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patrol and overhaul and repair aircraft assigned to carriers and other ships of the fleet.

The present temporary war-time barracks buildings have deteriorated to such an extent that their replacement is now necessary These buildings are nothing more than shacks and are not in fit condition to properly house the enlisted personnel attached to the station. The maintenance charges to keep these buildings in anything like a habitable condition is far in excess of their potential value. The 1938 complement is 359 at the base plus 200 more for the shore base aircraft squadrons. In addition there is need for barracks space for 514 belonging to the Yorktown, Enterprise, and Brooklyn, with other ships to follow. This makes a total of 1,073 men for whom accommodations are needed. Actually 1,119 are now housed in the barracks.

This project contemplates the construction of a messhall and one wing of the barracks building to afford messing facilities for 1.00 men and dormitory space for 500 men. The ultimate plan provides for dormitory space for 1,000 men. The project for housing 500 men and messing 1,000 men was authorized in 1935, and the construction should be proceeded with as early as possible to replace the presen badly deteriorated structures and to reduce the heavy expenditures for maintenance. The enlisted personnel should be properly house! and the existing buildings removed from their present location making way for the extension and enlargement of the existing landing field. The new structures will be located at the south end of the station, clear of the flying field and its approaches and convenient to the industrial activities of the station.

ROADS, WALKS, AND SERVICE LINES

At the naval air station, Norfolk, Va., for roads, walks, and service lines, we are requesting $60,000.

In connection with the construction of the proposed barracks and mess hall, which constitutes another item in the present bill, certain roads, walks, and service lines must be provided to serve these buildings. The work contemplates the extension of electric, water, sewer. and steam service, together with roads and walks from the existing mains to the new location proposed for the buildings.

FLEET AIR BASE, COCO SOLO, CANAL ZONE

QUARTERS FOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS

For the fleet air base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone, quarters for chief petty officers, we are requesting $180,000.

Project authorized by Congress by act of April 15, 1935, Public, No. 36, Seventy-fourth Congress.

The fleet air base Coco Solo, is located in the Canal Zone. Panama, near the Atlantic end of the Canal, adjacent to the submarine base. For a number of years the Navy has maintained at this station an air force which to all intents and purposes is an essential part of the fleet. The function of the fleet air base is to provide an operating base for coastal patrol planes and the repair. maintenance, overhaul, and servicing of them.

The housing for married petty officers assigned to the station is entirely inadequate to provide for the number of men attached to the base. As in the case of the personnel of the submarine base these married men seek housing in nearby native towns where living conditions are deplorable, as the men are required to rent what housing may be available, over stores and to a large extent in undesirable districts of Colon. This condition is detrimental to the health and morale of the men and their families. The rents charged for these meager accommodations are entirely out of proportion to their character and to the pay of the men who in addition should not be required to live under these conditions.

The project contemplates the construction of six four-family apartment houses, adjacent to those now existing, and consisting of fourroom accommodations with modern sanitary plumbing and ventilation. The buildings will be raised above the ground in conformity with good construction in tropical countries. This project should be proceeded with at as early a date as practicable, to relieve the present deplorable housing situation.

Mr. THOM. Are these chief petty officers given an allowance for rental?

Admiral MOREELL. No, sir: they are not.

Mr. THOM. Do they have to pay rental in these new buildings? Admiral MOREELL. They will not have to pay rental: no, sir.

EXTENSION OF HANGAR NO. 101

At the Fleet Air Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone, for extension of hangar No. 101, we are asking an appropriation of $140,000. With the rapid development of aircraft, leading to larger planes, the present hangar facilities are inadequate. Failure to furnish hangar space necessitates leaving the planes out of doors exposed to the weather with resultant expensive deterioration of these costly units.

The present facilities for housing aircraft at the fleet air base are entirely inadequate to properly house and maintain the quota of planes assigned to the station. On account of the climatic conditions, it is necessary that all planes be housed under cover to retard deterioration. Hangar No. 101 is on bay shorter than the other hangars and it is contemplated to extend this building to the same size as the remaining hangars on the base.

The existing housing situation for planes is critical and will be further aggravated upon the assignment of additional planes which is contemplated. The project is essential to the preservation of expensive aircraft and should be proceeded with as early as practicable.

NAVAL AIR STATION, ALAMEDA, CALIF.

CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT

Admiral MOREELL. For the Naval Air Station. Alameda, Calif., to continue the development authorized by the act approved June 24, 1936, as amended, we are asking $4,800,000 in addition to the limit. of cost fixed by the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1938. The proposed air station will be located at Alameda, Calif., on San Francisco Bay, on land acquired by the Government from the

city of Alameda, together with a tract of land known as Benton Field, transferred by Executive order from the Army to the Navy. This new project is to provide a highly important shore base for assembly and overhaul for the aircraft of the fleet. The location is on the east shore of San Francisco Bay almost opposite the Golden Gate which is the entrance to San Francisco Bay from the sea. The location was selected after study of the entire area.

An appropriation of $1,000,000 toward the development of aviation facilities on this site was contained in the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1938. The facilities to be developed consist of hangars for seaplanes and landplanes, shops for the overhaul of naval aircraft, housing for personnel, and the necessary dredging. quaywall, bulkheads, fill, and miscellaneous facilities required for a complete station.

The facilities for the overhaul and repair of naval aircraft, including the coast patrol squadrons and the squadrons attached to aircraft carriers, cruisers, and other naval vessels are entirely inadequate to keep up with the demands for overhaul work. The demands for increased shop area are constantly increasing and the facilities, particularly on the west coast are entirely inadequate to cope with the situation. The facilities at San Diego are overtaxed and the crowded conditions resulting interfere with the orderly and economical schedule of repairs for naval aircraft. With the construction of the base at Alameda, the situation will be materially relieved and an orderly program for aircraft overhaul can be established whereby planes will receive their full allotment of time for complete overhaul and reconditioning.

The development plan for the station at this time contemplates an expenditure of $13,500,000 for funds for which will be requested in annual increments to proceed with the development in an orderly manner and as fast as efficient and economical construction can be accomplished.

This project contemplates the continuation of the development as authorized by the act of June 24, 1936, and the appropriation of $1,000,000 as contained in the 1938 appropriation act. No work has as yet been undertaken under these funds as the land has just been delivered to the Navy, free from encumbrances.

The work contemplated under the first $1,000,000 consists of dredg ing, filling, bulkheads, dikes, and temporary buildings. A continuation under this project contemplates a further development, including additional filling and grading, riprap walls, seaplane runways, parking area for seaplanes, overhaul shops, administration building, seaplane hangars, dispensary, power plant, public works shop, road walks, and services, and miscellaneous small buildings. The estimated cost of the above-mentioned facilities in continuation of the development of the station is $4,800,000. These funds are required to proceed in an orderly manner with the development to provide a much-needed increase in the aviation facilities of the Navy at as early a date a practicable.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Admiral, I believe that $1,000,000 was carried in the appropriation bill for the present fiscal year to begin the work at Alameda?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. I think it is a fact, is it not, that only within the past 30 days the Navy Department and the Government received title to the land at Alameda, as required by our authorization?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Therefore up to this time you have been able to do nothing toward beginning that project?

Admiral MOREELL. That is correct, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. How much are you requesting in this estimate to continue the work for the next year, $2,000,000?

Admiral MOREELL. We are requesting $2,000,000; yes,

sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. What was the limitation of cost imposed by the authorizing act?

Admiral MOREELL. The limitation was $13,500,000.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Why, then, do you use the language contained in that part of the justification appearing at the top of page 120:

The development plan for the station at this time contemplates an expenditure of $13,500,000.

Admiral MOREELL. The wording is somewhat ambiguous; it means that future developments might possibly necessitate additional expansions. There is no present intention to go beyond $13,500,000.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Is that to be taken as an indication that, in addition to the plans as contemplated by the authorization, the Department already, before beginning the project, has in mind plans which would exceed the authorized cost?

Admiral MOREELL. That is not my interpretation, sir. Captain Whitman states that he is responsible for that language and would like to explain it.

Mr. UMSTEAD. We should be glad to have him do so.

Captain WHITMAN. I think I can explain that the word "complete" was in there and that in 30 years in the Navy I have been plagued by that word "complete," and I am striving to leave the word "complete" out, so as not to deceive and not to present a deceptive appearance.

Mr. THOM. Who prepared the plans for this Alameda station? Admiral MOREELL. They were prepared in the Bureau of Yards and Docks.

Mr. THOм. Previous to your coming?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir.

Mг. THOм. Are those plans complete, so that we know just what we are going to have in the way of buildings and other things?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir. This [exhibiting plan] is the layout of the station in accordance with the present plans; the drawing indicates the work that is to be done with the $1,000,000 already appropriated and with the $4,800,000 authorization asked for in this Budget.

Mr. UMSTEAD. When do you expect to complete the work as contemplated at present, provided you get sufficient funds as you need them?

Admiral MOREELL. You mean the $13,500,000 program?
Mr. UMSTEAD. Yes.

Admiral MOREELL. That would be between 4 and 5 years.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Admiral, I believe it is a fact, is it not, that about the first thing you have to do is to fill in a submerged area and make dry land of it?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir; that is one of the first things we have to do.

Mr. UMSTEAD. You will have to fill in a space now covered by water and build up a land area?

Admiral MOREELL. That is correct.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Until that is done very little can be accomplished toward the construction of the air station?

Admiral MOREELL. That is partially correct, sir. We can do some building work immediately. If you will look at this map, you wil see that some of the new buildings are located on what is now hard land.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Benton Field?

Admiral MOREELL. Benton, Field; yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. How much is the estimated cost of the filling in of the water-covered area?

Admiral MOREELL. The estimated cost of filling, on the first ($1,000,000) increment of the project, is $450,000.

Mr. UMSTEAD. What will all the filling-in cost?

Admiral MOREELL. The total filling-in will cost $2,072,400.

Mr. UMSTEAD. That will embrace how many acres of land? How many acres of land now covered by water will that expenditure build up into usable dry-land area?

Admiral MOREELL. Approximately 500 acres, I would say, Mr. Chairman; that is a round figure.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Admiral, when were the estimates prepared which set up as a requirement for 1939 the sum of $2,000,000?

Admiral MOREELL. Those estimates setting up the sum of $2,000,000 for 1939 were prepared at the time the Budget for this year was prepared, which was about July 1937.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Did you know at that time that it would be ir December, or approximately December, before you obtained titie to the property so that you might proceed?

Admiral MOREELL. We estimated that it would be about the first of the year; yes, sir; that was a guess.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Is it your opinion that the $2,000,000 herein requested, plus the $1,000,000 heretofore allocated for this purpose. would be required during the fiscal year 1939 for the orderly prosecution of the project as you now contemplate it?

Admiral MOREELL. Yes, sir. I have here a breakdown which indicates that to be the case.

Mr. THOм. The old buildings on the site are in pretty good condition-some of them, at least?

Admiral MOREELL. There is one building on the Alameda site, the operating building of the Pan American Airways, which is in good condition.

Mr. THOм. Are you going to wreck that or continue that?

Admiral MOREELL. That will not be used by the Navy for the time being. The agreement made with the Pan American Airways, which resulted in their relinquishing their rights in this property, provides for their continued operation of this part of the property under a revocable permit, so that at any time, if we need that property, we can obtain it.

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