Hazzard and Gansevoot (which space is no longer required by this Department); the Throggs Neck Light Station operated and maintained by the Coast Guard; and the storm signal tower and facilities connected therewith and the site used by the Department of Agriculture (Weather Bureau, now in the Department of Commerce) incident to the operation and maintenance of its station. In May of 1943 a license was granted by the War Department to the Coast Guard to continue the use and occupancy of its light station for an additional 5 years. The Coast Guard station and the Weather Bureau site are within the area to be conveyed. At the request of the Secretary of the Navy, an in-shore area of approximately 26 acres of the reservation was made available to the Navy by the Governor of the State in September 1942. This area is not included in the land described in the bill and the proposed conveyance will be contingent upon release of this ares by the State. AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY TO PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTION AT STATIONS OF THE ALASKA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AUGUST 2, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Who'e House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. BROOKS, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H. R. 43151 The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4315) to authorize the Secretary of the Army to proceed with construction at stations of the Alaska communication system, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The amendment is as follows: On page 4, lines 23 and 24, strike out the figure "$7,668,212." and insert in lieu thereof "$7,663,212." The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Secretary of the Army to proceed with construction at stations of the Alaska communication system. There are 43 stations operated by the system. The system connects with some 300 privately owned telegraph and radio stations located in the smaller towns and canneries. These privately owned stations are scattered throughout the Territory with the main concentrations along the southeastern and southern coastal regions, and in the area paralleling the railroad which connects Whittier, Anchorage, and Fairbanks The Alaska communication system can be likened to the Long Lines Division of the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. with respect to communications in the United States. This system provides the main long lines throughout Alaska, and for service connecting with the United States and other countries. The system is essentially the arterial communications of a Territory which has an area of 586,400 square miles, and a population of some 94,000 persons, an increase of 20 percent since 1945. The Alaska communication system is a Government activity essentially concerned H. Repts., 81-1, vol. 5-75 with the development of the Territory and serving the civilian population. Since 1901 the Alaska communication system has provided long-distance communication service for the military, other Government agencies, and civilians in Alaska. The Alaska communication system is faced with a serious and critical situation with respect to family housing and buildings for equipment and operations. In 1948 a 5-year housing and building construction program was started with a view of providing permanent buildings and quarters to replace the many temporary shacks and quarters built before and during the recent hostilities. The total estimated cost of this program is $16,800,790. During 1948 no construction was authorized in connection with this program. During 1949 construction amounting to only $2,272,264 was authorized, of which $564,490 was allocated for the construction of technical buildings and $1,707,774 for quarters. In accordance with instructions received from the chairman of the cognizant Armed Services Subcommittee last year, all funds required for the Alaska communication system, except for the pay, clothing, subsistence, and medical care of military personnel detailed for duty with the system, were to be removed from the various military budgets and submitted separately for the Alaska communication system. In conformity with this instruction, the bill now under consideration was prepared as a separate enabling bill covering the required construction. The cost of this bill is $7,663,212 leaving a balance in the amount of $6,865,314 requiring authorization in future years. This program is of considerable magnitude and involves stations at many locations. Many of these stations, such as Big Delta, Northway, and Cathedral Bluffs, along the Alcan Highway, are remote from the inhabited sections of Alaska. Many additional locations such as Kodiak, Cold Bay, Naknek, Nome, et cetera, are only accessible by air or water. This plan contemplates building at the remote locations an entire station at one time. At other locations such as Anchorage and Fairbanks, it is planned to undertake the construction in increments based on the most urgent needs. Construction of new stations such as five repeater stations which it is proposed to establish between Juneau and Ketchikan will only be undertaken as the expansion of Alaska necessitates the increased communication facilities along this route. One of the most critical needs is for family housing for the married key personnel assigned to the various stations. At the present time there is a total of 18 officers, 87 civilians, and 486 enlisted men on duty with the Alaska communication system in Alaska. Included in the fiscal year 1949 military construction bill there was an authorization for a total of 46 sets of family quarters. Under the proposed authorization bill the Army contemplates the construction of 118 additional sets of family quarters which will go a long way toward providing essential housing for key personnel. The provision of suitable housing for personnel and their families helps to promote stability of key personnel at the various locations with corresponding improved efficiency in over-all operations. At the present time, the Alaska communication men stationed at the remote and isolated stations along the Alcan are living in converted temporary frame buildings erected during World War II which, in many cases. have outlived their estimated life Personnel in the larger cities, particularly Anchorage and Fairbanks, find it almost impossible to rent quarters because of the very overcrowded conditions in these cities. This condition is creating a serious morale problem for the system which needs prompt attention. General Bradley emphasized the critical need for housing Army families in Alaska in his recent presentation of the 1950 budget before the Congress. Many highly qualified enlisted men have refused to reenlist because of the housing situation. Construction in the amount of $5,469,230 is included in this bill for equipment and operational buildings and utilities. In addition, authorization for quarters in the amount of $2,193,982 is included. Authorization for utilities in the amount of $1,396,500 is included in the first of the two figures given above. The utilities are required, however, for both the operational buildings and the family quarters. The equipment and operational building need stems from two things. First, the very sizable expansion already under way and the necessity to keep pace with civilian demands for communications in Alaska have caused the Alaska communication system to outgrow completely its available equipment and operational space at several locations. This applies particularly to the Anchorage and Fairbanks installations each of which are located in post office buildings. The situation at these two stations has become acute and is aggravated by the fact that local civil officials, recognizing the serious predicament of the Alaska communication system, had voluntarily given up part of their space in these buildings to help the system over the emergency. Now these officials find themselves badly pressed for space, and are requesting return of the space at an early date. In addition, eight new stations are required in order to provide adequate communications between Anchorage and Fairbanks and Juneau and Ketchikan. Secondly, a considerable amount of the very expensive modern equipment which the Alaska communication system is now operating, particularly along the Alcan Highway in Alaska, is installed in wartime-built frame buildings that are definitely fire hazards. Fires in such buildings in Alaska usually result in total losses. The Alaska communication system does not have sufficient spare equipment to replace these sizable installations if lost by fire. Even if the equipment could be made available on short notice, it would take months to ship it to the area and make necessary installations before service could be restored. The penetration, during summer months, of fine gritty dust into temporary buildings located along the Alcan Highway has resulted in added maintenance problems as well as causing excessive deterioration of critical equipment. The individual costs of these buildings have been carefully estimated by the Chief of Engineers and are believed to represent the true current-day cost at the stations in Alaska. The construction authorization totaling $7,663,212 requested in this bill is critically needed. It is essential that if the Alaska communication system is to carry out its mission in the development of Alaska, it be expanded concurrently with the civilian and military development. The proposed legislation has been cleared with the Bureau of the Budget which has interposed no objection thereto, and its enactment is recommended by the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense, as indicated by the following two letters which are hereby made a part of this report. The Committee on Armed Services therefore recommends that the bill do pass. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Enclosed is a letter addressed to you by the Secretary of the Army recommending the enactment of a proposed draft of legislation, also enclosed, bearing the title "To authorize the Secretary of the Army to proceed with construction at stations of the Alaska communication system." This legislation has been approved for inclusion in the National Military Estabishment legislative program for the Eighty-first Congress, first session, and responsibility for handling it on behalf of the Establishment has been placed in the Department of the Army. Sincerely yours, LOUIS JOHNSON. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is enclosed herewith draft of a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Army to proceed with construction at stations of the Alaska communication system, which the Department of the Army recommends be enacted into law. The Secretary of Defense has assigned the responsibility for the preparation and submission of this measure, on behalf of the National Military Establishment, to this Department. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to authorize the Secretary of the Army to proceed with further construction at named stations of the Alaska communication system in Alaska, and in Seattle, Wash., and to acquire land and rights pertaining thereto, or other interest therein by donation, purchase, exchange. or otherwise. The proposed legislation also authorizes appropriations to continue available until expended, and provides for the execution of continuing contracts to cover authorized construction when existing appropriations are not sufficient to cover the entire cost. Public Law 626 (80th Cong., 2d sess.) authorizes construction for the initial phases of the program. The construction provided for is part of a program which has been inaugurated to keep pace with the development of Alaska and the growing communications needs of the civilian population and other Government agencies in the Territory. The enactment of this enabling legislation will not involve the appropriation of funds. It contemplates a construction program the full implementation of which, however, it is estimated will cost $7,668,212. This report has been coordinated among the departments and boards in the National Military Establishment in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. The Bureau of the Budget has been consulted and advises that there is no objection to the submission of this proposed legislation for the consideration of the Congress. Sincerely yours, |