Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; we asked for not more than was needed and we were given that which was asked for, and it was all pent. The CHAIRMAN. Admiral, have you any suggestion to make relative to the contemplated distribution of the appropriation and work under the Bureau of Equipment relative to the ocean and lake surveys and the high-power radio stations? Admiral STANFORD. The appropriation act of August 22, 1912, included under the head of Ocean and lake surveys, Bureau of Equipment," an amount of $1,000,000 for high-power radio stations, the appropriation contemplating the construction of six different stations. The station for the Isthmus of Panama is now under construction and will probably require $250,000 for its completion, of which over $195,000 will be required for the towers and buildings and other public-works features. About four-fifths of the amount appropriated for wireless work, judged from experience at Panama, will be required for the "public works" portions, leaving one-fifth necessary for the electrical equipment, which is handled by the Bureau of Steam Engineering. Under these circumstances it would seem as though the appropriation for the public works required for the high-power radio stations should be placed specifically under the cognizance of the Bureau of Yards and Docks in order to simplify the handling of the funds and to expedite the construction of the work. It should also be noted that the amount of $1,000,000 which has been appropriated for six stations, judged from the amount required for the Panama station, is only about two-thirds of the total which will be required. The CHAIRMAN. As it is now, Admiral, does the Secretary have the power to allot and distribute from the equipment appropriation? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; with the President's approval. The CHAIRMAN. And the other to the Bureau of Steam Engineering? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Then if the Bureau of Equipment should be abolished and the duties distributed as is recommended and as has been for a year or two that we have been waiting to see how it would work out, your suggestion is that that part of it should go to "Public works, Bureau of Yards and Docks?" Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Have you included the proper language in your suggestion so as to make that distribution and leave the other? Admiral STANFORD. I have not. The CHAIRMAN. Will you incorporate that in the hearings? Include in appropriations under the Bureau of Yards and Docks, an item, as follows: The appropriation under ocean and lake surveys, Bureau of Equipment, for highpower radio stations, act of August twenty-second, nineteen hundred and twelve, is hereby modified to provide that $800,000 of the amount authorized is transferred to the Bureau of Yards and Docks to provide for the public-works features of the stations, including the purchase and preparation of the necessary sites and purchase and erection of towers and buildings, and there is hereby appropriated toward said projects $350,000. The CHAIRMAN. There are some small stations in the radio work. Are they under "Steam engineering" or under "Equipment," or partly under this and partly under Engineering"? Admiral STANFORD. Under present regulations the Bureau of Steam Engineering has cognizance of these stations. The Bureau of Yards and Docks executes those portions of the projects which are of publicworks character upon recommendation of the Bureau of Steam Engineering, using allotment of funds made by the department from "Equipment" appropriation. During the fiscal year 1913 the Bureau of Yards and Docks supervised the expenditure of $88,374.22 from this appropriation for various public-works objects at Arlington and Guantanamo. Other work in progress and authorized at these stations and at Key West, Fla.; Washington Navy Yard; Point Isabel, Tex.; Colon and Balboa, Panama; Boston, Mass.; and Beaufort, N. C., will probably require a further expenditure of $210,000. The CHAIRMAN. In your hearings will you incorporate the language that it would be appropriate to use in the bill if the committee desires by law to distribute these duties, instead of leaving it with the department? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir. Include in appropriations under Bureau of Yards and Docks an item as follows: Improvements and repairs to radio shore stations, including purchase of necessary land at cost not to exceed $50,000, but excluding radio equipment, $200,000. The above provision should be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the appropriation "Equipment of vessels" and the elimination of the words beginning the last line page 38 to fourth line page 39, draft No. 1, naval appropriation bill, as follows: including the purchase of land as necessary sites for radio shore stations: Provided, That the sum to be paid out of this appropriation for the purchase of land for sites for radio shore stations shall not exceed $50,000. There are also inserted, in accordance with request, general data regarding dry docks, channel approaches to navy yards, and marine railways; also sea wall and hydrographic data relating to the Mare Island and Philadelphia yards. The berthing space available at the Mare Island Navy Yard is as follows: 900 linear feet with 24 feet depth at mean low water. 1,100 linear feet with 22 feet depth at mean low water. 1,100 linear feet with 12 feet to 18 feet depth at mean low water. 4 channel buoys with 20 feet to 23 feet depth at mean low water. The depths given are at a distance of 50 feet from quay wall. Bottom is soft mud. Ships of greater draft than above are sometimes berthed at high water, and the bottom scours out under them. Distance between mean high water and mean low water is 4.8 feet. Limiting channel depth in Mare Island Straits over width of 300 feet is at present 24 feet deep at mean low water. Dredging is now in progress which will provide a channel 600 feet wide and 30 feet deep at mean low water with a basin opposite the working part of the yard 4,200 feet long by 1,000 feet wide by 30 feet deep at mean low water. The dredging of the channel in San Pablo Bay has just been completed by the Engineer Corps of the United States Army. This channel is 500 feet wide with a depth of 30 feet below mean lower low water-equivalent to a depth of approximately 31 feet at mean low water. The controlling depth of the channel from San Francisco Bay to the entrance of Mare Island Straits is therefore at present 30 to 31 feet at mean low water. PHILADELPHIA. The berthing space at the Philadelphia Navy Yard is as follows: The approach channel to Philadelphia has a width of 500 feet and depth of 30 feet at mean low water. Congress has approved an 800-foot channel with 35 feet at mean low water, and work is under way on this project under the Corps of Engineers, United States Army. (Thereupon the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, December 18, 1913, at 10.30 o'clock a. m.) |