The CHAIRMAN. You will also submit a statement as to the items. in this estimate?

Admiral CONE. Yes, sir.

A statement of the items estimated for the fiscal year 1914 under that part of the Bureau of Equipment assigned to the Bureau of Steam Engineering.

Modernizing the following coast signal radiostations: Portland, Me.; Cape Cod, Mass.; Beaufort, N. C.; St. Augustine, Fla., Jupiter, Fla.; Charleston, S. C.: Cape Henlopen, Del.; New York: Colon; Point Arguello, Cal.; Farralon; Tatoosh Island; Cape Blanco; and Sitka.

The work of modernizing all naval installations has been proceeding for several years, but owing to inadequate funds it is still far from complete. All of this work has been held up on account of lack of funds, and there appears to be no chance that a sufficient allotment can be made during this fiscal year. Almost all of their equipment is incapable of meeting the requirements imposed by the Berlin convention and the recent radioregulation act which went into effect on December 13, 1912. This act requires the Navy to open certain of its stations to commercial work, and all Navy stations may be required to handle commercial work in an emergency. It is urgent to avoid just criticism that funds be made available for modernizing these stations as early as possible. The station in Porto Rico is in very poor condition; has an obsolete low-power set; the mast and general equipment are very much deteriorated, as it was one of the first sets constructed. Plans are completed and material at hand to proceed with repairs, but held up on account of lack of funds. Its military importance makes it advisable to install a new set suitable of insuring communication with Guantanamo of Key West.

It is hoped to conduct experiments in connection with all wireless matters and also to install a storage battery and elevator in the highest tower at the Arlington Station.

The installations on board ships are becoming of higher power, and the ships becoming much more numerous, which requires an increase in the allotment for the repairs to the ships' outfits as well as the supplies in connection with the radioinstruments. Nine new stations have been or will be added during the present fiscal year, of which three are high-power stations.

To cover the cost of upkeep of all these shore stations, as well as the cost of power, repairs to buildings, lighting, and general equipment, it will be necessary to increase the allotment for the maintenance of shore stations especially in view of the fact that during the present fiscal year all shore stations are being held down to such rigid economy on account of lack of funds.

It is further contemplated to purchase 12 small and 10 large new sets, to replace old and antiquated sets on ships. This number will not be sufficient to modernize all the old equipment on the ships, but will in all probability be as many as can be installed in one year. It is further contemplated to purchase 20 battle sets which are small portable radio sets. It is very important that the fleet be supplied with these sets as soon as possible. Such a set has been developed, and can be purchased. It is also necessary to fit out each submarine boat with a wireless set as there are only two such sets now in commission. It is proposed to fit duplicate motor generators and transformers for all battleship sets, which is considered very important, as it is the most vital part of the set and the part most easily deranged. Merchant ships are obliged to carry a complete duplicate power supply.

The cost of the above is estimated to be $666,500. The above estimates allow nothing for contingencies, casualties to apparatus and buildings, cost of making use of old material being turned into store and which has to be repaid for if reissued.

Nothing is included that can be economically or prudently postponed to another year. Nothing is included to cover any cost to be incurred in handling commercial work.

It is desirable that fire control be brought up to date on four of the battleships which have not as yet been modernized in accordance with the latest practices.

Special appropriation under the Bureau of Navigation has been made for purchase of gyro compasses for the battleship fleet, and the installation of these compasses involves work under the appropriation of equipment. It is estimated that there will be 20 of these installations. The latest practice on torpedo destroyers provides for larger searchlights than those at present on board of 26 of the older destroyers. This will necessitate the purchase of 2 larger searchlights for each destroyer, and also 2 larger generating sets, making 52 searchlights and 52 generating sets.

It is desirable to have on hand a stock of searchlight mirrors, especially in view of the fact that we are at present partially dependent on foreign supply for these mirrors. It is contemplated to purchase about sixty mirrors.

The estimate for the above is $364,200.

It will be necessary to replace the batteries in at least eight submarine boats, which will entail an expenditure of $320,000.

Maintenance of Fleet:

SUMMARY OF ESTIMATES.

N. S. A. Afloat issues of supplies, etc....

Miscellaneous public bills by pay officers afloat for supplies

$165,000

and services..

N. S. A. Issues by G. S. K.'s ashore direct to ships in commission....

35,000

500,000

Leave, holiday, and disability pay.

Care and preservation of ships out of commission.

15,000

Miscellaneous, including inspections, military maintenance, expenditures, etc....

65,000

54, 300

Ordinary repairs and renewals of electrical plants on board ships, Titles D and P..

174, 300

250,000

Extraordinary renewals and improvements of electrical plants as per above statement

684, 200

934, 200

Radio expenditures as per above statement...

Coal and transportation for maintenance of coaling plants.
Contingent.

666, 500

450,000

2,000

Total.....

2,927,000

Mr. HOBSON. You want it nearly doubled?

Admiral CONE. No, sir; a large increase, $795,000.
The CHAIRMAN. You want this item increased?

Admiral CONE. Yes, sir. Under that item comes the wireless telegraphy and the coast signal service. What I really want and what is absolutely necessary is to modernize and properly maintain the existing wireless stations, and the wireless apparatus on board the ships. Next, and the largest item, is the renewal of submarine boat batteries. The coast stations require the installation of modern wireless apparatus. Congress passed a law which will require certain things of us in the way of wave lengths, and so forth. We in the Navy have not been able to fully carry out the law due to the age and obsolescence of the apparatus.

Mr. ROBERTS (interposing). How about the Boston station?
Admiral CONE. That is in the navy yard.

tion; we have modernized that.

Mr. ROBERTS. How recently?

Admiral CONE. Within the last year or two.

a modern station.

That is a modern sta

That is what we call

Mr. ROBERTS. I heard that station criticized very seriously. Admiral CONE. It was, but now they have modern apparatus. In Porto Rico the station is practically gone. It was one of the first we built. At Guantanamo we want to put in a modern station, and now is the time to do it; the other one was destroyed by fire. We expect to spend about $25,000 in experiments at Arlington. That is my estimate, which, I think, is rather a modest one. We will put a station at Balboa, at the Pacific end of the canal; there is no station there now. We want to establish a station not only to be used for naval purposes, but for commercial purposes, and which will connect with the station in the middle of the Isthmus, which you appropriated for last year. I do not think the stations will increase in the future. In fact, I think I can see may way to eliminating one or two of the smaller ones.

Mr. HOBSON. Referring to all this work devolving on you, is it placed in the Bureau of Steam Engineering?

Admiral CONE. The technical work of supplying the instruments; that is all. The operation of them is done by other officers.

Mr. HOBSON. How about the maintenance and upkeep of the plant on board ship and on shore; does that fall on your bureau? Admiral CONE. Yes, sir; the supplying of it.

Mr. HOBSON. Do you have men to take care of it?

Admiral CONE. No, sir; it is just like anything else aboard ship; the officers and men of the ship care for it.

Mr. HOBSON. For instance, at the Arlington station and at these various stations when finally in operation, is your bureau represented? Admiral CONE. My bureau is represented in this way: I supply the apparatus, and if there is anything additional needed I, of course, investigate and find out the merits of the case before supplying it. Mr. HOBSON. You have no responsibility as to operation?

Admiral CONE. No, sir; except to keep the installation up to date and in efficient condition.

The CHAIRMAN. Please insert in the record a full statement as to all these stations.

STATUS OF PLANS FOR HIGH-POWERED RADIO STATIONS.

When the appropriation authorizing the high-powered stations was made, the plans for these stations contemplated generally a reproduction of stations of the Arlington type, with, however, masts and buildings of cheaper construction. The Arlington plant was designed more than four years ago. Great development has taken place in that time, and yet the Arlington outfit has remained a type to itself, whose calculated performances could be checked up only by actual operation of the set. Final plans in regard to the other stations were held up pending the results obtained at Arlington. Great delay was experienced in finishing the construction work at Arlington, mainly through the delinquency of contractors. However, preliminary tests have been made and the contractors for the equipment of this station are now making certain changes in apparatus preparatory to the final tests which are set to begin about February 1, 1913, and upon which final settlement of the contract for the equipment of this station depends. On these tests the scout cruiser Salem will be sent out for a distance of over 3,000 miles, and at the conclusion of these tests, which will take about a month, all matters relating to the performance of this station will be definitely known.

During this delay the opportunity arose for the bureau to make a test of a system of radiotelegraphy radically different from that in general use. The principle of this system is not new, but the successful application of the principle has not been promising until lately. During the past year reports have reached the bureau of notable progress in the development of this system by an American company, but it was not until December that facilities were offered for a complete investigation and test of the apparatus. This test has just been completed (Jan. 7, 1913) at the Arlington station. Analysis of the results is not yet complete. Some matters that developed during the

tests will require protracted investigation. However, enough has been learned to warrant consideration of this system in connection with the other high-powered stations projected. No decision can be made at this time, lacking the information in regard to the original equipment at Arlington which will be acquired during the Salem tests and on account of the incomplete analysis of the tests of the new system just concluded. It may be said that the new apparatus referred to promises more rapid and less expensive construction of the high-powered stations if it should be adopted. In connection with the matter of cost, it may be stated that the bureau is in the fortunate position of having discovered and published certain principles upon which the operation of one of the vital parts of the new apparatus depends, thus preventing any excessive charges in the nature of patent profits.

In view of the developments mentioned, the attitude of the bureau has been to defer matters until full information is at hand which will allow it to proceed with the proposed stations with the assurance of having settled upon the best possible apparatus. Admiral CONE. There is one other thing that part of this money is needed for, and that is the submarine-boat batteries. The submarine is probably the most expensive type of ship that we have to maintain, due largely to the cost and deterioration of their storage batteries. All that comes out of this equipment appropriation. That is one thing you gentlemen, I think, will have to expect in the future as you appropriate for a number of submarine boats, that the annual expenditure for these storage batteries is large, as the owner of an electric automobile knows. The storage batteries cost about $40,000 apiece.

Mr. HOBSON. Can you make any use of a battery taken out of a boat?

Admiral CONE. No, sir. With the assistance of officers in the boats we are attempting in every way possible to prolong the life of the batteries and reduce the maintenance cost. The bureau has been so insistent upon caring for batteries that the present practice represents the combined experience of the manufacturers and our own experts. The care and upkeep of storage batteries has been incorporated in the engineering competition.

Mr. HOBSON. When a battery disintegrates it is practically worth nothing?

Admiral CONE. You can not sell it for anything. The only remedy is to buy a new one. We have eight boats coming up for the renewal of batteries and that will cost at the least $320,000.

Mr. HOBSON. What do you think of the advisability of laying up most of the submarines during times of peace?

Admiral CONE. That would not help in this case; I do not think it would help in the least.

Mr. HOBSON. The deterioration goes on?

Admiral CONE. Not as rapidly. The only way you can keep the submarine ready for war is to keep it in commission; possibly not using them as much as we have, in charging and discharging the batteries; but that is an item that will have to be considered in the future.

We have also the item of gyro compasses under the Bureau of Navigation. This entails an expenditure of about $1,000 for each vessel under "Equipment." I have asked for a large increase because it is absolutely necessary. This appropriation is way behind, and we have been refusing a great many things simply for lack of money.

Mr. ROBERTS. What is the life of the boilers on the destroyers? Admiral CONE. The new destroyers with the oil burning-boilers have been going, some of them, four years and the boilers are apparntly as good as when built.

Mr. ROBERTS. What do you call the life of a boiler ordinarily? Admiral CONE. It has been necessary to retube destroyer boilers after about six or seven years' service.

Mr. ROBERTS. And what is the life of the coal burners?

Admiral CONE. Anywhere from 5 to 10 years, depending on the care and conditions. I expect the new oil burners with certain repairs will last 15 or 20 years.

Mr. ROBERTS. What is the expense of renewing boilers on a destroyer?

Admiral CONE. The expense is about $25,000, renewing the tubes. The CHAIRMAN. What do the boilers cost originally?

Admiral CONE. About $60,000.

Mr. ROBERTS. And the batteries in a submarine cost $40,000? Admiral CONE. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. You have another item of $300,700 "for the purchase of all other articles of equipage at home and abroad, and for the payment of labor in equipping vessels therewith and manufacture of such articles in the several navy yards." Is there an increase in that item?

Admiral CONE. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, now, under "Coal and transportation," you have $450,000.

Admiral CONE. I did not ask for any increase there. That money represents solely the paying of the labor and the upkeep of the coal plants, and they are just the same. There has been no increase.

The CHAIRMAN. Then you have contingent, $2,000. That is an allotment.

Admiral CONE. That is an allotment from the Bureau of Equipment, and I think we spent just about all.

The CHAIRMAN. That is a fund that could be transferred and assigned back and forth.

Admiral CONE. Yes, either way.

Mr. ROBERTS. If you have not already spent what you have, I suppose you will?

Admiral CONE. I do not think so, Mr. Roberts. I turned in over $250,000 last year, which would seem to be sufficient evidence that the money will not be needlessly expended.

The CHAIRMAN. The total allotted last year was $2,927,000. What are you asking for this year?

Admiral CONE. $2,927,000 is the amount asked for in the estimate for the fiscal year 1914. The total amount allotted for the current fiscal year, 1913, was $2,132,000, and for the last fiscal year, 1912, it was $2,151,256.40. The increase asked for in the estimate is $795,000.

Mr. HOBSON. Do you think there could be an improvement in the Bureau of Equipment by a different apportionment of its duties? Admiral CONE. Yes, sir. I have rather clear ideas on that. I think it would be better for the whole Navy if a redistribution of all the bureaus could be made.

Mr. HOBSON. Do you think it would be possible for a committee or a commission to work that out?

Admiral CONE. I do-one appointed by the Secretary. I think it would be an excellent idea, and I think in a redistribution you would find that the bureau, of which I am the chief, has jurisdiction over