Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide a duplicate air compressor to insure against a shutdown in case of a failure of the compressor now in use; provide extensions to the electrical and pneumatic distributing systems, and apparatus in general to meet the additional demands which will follow the completion and use of the new dry dock.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Pier No. 8, to extend, $10,000." Did we not appropriate money about two years ago to extend or to rebuild that pier, do you remember?

Admiral STANFORD. Appropriation for construction of this pier was made in 1909. They now wish to build a T at the end of the pier to make the pier more serviceable for use of vessels landing supplies.

Mr. ROBERTS. It does not extend out as far as 6 and 7?

Admiral STANFORD. No, sir; it is a comparatively narrow pier, and the construction of a T at the end will better accommodate commercial craft bringing supplies to the yard.

Mr. ROBERTS. Why land at the end of the pier instead of alongside of it?

Admiral STANFORD. There is not water enough.

Mr. ROBERTS. I supposed that at Bremerton you had all the water that was necessary.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the depth of the water at the pier?

Admiral STANFORD. The pier is 400 feet long, but dredging will be required to obtain deep water alongside.

The CHAIRMAN. How far will this extend it?

Admiral STANFORD. This would not extend the pier, but would provide a little T at the end.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Paving and walks, $15,000.” Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is to provide for the extension of paving and sidewalks to active portions of the yard which are not now connected, and to facilitate shop operations and the handling of materials. Their sidewalks, as a rule, are of wood, and it is very costly and unsatisfactory to maintain a wooden walk in condition. Better walks and street paving is a real and essential need of the station.

The CHAIRMAN. Please insert the approximate expenditure for paving the streets and how much for the walks.

Admiral STANFORD. It is probable that one-third of the amount will be expended on walks and the remainder on streets.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Linseed oil storage tanks, $4,000." Please explain that item, Admirál.

Admiral STANFORD. This estimate is to cover the cost of installation of two 12,000-gallon linseed oil tanks, to be erected for the purpose of maintaining a sufficient supply of this material, and in particular to secure the advantage of purchasing in bulk.

The CHAIRMAN, How much linseed oil do you use at the station per annum?

Admiral STANFORD. 18,000 gallons were purchased during the fiscal year 1912, but not all of the amount was on hand at any one time.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Sewer system, extensions, $35,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This sum is necessary for sewer extensions in the yard. In particular, the sewer taking Bremerton drainage and discharging near the power house is very objectionable, and the sewer is of inadequate capacity. The material discharged from the sewer is also likely to clog the screens of the condenser intake, and obstruct the condenser tubes; and it is not considered well to discharge this sewage in close proximity to ships in commission if it can be avoided. It is proposed to construct a sewer from the north side of the yard, with a storm overflow into the existing sewer, and to carry all of the Bremerton sewage and the larger portion of the yard sewage to an outlet immediately west of Pier No. 8.

Mr. ROBERTS. That is, downstream, toward the ocean?

Admiral STANFORD. That is toward the sea; yes, sir. That is the pier on which they wish to construct a tee at the Bremerton end of the yard.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Telephone system, extensions and renewals, $10,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is necessary to extend the yard system, and particularly to install an adequate central station equipment and put existing wires underground.

Mr. ROBERTS. If you do not get the house for the telephone exchange you will not need this?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; it is needed for switchboard and cable.

Mr. ROBERTS. I understood that you were to put the central in the gatehouse?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; if the item for gatehouse is allowed. Mr. ROBERTS. Where will the central be if you do not get the gatehouse?

Admiral STANFORD. They have a little building now used for the purpose at the gate.

Mr. ROBERTS. What is the character of the building?

Admiral STANFORD. It is a little temporary wooden building. The CHAIRMAN. How much has the telephone system cost to the present time?

Admiral STANFORD. Records show that the telephone installation is appraised at $10,200 and cost $14,000.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the necessity in a yard of that size of such extensive telephone extensions?

Admiral STANFORD. As a result of the consolidations there have been many demands for additional telephones.

The CHAIRMAN. When you consolidate and move from one place do you not take the telephones along?

The

Admiral STANFORD. They take the telephones, but the consolidations have not apparently reduced the need for telephones. bureau is receiving requests for additional telephones all the time, and represented as being "urgently needed"; that this office and that office can not efficiently and quickly perform its functions because it does not have telephone conveniences.

Mr. ROBERTS. Do you include in the telephone extensions what you might call the interior stations that cover the whole buildinghave sort of a central in each building?

Admiral STANFORD. A specific appropriation is ordinarily not requested for such extensions.

Mr. ROBERTS. That is what you are doing more or less now, equipping each building with more instruments?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. So a person in one room can communicate with others in the same building without going through the central?

Admiral STANFORD. There is only one system at each yard; there are no independent systems.

Mr. ROBERTS. We have in offices in commercial buildings a system not in connection with the regular telephone system, whereby if you have a dozen offices in a suite, by pushing a button you can get into communication with any one of those rooms without going through the city central office.

Admiral STANFORD. I understand.

Mr. ROBERTS. Will this $10,000 cover such installation as that? Admiral STANFORD. It will not. The present installation at any one of the yards is all on one system, and they have only one common point, that is the central switchboard. At one time there was a tendency to develop these independent central systems and there was a great deal of confusion, and it was arranged, this was some time ago, that there should be but one system, and that provision, to the best of my knowledge, has been strictly followed in all the yards.

The CHAIRMAN. Please put in the hearings a statement as to the number of telephones in use in the yard.

Admiral STANFORD. Records show that there are 184 instruments in use.

Mr. ROBERTS. Will the efficiency of the yard be impaired if we do not allow the $10,000 for telephone extensions.

Admiral STANFORD. It certainly will be as affecting the cable system. Most of the power and lighting cables are now underground in the shop district and to maintain pole lines for telephones will be not only unsightly but costly and would not seem warranted, as there is probably underground conduit capacity sufficient for telephone cable.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is, "Heating system, extensions and renewals, $10,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is for the purpose of extending the hot-water heating system to buildings which are not at present served.

The CHAIRMAN. What buildings are those?

Admiral STANFORD. Buildings 58, 66, 91, and 108.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Berthing space for Pacific Reserve Fleet, $75,000." Please explain that, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. It is proposed to provide piers and connections for the use of vessels held at the station in reserve, so that the vessels may have direct intercourse with the yard without maintaining their launches and boat service and so that they can con veniently get water, electricity, and yard service.

Mr. ROBERTS. This item contemplates the construction of piers?
Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; with service pipes.

Mr. ROBERTS. How many piers can you build for $75,000?
Admiral STANFORD. Not more than one good-sized pier.

The CHAIRMAN. What would that project ultimately cost if it were started?

Admiral STANFORD. At the present time there are not many vessels in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. If they should undertake to assemble a fleet such as they have had at the Philadelphia yard and wished to get them all alongside, it would mean an enormously expensive program, but with a few vessels it would be comparatively inexpensive. The CHAIRMAN. The $75,000 would build one pier? Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; one pier.

The CHAIRMAN. How many piers would you need for the Pacific Reserve Fleet as you have it and contemplate it will be in the near future?

Admiral STANFORD. I should think two or three times that amount would be required for the proper service of the vessels which they have in reserve.

Mr. ROBERTS. That is only the beginning. When you get the piers, then what?

Admiral STANFORD. All kinds of incidental expenses, but which would probably result in actual saving to the Government.

Mr. Foss. Do you not have to have a reserve place for vessels at Mare Island or in San Francisco Bay? What do you do there?

Admiral STANFORD. There are not a great many vessels on the west coast maintained in reserve. They are either in actual service or put out of commission, and if they are out of commission they do not require the service which this pier is intended to provide.

Mr. Foss. Why can not they anchor out in the water; why do they have to be up against the pier all the time?

Admiral STANFORD. For their convenience and to reduce the cost of public utilities and getting supplies aboard.

Mr. Foss. All of that would not amount to the amount of money expended here in building piers. They can carry the supplies back and forth in the launches.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Rebuilding Pier No. 1, $10,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. This item is for the purpose of reconstructing a worn-out pier.

The CHAIRMAN. When was it originally constructed?

Admiral STANFORD. The pier was built in 1901.

The CHAIRMAN. And please describe its present condition in detail and the work which has to be done?

Admiral STANFORD. The pier has been damaged by the teredo and decay and practically requires rebuilding.

Mr. ROBERTS. Is there a railroad track on that pier?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir.

Thereupon, the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Friday, December 13, 1912, at 10.30 o'clock a. m. ·

THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Friday, December 13, 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 first item is, "Naval station, Guantanamo, Cuba: Recreation building for enlisted men, $30,000." Please explain that item, Admiral.

Admiral STANFORD. As Guantanamo will probably be the permanent base of the Atlantic Fleet during the winter months, steps should be taken to equip the station with facilities for the entertainment and amusement of the enlisted men.

A building has already been provided for the use of commissioned officers and the erection of a building for warrant officers has been authorized. There is, however, nothing provided for the enlisted men except the small Y. M. C. A. building on Deer Point, which is inadequate both in size and equipment. To the end that this deficiency may be corrected, the commander in chief recommends an appropriation of $30,000 for the purpose of erecting a suitable recreation building; such building to accommodate a large recreation hall, reading and writing rooms, billiard rooms, bowling alleys, etc. The construction need not be of an elaborate design, and it is thought that for the modest sum mentioned a most suitable building can be constructed; and the equipment can be supplied from the profits of the

canteen.

The CHAIRMAN. How large a building would it be, approximately? Admiral STANFORD. Approximately, it would probably be one story high, 40 or 50 feet wide by 250 feet long

The CHAIRMAN. What would be the character of the construction? Admiral STANFORD. Wood frame, covered with galvanized, corrugated iron, with showers, toilet facilities, and lighting. No heat will be required.

The CHAIRMAN. How many men are there?

Admiral STANFORD. Probably 30 or 40 vessels, averaging 750 men each.

Mr. BROWNING. Why build a wooden building with corrugated iron? What would a brick building cost?

Admiral STANFORD. Down there brick would cost a great deal more. Mr. BROWNING. How much more would concrete cost?

Admiral STANFORD. With steel trusses, noncombustible roof cov ering such as slate or tile, I presume the cost would be twice as much Mr. BROWNING. Corrugated iron will rust out very rapidly?

Admiral STANFORD. The conditions at Guantanamo are not especially bad for corrugated iron. It is not as damp as in most tropical spots.

Mr. BUTLER. Are the worms present there?

Admiral STANFORD. Yes, sir; but they are not as destructive as in the Philippines. The amount of $30,000 would provide a building of permanent construction about 45 feet wide by 140 feet long.

The CHAIRMAN. Would the walls of this building which you mention be of corrugated iron, or only the roof?