it is high value for a man to pay to try to farm up, but nevertheless land costs more than $7,000 an acre for subdivisions and things like that. It is running up. There is no question about the fact that more people are born but not more land is born. Mr. HARDY. In here you have your family quarters. Is this new hospital that is in here to go on this piece of land also? General SHULER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the item is approved. [Chorus of "Mr. Chairman."] Mr. BECKER. Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Just one question. Mr. BECKER. One question, Mr. Chairman. On this administrative building at Detroit where you are getting back money. Here you are giving up 65 acres, you said. General SHULER. Yes, sir. Mr. BECKER. Where is that going to be reflected? Is it going to be income back to the Government for that land, or what? General SHULER. We estimate, sir, a figure of $158,500 that that Jand would bring. As I understand it, it would be turned over to the General Services Administration, and if they can't find another use for it, the money would go into the United States Treasury, on the sale. Mr. HARDY. What is on that land now? General SHULER. That is a farm, sir. There is just one little house on it and a skeet-shooting range. That is essentially all that is on it. Mr. BECKER. Mr. Chairman, I just want to pursue this question. During all this time that land has not been used by the Army, but has been used as a farm? General SHULER. That is right. It is called farm No. 1, sir, and there are no buildings on it and no use by Carlisle Barracks. Mr. BECKER. And that land has been out of the tax rolls of communities for quite a long time? General SHULER. I would say so, but retained for future construction. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, that item is approved. The next item is Fort Knox, Ky. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Fort Knox, Kentucky: Operational and training facilities, and utilities, $516,000. It is page 54 in the book. The items are: Two trainfire ranges. General SHULER. Fort Knox, Ky.: Second Army; installation located 29 miles southwest of Louisville; initially occupied in 1918; designated "permanent." Mission: Current: Armored school; school troops; United States of America Board No. 2, United States Army training center, armored; nondivisional units; United States of America research unit No. 1; United States of America medical research; United States Army hospital; Army maintenance board; support of civilian components; summer training; reception center; logistical assistance and protection gold depository. Peacetime: Armored school; school troops; United States of America Board No. 2; Army medical research laboratory; human research unit No. 1; Army maintenance. board; United States Army hospital; Nondivisional armor units; United States Army training center, armored; miscellaneous station complement units; support of civilian components; summer training; reception center; logistical assistance and protection gold depository. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $113,090,391. Cost of improvements (permanent and other), $106,840,588. Present strength: Military, 29,047; civilian employees, 3,692. Line items requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization ($16,000 total): Two trainfire I ranges. Central heating plant, ordnance shops. Detailed justification follows: Two trainfire I ranges ($157,000): Trainfire I has been adopted as the new basic rifle course by the Army. This project will provide part of the essential training facilities required for rifle instruction based on this new training concept. Facilities which are outmoded by trainfire I are currently being utilized. Central heating plant, ordnance shops ($359,000): This item is required to provide heat for ordnance shops including a general purpose vehicle shop, an armament shop, 2 warehouses, and provision for 1 machine metal working shop, 1 allied trades shop, 1 administration and instrument repair building, and 1 combined signal maintenance shop and warehouse. Item is to provide heating for all facilities planned for the ordnance area with initial connection to facilities provided in fiscal year 1958 program. Required to heat shops included in fiscal year 1958 and future buildings. No facility of this type exists in area. Unless this facility is provided, each building authorized and erected will have to be provided with an individual plant. Providing central heating plant will reduce operating personnel for heating activities by 75 percent, since a sufficient supply of natural gas is not available to change type of fuel from coal to gas. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the item is approved. The next is Fort Meade, Md. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Fort Meade, Maryland: Operational and training facilities, $498,000. The items are airfield paving and facilities, $282,000. Aircraft fuel storage and dispensing, $68,000. Airfield lighting, $50,000. And a Trainfire range for $98,000. General SHULER. Fort George G. Meade, Md.: Second Army; installation located 18 miles south of Baltimore; initially occupied in 1917; designated "permanent." Mission: Provide for the command operations, training, administration, services, and supply and logistical support for the headquarters, Second United States Army, National Security Agency, ROTC, USAR, summer training, Finance and Accounting Office, 2d Antiaircraft Regional Command, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Army Signal Air Defense Engineering Agency, Second United States Army Field Maintenance and other field maintenance facilities supporting the Second United States Army Area. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $58,211,938. Present strength: Military, 11,668; civilian employees, 10,116. Line items requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization ($498,000 total): Airfield paving and facilities (FW). Aircraft fuel storage and dispensing. Detailed justification follows: Airfield paving and facilities ($282,000): Item is required to provide a parallel taxiway and two engine runup areas, and to complete the aircraft parking apron at this field. Minimum operational paving requirements were provided by a prior program. If item is not provided, pilots will have to make pretakeoff runup checks on the parking apron and use the runway as a taxiway. This apron will provide the remainder of required parking area for the 28 assigned aircraft and will complete construction in the vicinity of field operations, permitting stabilization of shoulders and grassing of the area for protection of aircraft. Aircraft fuel storage and dispensing ($68,000): Aircraft fuel storage and dispensing facilities are required to complete the Army airfield. At the present time fuel tank trucks must transport fuel in from distant POL supply points. When this item is provided, fuel will be brought in by railroad tank car and stored at the field, equipment rental will be eliminated, and $15,000 per year will be saved. If item is not provided, fuel will continue to be trucked in at high cost. Airfield Lighting (FW) ($50,000): Item is required to light taxiways included in this program. If this item is not provided, the parallel taxiway in this program will not be usable at night; night traffic will be handled at a slower rate; and night operations will be more hazardous. Trainfire I range ($98,000): Trainfire I has been adopted as the new basic rifle course by the Army. This project will provide part of the essential training facilites required for rifle instruction based on this new training concept. Facilities which are outmoded by Trainfire I are currently being utilized. Mr. RIVERS. Without objection. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the item is approved. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Fort Ritchie, Maryland: Supply facilities, $43,000. The item is an ammunition storage igloo. General SHULER. Fort Ritchie, Md.: Second Army; installation located 8 miles southeast of Waynesboro; initially occupied in 1951; designated "permanent." Mission: Provides for command, operations, training, administration, security, supply, and other services for units and activities located at Fort Ritchie. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $4,054,236. Cost of improvements (permanent and other), $1,559,317. Cost of land (1,312 acres), $2,494,919. Present strength: Military, 652: civilian employees, 215. Line item requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization ($43,000 total): Ammunition storage igloo. Detailed justification follows: Ammunition storage igloo ($43,000): This new structure is necessary to provide adequate storage for ammunition required to support the installation mission. Buildings presently being utilized for this function are situated in an area where Capehart family housing is currently being constructed. In addition, these existing storage facilities are within an unsafe distance from private homes located adjacent to the installation. The present facilities utilized by this installation were not designed to accommodate the types of ammunition required to be stored therein. In addition, these buildings, and the location thereof, do not meet the requirements of the Ordnance safety manuals and regulations. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the item is approved. Mr. KELLEHER (reading): Fort Benning, Georgia: Operational and training facilities, maintenance facili ties, administrative facilities, troop housing, and family housing, $4,189,000. General SHULER. Fort Benning, Ga.-Ala.: Third Army; installation located 8 miles southwest of Columbus; initially occupied in 1919; designated "permanent." Mission: Development of leadership in all ranks; instruction of Infantry officers in standardized techniques and tactics; training of officers for staff duty-up to and including regimental combat team; instructing, testing, qualifying enlisted men and officers in airborne techniques and tactics. To furnish administrative and logistical support to an Infantry division. Total cost (based on price when acquired), $104,485,309. Cost of improvements (permanent and other), $99,523,653. Present strength: Military, 34,237; civilian employees, 3,085. Line items requested for fiscal year 1959 authorization: ($4,189,000 total): Taxiway (FW). Aircraft parking areas (RW). Access aprons and facilities (RW). Taxiway lighting (FW) (Lawson Army Airfield). Two unit operations buildings (RW). Flight simulater building (Lawson Army Airfield). Hangar with shop (RW). Four motor-repair shops (2 motor parks). Two regimental headquarters buildings. Field office and change house. Twenty-five family quarters. Enlisted men's barracks (263-man) without mess (medical). Detailed justification follows: Taxiway (FW) ($244,000): This taxiway is an extension of a taxiway which parallels the principal instrument runway. The present taxiway, built in 1951 was not completed to entire length. This extension is required (1) to increase efficiency of operations, (2) to make land to the northeast available for siting of helicopter facilities, and (3) to separate fixed-wing (including Air Force troop carrier) aircraft from helicopter operations. A parking apron is now being used for taxiway. This parking apron will be released for urgently needed aircraft parking. If this taxiway is not provided, operations on the field will continue to be inefficient, and areas needed for parking will not be released. Aircraft parking area (RW) ($494,00): Needed to provide paved hardstand to park helicopters of 1 light and 1 medium transport helicopter companies and to park aircraft awaiting field maintenance. Two hangars for the field maintenance shop unit are authorized in the fiscal year 1958 MCA program. At present, many aircraft must be parked on the sod because of the shortage of paved apron. If this item is not provided, maintenance problems caused by parking in muddy and dusty areas will continue to hamper operations. Access aprons and facilities (RW) ($324,000): Paved access aprons are required to support the hangar with shops in this program for maintenance of helicopters assigned to one medium transport helicopter Company. This apron will provide all-weather, dust-free access from the aircraft parking area to both end doors of the aircraft hangar. Treated shoulders are required around the aprons to prevent dirt and gravel from damaging aircraft engines. Washing facilities are needed to clean the helicopters for maintenance inspection and flying efficiency. Taxiway lighting (FW) (Lawson Army Airfield) ($150,000): Item is required to provide adequately lighted taxiways for night operation at Lawson Army Airfield. This airfield is used for night operation, and there are as many as 800 landings and takeoffs during the hours of darkness in a calendar month. Many of these flights have high-ranking officers or civilians aboard, and it is considered an unsatisfactory condition to employ baton lights to guide these planes to and from parking areas. In the past it has been extremely difficult and hazardous to direct aircraft from parking areas to runways after dark. When landing in certain directions, it is necessary to taxi along an unlighted taxiway for a considerable distance. This is definitely and accident potential. The landing lights of an aircraft are designed so that it is impossible to use them for any length of time except when actually landing the aircraft due to the extreme heat generated by the landing lights. A certain amount of airflow is required to keep them cool and when the aircraft is taxiing there is insufficient airflow to keep them cooled, thus causing them to burn out very quickly. Two unit operations buildings (RW) ($195,000): These items are required to provide facilities for the operational functions of 1 light and 1 medium transport helicopter companies. Existing facilities consist of two temporary-type buildings which are too small to permit efficient operational functions, and which will be demolished upon completion of this project. If project is not provided, briefing, alert, parachute issue, flight operations, and other essential operational functions will be required to continue to be performed in the existing crowded temporary buildings. Flight simulator building (Lawson Army Airfield) ($152,000): Needed to provide permanent space for 12 Link trainers, briefing and classroom space for 100 persons and administrative space for 25 persons. There are 300 assigned aviators and an average of 25 additional aviators attached or attending school, all requiring flight simulator |