Due to the great distance over desert roads, it is not practicable to billet personnel at the main post area nor to dispatch or transport vehicles and equipment to the main post for maintenance. Vehicles and generators in particular require abnormally frequent maintenance due to constant operation under desert and mountain conditions. Approximately 80 permanent personnel and 10 transients daily are now billeted in one 40-man barracks and one 20-man barracks at the Stallion site. Overcrowded and inadequate facilities make it most difficult to recruit and retain personnel at this isolated outpost. As additional test activities progress, further increases in personnel must be provided for, with an estimate of 200 permanently assigned and up to 50 transients daily requiring billeting by fiscal year 1960. Two missile assembly buildings ($684,000): Will provide additional facilities for assembling and testing missiles undergoing flight tests, prior to actual launching. These tests are essential to development and engineering and user evolution of new weapons. Space will be provided for contractor operations and for unpackaging, processing, checkout, inert warhead mating, laboratory testing of electronic components, and supply storage space for missile and system spares. Existing assembly and checkout buildings are fully utilized, and more room is required as additional projects reach flight-testing status. Missiles to be tested include weapons in which the booster and guidance sections are connected, thus requiring location at proper safety distance from inhabited buildings and personnel concentrations. These buildings will be sited as near as possible to missile launching areas, to minimize lost time, and effect economies in personnel and electronic and test equipment. Range instrumentation facilities ($3,773,000): This project is a continuation of the program for modernization and augmentation of the range instrumentation system authorized in fiscal year 1958. The buildings will house cameras, telescopes, and electronic equipment. Technological advancement, and development of missile systems of greater acceleration, velocity, and accuracy, demand range instrumentation of increased precision, reliability, and capability, and the installation of instrumentation at new sites. This will provide more accurate missile-flight data, such as position, velocity, acceleration, altitude, and intercept, and event data. The ultimate result is the development or improvement of weapons of range, accuracy, and capability to compete successfully in modern warfare. The present facilities that are being used for instrumentation will be continued in use; however, where there are no facilities for the new instrumentation planned these new facilities must be provided. If the proposed facilities are not provided the integrated range will be unable to meet the data requirements which are being generated by missile contractors. Also, the quality and accuracy of the missile data that is supplied will not be all that is desired. Shock and vibration laboratory ($597,000): This project will provide specialized laboratory facilities for shock and vibration testing of guided missiles, rockets, and related equipment comprising new weapons systems. The rigorous and often violent conditions to which these weapons are subjected in logistic and tactical movement under combat conditions, and in the launching and flight process, demand that individual components, major assemblies, and complete weapons be tested under controlled and instrumented degrees of shock and vibration to identify and correct weaknesses of all types. This work is now accomplished on a partial and reduced basis on incomplete equipment and facilities located in the engineering lab, displacing general environmental, chemistry, and metallurgical lab activities for which the building was constructed. In addition, a survey by the Surgeon General's Office confirmed that habitation of the building by other lab technicians is unacceptable, due to the high audio noise level created by shock and vibration testing. Facility will greatly increase the effectiveness of this type of testing, resulting in maximum effectiveness and reliability of weapons systems. It will also permit use of the engineering laboratory for its proper technical mission. If this facility is not provided as scheduled, the increasing rigid requirements for structural design testing cannot be met. This will result in the use of missiles and equipment which have not been thoroughly checked out for structural weaknesses. This laboratory is engaged in the testing of components for all missile systems. Dental clinic, 10 chairs ($265,000): This item is required to provide adequate permanent dental clinic facilities to accommodate military personnel and dependents authorized such service, assigned to this installation. Existing facilities are housed in a temporary-type structure which has been expanded from 1 chair in 1946 to 8 chairs at present time. This existing structure is inadequate in space, and in addition has passed the point of further alteration or repair; it will be demolished upon completion of this requested project. Bachelor officers quarters ($484,000): This item is required to provide housing facilities for bachelor officers assigned to this installation, for single civilian personnel employed at the proving grounds, and for groups of visiting high ranking Government and scientific personnel. It is now necessary for persons attending training programs to live in El Paso, Tex., due to shortage of bachelor officers quarters facilities, and to be transported the 50 miles between there and this installation twice daily at Government expense since there is no public transportation available. Due to the remote location of the proving ground it has been necessary to provide both male and female bachelor officers quarters facilities in order to procure and retain qualified technical and clerical personnel. Existing mobilization type bachelor officers quarters, which are converted barracks buildings, are required to be demolished to provide site for new permanent-type barracks. Post chapel with religious education facilities (600 seat) ($464,000): This item is required to provide permanent worship facilities for personnel assigned to this installation. Existing facilities consist of 1 temporary structure of 200-seat capacity, devoid of office space, requiring some of the congregation to stand throughout the church services due to lack of seating space. However, existing chapel will be continued in use as a regimental chapel until it is replaced by a permanent facility. Failure to provide this facility will deny many of the personnel the privilege of attending religious services due to lack of worship space. Commissary ($254,000): The present facility is housed in a temporary remodeled frame structure with 10,413 square feet of floor space. Its inadequacies include checkout stands, office space, backup storage space, shelving, and refrigerated display cases and refrigerated stor age space. At the present time, average monthly sales amount to $49,000 furnished by 1,576 accounts serving approximately 6,516 people, including 520 families, both civilian and military, residing on the base who must depend entirely upon this facility for subsistence since the nearest civilian facilities are located in Las Cruces and El Paso, 27 and 50 miles distant respectively. In addition to this current requirement, there exists an approved project for the construction of additional family facilities, quarters, and trailer houses totaling 181 units in fiscal year 1958 which will increase the load on the presently overtaxed and inadequate facilities by over 20 percent. The existing facility is unable to provide present customers with a diversified selection of dry stores, meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables to which the average American family is accustomed. The lack of adequate commissary facilities is a factor in lowering morale of both military and civilian personnel stationed at this isolated base, which adversely affects the accomplishment of the mission at the base in a minor way. The existing commissary facility will be salvaged when the new facility is completed. Mr. KITCHIN. You skipped Seneca Ordnance. Mr. BECKER. No money in that. Mr. KELLEHER. Seneca is only Capehart housing, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Mr. BECKER. That is usually what we get in New York, no money. The CHAIRMAN. That appears, Mr. Kelleher, in the Capehart housing item? Mr. KELLEHER. Yes, sir. That will appear in the list. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Mr. KELLEHER. Incidentally, the Seneca housing has not been cleared by the committee yet. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, White Sands Proving Ground is approved. Now we will come down to the Quartermaster Corps. Now, let's see. All right. Fort Lee. Mr. KELLEHER. (reading) Fort Lee, Virginia: Operational and training facilities, and troop housing, $4,630,000. The items are a signal building for $952,000; Quartermaster academic building, $3,410,000; Bachelor Officers quarters, $268,000; 150 family quarters, Capehart, cleared by the committee; and the bids have been opened; 285 family quarters, Capehart, that are new. There is a Wherry project there of 300 units which has already been acquired, Mr. Chairman. General SHULER. Fort Lee, Va. : Quartermaster installation located 3 miles southwest of Petersburg; initially occupied in 1917; designated "permanent." Mission: To exercise control over all Quartermaster Corps training activities in the field within limits and policies established by Quartermaster General. To develop Quartermaster Corps field organizations and to prepare and disseminate training and operational doctrine, through appropriate channels. To provide administration, security, operational facilities, service, and supply for all units, organizations, and activities stationed at Fort Lee, Va., and satellited on Fort Lee for support. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $41,015,532. Present strength: Military, 7,534; civilian employees, 1,836. Line items requested for Fiscal Year 1959 authorization: ($4,630,000 total): Signal building QM academic building Bachelor officers quarters (female) Detailed justification follows: Signal building ($952,000): This facility is required to support all signal activities of the Quartermaster Training Command and other units, organizations, and activities stationed at Fort Lee, Va. The permanent building will house a 4,000-line dial exchange, signal officer, maintenance shop, communication center, photo lab, film and equipment exchange, and the signal supply. The activities and operations listed above are presently housed in 7 mobilization-type buildings which were constructed in 1941 with a life expectancy of 5 years. The existing facilities are potential fire hazards and have substandard lighting, heating, and ventilation. Four of these buildings will be demolished to accommodate permanent construction and three will be retained for other use. A requirement will exist for 2,600 main lines by July 1, 1958; however, it will be impossible to provide this service without major modifications to the present antiquated commercial exchange. To provide 2,600 main lines in the existing facility, telephone plant engineers have informed that all existing equipment (605-A-type PBX) would have to be abandoned and replaced with new equipment (607-A-type PBX); the entire building would have to be reinforced to carry the weight of the new equipment; and the administrative branch of the signal office would have to be housed in another temporary facility. The requirement for 2,600 main lines by July 1, 1958, does not include provisions for service to the following facilities: 300 Wherry housing units recently acquired by the Government, 304 Capehart housing units approved for construction, and the items approved for construction in the fiscal year 1958 MCA program. The proposed permanent structure will accommodate all signal activities in one facility; it will provide better supervision and centralized control and contribute to more efficient operation; and will include conversion from a manual to a dial exchange for economy and more efficient wire communication. Conversion to a dial system will result in an estimated savings of $116,000 per year in operators' salaries and even though the monthly rental changes would increase from $1,705 (manual system) to estimated $8,000 (dial system) there would still be an estimated overall savings of $20,000 per year. The effect, if this item is not provided, will be that the existing signal facilities cannot accommodate the projected requirements unless major rehabilitation and modifications are made to the temporary structures. Quartermaster academic building ($3,410,000): This item is required to provide a facility for classroom instruction and the necessary administrative and supporting services for the students and faculty of the Quartermaster School. This permanent building will replace 30 mobilization-type buildings used by the Quartermaster School. These temporary buildings were constructed in 1941 with a life expectancy of 5 years. The permanent building will house a minimum of 450 students (peacetime) and a maximum of 750 students (mobilization). This represents 17 percent of the average peacetime student population. Twenty percent of the staff and faculty (includes 3 academic departments) of the Quartermaster School will also be housed in this building (457 of a total staff of 2,241). The remaining academic departments will continue to occupy temporary buildings until other permanent buildings (technical, food service, and general classroom) are constructed. This building is the first of four large permanent buildings required to meet peacetime student training commitments. The permanent facility will provide 10 general classrooms and 2 special classrooms (security room and demonstration war room) plus administrative space which can be converted into classrooms. The classrooms will house 40 to 60 students in peacetime and approximately 80 to 100 in the event of mobilization. The classrooms and administrative space will be utilized 100 percent throughout the fiscal year. In addition to the classrooms and administrative space, the building will provide for a small auditorium, snack bar, and space for a closed circuit television facility, and film service center. The basis used for determining requirements was a projected annual student body of 8,000 to 9,000 operating under the experience factor of the past 5 years and the Army troop program for permanent construction. The existing buildings which are being utilized were poorly designed and not constructed for the type of activity now being housed. Temporary barracks buildings are being used for classrooms and faculty office space which handicaps efforts to obtain instruction, study, conferences-in short, below minimum standards for classroom and academic work. These temporary buildings have substandard heating, lighting, ventilation, and present a fire hazard. Due to the wide dispersion of these facilities, excessive personnel and funds are required to maintain and operate these buildings; many hours are lost in travel by students and faculty; and a considerable number of vehicles are in constant use transporting students to and from classes. In view of the above, it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain high standards of instruction in the existing facilities. It is estimated that $150,000 will be saved in heating (labor and material) and $75,000 in maintenance per year if the permanent facility is constructed. Temporary buildings vacated as a result of this construction will be retained on a standby basis for reserve training and mobilization with only minimum maintenance. If this facility is not provided, maintenance, heating, and operating costs will continue to increase; students and faculty morale will continue to decrease; and the morale and efficiency of the entire Quartermaster Corps will be adversely affected. Reserve enlisted men and officers return to their communities with a poor impression of the opportuni |