. ROBERTS. Are you familiar with the station?

Admiral STANFORD. I am not, except from a distance.

Mr. ROBERTS. Why did they not put that building on solid ground? Admiral STANFORD. I do not know.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Naval magazine, Mare Island, Cal. One magazine building, $15,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. An additional building is required to properly take care of the storage of explosives at the magazine. Piling foundation will be required, as th only level site available is on filled ground.

The CHAIRMAN. Why do you need an additional magazine?

Admiral STANFORD. This building is desired for temporary storage of ammunition from ships.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Two filling houses, $2,400." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. These buildings are required for the economical handling and loading of shells at the naval magazine.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Extension of sea wall, $2,500." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The present sea wall should be extended to the north, in order to prevent scouring and in order to inclose a considerable tract of useful ground to be reclaimed and made available for magazine purposes.

The CHAIRMAN. Will the $2,500 complete it?

Admiral STANFORD. It will not reclaim the ground. The improvement will be more in the nature of riprap protection rather than sea wall.

The CHAIRMAN. Will it complete the sea wall?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. We want to know, if it will not, how much it will take to complete it.

Admiral STANFORD. The amount will complete the protection which is desired.

Mr. ROBERTS. It would not complete the entire project which they have in mind?

Admiral STANFORD. It will provide the protection which is required at this time, about 606 linear feet.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "For naval magazine, navy yard, Puget Sound, Wash.: One building for storehouse and cartridge bag factory, $15,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. A bag factory and storehouse are needed at the magazine, as there is no such building at present at this station. The CHAIRMAN. Where have they a factory?

Admiral STANFORD: Work of this character is performed at each magazine.

Mr. ROBERTS. What will be stored in the building, material for making bags and things of that kind?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Clearing and grading ground, $3,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The magazine is only cleared and graded in part and this item is for continuing the improvement to better facilitate the operations of the station.

Mr. ROBERTS. What is the nature of that land?

Admiral STANFORD. The ground is rough and hilly and covered with a scrub growth.

Mr. ROBERTS. Stumps?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; and trees.
The CHAIRMAN. Blackjack growth?
Admiral STANFORD. I think it is.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the ground that they wish to clear being used for at the present time?

Admiral STANFORD. It is a part of the property that has not been cleared and graded.

The CHAIRMAN. How much land is in the magazine?

Admiral STANFORD. There are 295.25 acres, 40 of which are marsh. The CHAIRMAN. Is it contemplated to have active use of this ground in the near future; and, if so, for what purpose?

Admiral STANFORD. The additional area is needed for structures now in contemplation.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Quay wall, $15,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. The wooden bulkhead in use at the present time is in bad condition and will need renewal in the near future. It is proposed to build approximately 550 feet of reenforced concrete sea wall south of the wharf.

Mr. ROBERTS. Is that magazine site adjacent to the navy yard? Admiral STANFORD. It is not; it is some distance away.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "One filling house, $1,500." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to cover cost of filling house similar to the one recently constructed; to be of wooden frame, corrugated steel roof and sides.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "One set of quarters for gunner, $6,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. Additional quarters are required, as it is impossible to obtain accommodations near the magazine reservation for attendants.

The CHAIRMAN. What quarters have you there now?

Admiral STANFORD. There is one set in use and funds have been appropriated for a second set.

The CHAIRMAN. Can you put they have?

into the hearings definitely what

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir. There is one house for a gunner and funds available for a house for inspector in charge.

The CHAIRMAN. Can you also state what officers are to be stationed there?

Admiral STANFORD. One inspector and two or three gunners.
Mr. ROBERTS. None above gunner?

Admiral STANFORD. The assignment of a commissioned officer in charge of that station will probably be made upon completion of his quarters, but at present there are only gunners in charge.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "One magazine building, $15,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. An additional magazine is needed, particularly on account of the increase in the number of ships assigned to this station. It is proposed to construct a building 100 feet by 50 feet.

Mr. ROBERTS. Are the magazine buildings now being constructed of fireproof framing, with concrete or stone or brick walls? Amiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; with steel trusses.

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