MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, 1954 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL FUNCTIONS AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION GLENN R. DAVIS, Wisconsin, Chairman T. MILLET HAND, New Jersey CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri FRANK SANDERS, Executive Secretary to Subcommittee 4.5. Congress, >15 Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations, UA23 3 A6322 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS JOHN TABER, New York, Chairman RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachusetts H. CARL ANDERSEN, Minnesota ERRETT P. SCRIVNER, Kansas FREDERIC R. COUDERT, JR., New York EARL WILSON, Indiana NORRIS COTTON, New Hampshire BENJAMIN F. JAMES, Pennsylvania CHARLES R. JONAS, North Carolina OTTO KRUEGER, North Dakota SAM CON, Oregon MELVIN R. LAIRD, Wisconsin ELFORD A. CEDERBERG, Michigan CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri J. VAUGHAN GARY, Virginia JOHN E. FOGARTY, Rhode Island ANTONIO M. FERNANDEZ, New Mexico OTTO E. PASSMAN, Louisiana SIDNEY R. YATES, Illinois ALFRED D. SIEMINSKI, New Jersey GEORGE Y. HARVEY, Clerk (II) HBP 24 Je 54 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, 1954 WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1954. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WITNESSES REAR ADM. SHERMAN R. CLARK, USN, SENIOR MEMBER, SHORE STATION DEVELOPMENT BOARD, CNO CAPT. R. S. LAMB, USN, SECRETARY AND MEMBER SSDB, CNO MARK HANABURY, MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION COMDR. J. D. BURKY, CEC, USN, STAFF, OFFICE OF NAVY COMP- REAR ADM. JOHN R. PERRY, CEC, USN, CHIEF, BUREAU OF YARDS S. E. MATULLO, ASSISTANT MANAGER, AVIATION FACILITIES COMDR. L. F. NOBLE, HEAD, TACILITIES ENGINEERING SECTION D. M. PATTERSON, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO ASSISTANT CHIEF, Mr. DAVIS. The subcommittee has met to consider the contents of two letters addressed to Chairman Taber of the Committee on Appropriations and signed by Rear Adm. E. W. Clexton, the Assistant Comptroller and Director of Budget and Reports for the Department of the Navy. One of them is dated May 14 and the other the 21st of May, 1954. We will insert copies of these letters and one from Assistant Secretary of Defense Floete, in the record at this point to show the basis of our discussion here this morning. (The letters referred to are as follows:) Hon. JOHN TABER, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER, Washington 25, D. C., May 14, 1954. Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. MY DEAR MR. Chairman: Your letter of November 25, 1953, to the Secretary of Defense approved certain fiscal year 1954 public works projects in accordance with the provisions of section 805, Public Law 207, 83d Congress and conditionally deferred action on certain other projects. The Department of the Navy, with the approval of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, presents herewith the following deferred projects for reconsideration by your committee: NALF, Fallon, Nev., additional aviation facilities.. NAS, Norfolk, Va., conversion turboprop test cells. NATTS, Trenton, N. Y., altitude test chamber... Total... $4, 912, 000 150, 000 3, 398, 000 8, 460, 000 (1) Data supporting these projects are contained in part I of enclosure (1). The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Properties and Installations) upon completion of detailed studies has also authorized the Navy to request your approval of the following fiscal year 1954 public works projects which have not previously been presented to your committee: NAAS, Chase Field, Tex., high speed fueling stations__ NAS, Cecil Field, Fla., ammunition storage and land acquisition.... Total - - - - $175,000 517, 000 135, 000 400,000 1, 227, 000 Justification data in support of these projects are found in part II of enclosure (1). The above projects amounting to $9,687,000 are submitted in compliance with the provisions of section 805, Public Law 207, 83d Congress and approval by your committee is respectfully requested. Should you require additional data relative to these projects I will be pleased to furnish it. Sincerely yours, E. W. CLEXTON, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, Assistant Comptroller, Director of Budget and Reports. Enclosure: (1) Detailed justifications for public works projects authorized by public law 209, 83d Congress for which clearance for funding is being requested, 2 copies. Hon. JOHN TABER, House of Representatives. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of November 25, 1953, deferred all requests for Navy jet engine test cells and requested a study be made of the jet test cells of the Navy and Air Force toward development of a standard facility. A preliminary study as to the feasibility of developing a standard test cell has been made. The Navy and Air Force are taking steps to develop such standard designs as are practicable after, (1) studying existing service and industrial plans and installations, (2) standardization of instrumentations, mechanizations, and sound attenuation requirements insofar as possible, and (3) considering the requirements of the two services and those imposed by firm technological advances in turbine engine complexity and thrust capacity. It is anticipated that such standard designs cannot be fully attained before May 1, 1955. Review of the requirements for jet test cells at NAS, Quonset Point, R. I.; NAS, San Diego, Calif.; and NAS, Alameda, Calif., indicates that these project. are of such urgency that construction should be initiated in this fiscal year. These test cells will complement the engine shop facilities which are now in operation. Present overhauls involve engines which can be tested within the capacity of existing test cells or with modified testing arrangements that interrupt and lengthen schedules. Rapidly accelerating testing requirements at these three stations are expected to attain critical proportions by June 1, 1955. Without these cells post overhaul test of some engines would of necessity be by inflight test subjecting pilots to unacceptably hazardous conditions. In view of these conditions it is requested that the deferment of the following projects in the Navy fiscal year 1954 public works program be reconsidered and the projects approved at the revised estimated costs: NAS, Quonset Point, R. I.: Additional funds to provide, with existing funds, 1 pair of test cells - . NAS, San Diego, Calif.: 1 pair jet engine test cells. $480,000 1, 352, 000 1,352,000 It is also requested that the project for conversion of test cells at NAS, Norfolk, Va., for $150,000 be reconsidered and its approval is recommended. This project is to provide for conversion of turboprop test cells on which construction is practically complete so that they may be also used for jet engine testing. The necessary equipment has been designed and contracted for and the amount of this project is to close in the building and make the necessary installation. Sincerely yours, FRANKLIN G. FLOETE. Hon. JOHN TABER, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: My letter of May 14, 1954, submitted certain fiscal year 1954 public works projects to your committee for approval in accordance with the provisions of section 805, Public Law 207, 83d Congress. Assistant Secretary of Defense (Property and Installations) letter to your committee dated May 17, 1954, requested approval of the following additional projects, justifications for which are submitted herewith: Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, R.I.,turbojet test cells (2d increment). Total. The above projects, totaling $3,184,000, are submitted in compliance with section 805, Public Law 207, 83d Congress, and approval of your committee is respectfully requested. Should you require additional information relative to these projects, I will be pleased to furnish it so that, if convenient for the committee, approval may be obtained at the same time action is taken upon our request of May 14, 1954. Sincerely yours, E. W. CLEXTON, Rear Admiral, USN, Assistant Comptroller, Director of Budget and Reports. GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. DAVIS. Admiral Clark has a brief statement to submit and we will be glad to hear from him at this time. Admiral CLARK. Thank you. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, in accordance with the provisions of section 805, Public Law 207, 83d Congress, the Department of the Navy with the approval of the Office of the Secretary of Defense presents today a request for your approval of 10 public works projects totaling $12,871,000. These projects were authorized in Public Law 209, 83d Congress and are to be financed from unobligated funds. Four of the projects have not previously been presented to your committee. They are: 1. High-speed fueling stations at NAAS, Chase Field, Tex., request for $175,000. 2. High-speed fueling stations at NAS, Cecil Field, Fla., request for $517,000. 3. High-speed fueling stations at NAS, Kingsville, Tex., request for $400,000. 4. Ammunition storage and land acquisition at NAS, Cecil Field, Fla., request for $135,000. The difference in cost between the fueling station projects is due to the variance in the number of stations at the fields named. The cost per fueling station is standard. The remaining six projects were deferred by your committee in your report to the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives' dated January 12, 1954. They are: |