ties of Army service and educational advancement. The efficiency of the Quartermaster School will be under a severe handicap until permanent facilities are provided. Bachelor officers' quarters (32 nurses) ($268,000): This facility is required to provide permanent quarters for nurses assigned to the United States Army hospital, civilian students attending the Quartermaster School and United States Army Logistics Management Center, and the WAC officers assigned to this installation. Female personnel are presently quartered in 6 mobilization-type buildings constructed in 1941 with a life expectancy of 5 years. These temporary quarters are not conducive to comfortable living and study by female personnel. The existing nurses' quarters (3 buildings) are located approximately 1 mile from the site of the new hospital. AR 415-31 prescribed immediate vicinity of hospital for location of quarters for nurses in order to maintain unit integrity and provide efficient service. If this facility is not provided, maintenance and heating costs will continue to increase, morale will decrease, and transportation service will be required on a daily basis. The existing facilities will be retained on a standby basis with minimum maintenance performed. One hundred and fifty family quarters (Capehart) ($0); 285 family quarters (Capehart) ($0): These projects are required to provide increments of the permanent family housing facilities for officer and enlisted personnel assigned to this station. In addition to existing permanent facilities there are also 216 substandard units located on the post which are currently occupied. Based on the criteria published by the Department of the Army, the Fort Lee family housing survey of 1957 shows that off-post housing occupied by 1,055 military personnel, entitled to public quarters, is only 19 percent adequate; 12 percent is adequate except for excessive rent and commuting time; and 69 percent is substandard. The housing which is available for rental to military personnel consists of older type frame and brick buildings which have 2 and 3 bedrooms. Insufficient floorspace is the major cause of inadequacy which accounts for 52 percent of the inadequate units. Personnel residing in off-post housing (including home and trailer owners) are paying an excessive price for rent and utilities. Since no plans for construction of rental-type housing in the local area are evident and current indications are that industry activity is not retracting, it is evident that construction of additional Government quarters under the Capehart Act or by use of MCA funds is the only method by which adequate quarters can be provided for military personnel. Number of units: Requested by Army: 150 and 285 (435). Approved by OSD: 150 and 285 (435). Estimated cost: $2,475,000 and $4,702,500 ($7,177,500). Authorization: Public Law 1020, 84th Congress. Current assets: Requirements (based on long-range troop strength) : Officers and upper-grade enlisted men_. Lower-grade enlisted.. Total____. 2,762 781 3 3, 546 The construction of this project will enable the Department of the Army to provide 60 percent of the maximum gross housing requirement based on the long-range troop forecast. The CHAIRMAN. What about the funding on Fort Lee last year? Mr. KELLEHER. In this instance there was a hospital, 134-bed, on a 200-bed chassis authorized last year that was not funded. The amount was $3,132,000. The explanation is that the design is underway but will not be completed in time to award the project in fiscal year 1958. My notes indicate that the project is absolutely needed and will be funded in fiscal year 1959, as soon as design is completed. Delay has been caused by the Bureau of the Budget indecision on protective construction policy for the operating nuclei of permanent hospitals. The CHAIRMAN. Now, may I inquire in regard Mr. RIVERS. There is your Bureau of the Budget again. The CHAIRMAN. May I inquire: When you say the Bureau of the Budget, does that mean the Comptroller's Office? General SHULER. No, sir. Mr. KELLEHER. The White House. The CHAIRMAN. The Bureau of the Budget? Mr. KELLEHER. It means the Bureau of the Budget. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, Camp Lee is approved. Mr. RIVERS. Mr. Chairman, I want to show again the Bureau of the Budget is projecting itself into military planning. The CHAIRMAN. Now, take the next item: Chemical Corps. Army Chemical Center, Md. Mr. KELLEHER. There is housing in between at Natick, Mass., the Quartermaster Research and Engineering Center, 35 units, cleared by the committee. The CHAIRMAN. All right. That has been cleared. Mr. KELLEHER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Go ahead, now. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Chemical Corps. Army Chemical Center, Maryland: Troop housing, and utilities, $2,051,000. The items are: 2 enlisted men's barracks, 326 men each, $1,282,000; a battalion mess building, $352,000; battalion administration and supply building, $270,000; and a heating plant, $147,000. Nothing from last year unfunded. General SHULER. Army Chemical Center, Md.: Chemical installation located 15 miles northeast of Baltimore; initially occupied in 1918; designated "permanent." Mission: Performance of research and development in the fields of chemical warfare, radiological warfare, radiological defense, the conduct of medical research, and the manufacture of chemical warfare material and protective devices. Non-Chemical Corps activities include Ordnance Corps munitions assembly plant, the Army Environ mental Health Laboratories of the Surgeon General, 2 antiaircraft artillery battalions, and 1 antiaircraft artillery group headquarters. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $65,034,918. Cost of improvements (permanent and other), $64,337,538. Present strength: Military, 1,665; civilian employees, 3,788. Line items requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization ($2,051,000 total): Enlisted men's barracks (326-man). Battalion mess building. Battalion administration and supply building. Detailed justification follows: Two enlisted men's barracks (326-man) ($1,282,000): This project is required to replace existing enlisted men's barracks constructed in 1918 as permanent barracks, of hollow tile, stucco cement walls, wood floors and asphalt shingle roofs (14 buildings with total capacity of 1,482 men, 233,745 square feet). These buildings, in use for more than 37 years have deteriorated to the point which dictates either complete rehabilitation or replacement, in view of the 16-cent-persquare-foot maintenance cost which is excessive when compared to the accepted cost of 6 cents per square foot for this type facility. Existing buildings will be demolished upon completion of new barracks. Postponement of project would result in continued use of existing substandard troop housing. Battalion mess ($352,000): This project is required to support barracks in this program, which are part of the permanent peacetime construction requirement. Batallion administration and supply building ($270,000): This is required to support barracks in this program which are a part of the peacetime construction requirements. Heating plant ($147,000): This item is required to supply heat and hot water for barracks, battalion mess and battalion administration and supply buildings in this program. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Without objection, it is approved. Mr. LANKFORD. May I ask a question? About the 1482 existing enlisted men's spaces that are to be demolished. General SHULER. What is it you desire to know, sir? Mr. LANKFORD. I see a footnote here that says 1,400-under permanent facilities inventory. General SHULER. Yes, sir: I see. Mr. LANKFORD. On the same line with the two enlisted men's barracks, it has a footnote that says 1,482 existing to be demolished. General SHULER. Yes, sir. These buildings, Mr. Congressman, were constructed in 1918 and they were at that time of what you might call a permanent type, in that they had hollow tile exterior and stucco walls, wood floor and asphalt shingle roofs. These buildings have been in use for 37 years, and we have made a very exhaustive study, sir, of whether we should rehabilitate these buildings or build new ones. And the Corps of Engineers, the post, and the Army concerned determined that it would be cheaper, sir, to build the new ones and tear these down. So that is the full answer, sir, to your question. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the item is approved. Now, Fort Detrick, Md. Mr. KELLEHER. "Fort Detrick Mr. GAVIN. Isn't there another one in there? The Quartermaster Research and Engineering Center? The CHAIRMAN. That is for family quarters. Mr. GAVIN. I want to ask a question on that. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Mr. GAVIN. How far is Waltham, Mass., from Nattick, I might ask the gentleman? The CHAIRMAN. What page? Mr. GAVIN. It is on page 19. Mr. KELLEHER (addressing witness). About 25 miles, Bill, I think. General SHULER. 25? Mr. KELLEHER. Something like that, about 25 miles, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Is it for the purpose of starting an argument? Mr. GAVIN. No. It is just a matter of information. The CHAIRMAN. All right, good. Mr. GAVIN. May the general tell us how far Waltham, Mass., is from Nattick? General SHULER. I think about 25 miles, sir. Mr. GAVIN. About 25 miles? General SHULER. Yes, sir. Mr. GAVIN. Well, we had the Murphy General Hospital up there that has actually been closed down. What are you doing with that facility? Possibly that facility could be used. Instead of here going into these family quarters, maybe you could develop that into some sort of an apartment-type building. It was in excellent condition, as I remember it. Do you remember it, may I ask my colleague from South Carolina? You were there. Mr. RIVERS. I don't want to get into any intramural fight. Mr. GAVIN. What are you doing with that facility? Mr. GAVIN. Yes? General SHULER. That is the approved location now for the division engineer for the entire New England area Corps of Engineers, and the Air Force is utilizing, I believe, the entire remainder. Mr. GAVIN. Oh, it is being utilized? General SHULER. Yes, sir. Mr. GAVIN. That is all right. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection. Now, read the next one. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Fort Detrick, Maryland: Research development, and test facilities, and troop housing, $1,077,000. The items are The CHAIRMAN. What page is it, Mr. Kelleher? Mr. KELLEHER. That is page 23, Mr. Chairman. General SHULER. Fort Detrick, Md.: chemical installation located at Frederick; initially occupied in 1940; designated "Permanent." Mission: Research and development in all phases of biological warfare. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $52,546,075. Cost of improvements (permanent and other), $51,815,734. present strength: Military, 554; civilian employees, 2,108. Line items requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization ($1,077,000 total): Four animal breeding buildings. Enlisted men's barracks with mess and administration. Detailed justification follows: Four animal breeding buildings ($282,000): Proposed animal breeding buildings are required to support continued development of the biological warfare research and development program at a rate consistent with the official program scope. Current research program at Fort Detrick requires 14,500 guinea pigs and 80,000 mice per month. Total existing breeding capacity is 10,000 guinea pigs and 55,000 mice per month. Attempts have been made to develop commercial sources of the Hartley strain disease free guinea pigs with no success. A survey is continuing to try to develop commercial sources for mice which are 100 percent free of salmonella infection. There is no known source and the probability of securing sources for even a part of the program requirement is very slight. Existing breeding capacity is 70 percent of the program requirement. Failure to secure the four additional buildings will make it impossible to progress at a rate faster than animal supply will permit and the programed rate of mission accomplishment cannot be fulfilled. These four buildings will complete the existing animal farm. Enlisted men's barracks with mess and administration (263-man) ($795,000): There are no permanent type barracks at Fort Detrick. One barracks building of 127 spaces has been authorized and is in the fiscal year 1958 execution program. This barracks will house the enlisted men stationed at the Army transmitting station located at Fort Detrick. Enlisted personnel are presently housed in temporary buildings constructed in 1942 which present a continuous problem of high maintenance and operational costs. Elimination of this item will require continued use of the temporary barracks facilities with the attendant high maintenance costs to house the enlisted men stationed at Fort Detrick proper. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Without objection, the item is approved. Mr. KELLEHER. There is an error on that page, Mr. Chairman. Mr. KELLEHER. The enlisted men's barracks are listed as being 326man barracks. They are actually 263-man barracks. The CHAIRMAN. Anything more on that? Mr. KELLEHER. Nothing, sir. The CHAIRMAN. All right, without objection, it is approved. Read the next item. Mr. KELLEHER. Yes, sir, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. |