House Report No. 261, Seventy-fourth Congress, First Session

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5576) to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to proceed with the construction of certain public works, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report it to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to proceed with the construction of certain public-works projects at the several naval shore establishments, at a cost not to exceed the amount stated for each item. This bill does not appropriate any money but is simply an authorization for future appropriations for the projects named.

A description and explanation of the need for each item of improvement, and the reasons for recommending the acquisition of certain land, follow:

NAVY YARD, BOSTON, MASS.

Marine barracks, South Boston, $22,000.-This project contemplates the construction of a permanent building to house the marine guard at the South Boston Dry Dock. The present facilities consist of a temporary building covered with tar paper which is entirely inadequate to house the present guard and is a menace to health. The marine guard is assigned for the protection of Government property and suitable housing should be provided inasmuch as this is a permanent assignment.

NAVY YARD, MARE ISLAND, CALIF.

Storehouse and accessories, $800,000.-Stores at the Mare Island Navy Yard are now scattered among some 60 structures, many of a temporary nature, nearly all of them old, and most of them unsuited for the purpose, making the storage of millions of dollars' worth of material difficult and expensive. This project contemplates the construction of a multistory reinforced concrete structure located in the central part of the yard for the storage of industrial stores used within the yard proper. The construction of this building will coordinate the storage activities; will greatly add to the efficiency of the supply activity and will remove valuable stores from temporary inflammable houses in which they are now located and will concentrate the industrial stores of the yard in a manner permitting their preservation and quick and economical custody and issue.

Graving dry dock, services and auxiliary construction, $3,500,000.During the past 10 years, numerous studies have been made as to the maximum docking requirements in San Francisco Bay to meet the mobilization requirements as laid down by the Department for the docking of the United States fleet preparatory to a primary naval movement. In addition to the requirements for the docking of naval vessels, there is introduced a second factor brought about by the necessity for the rapid alteration and conversion of merchant shipping for use as naval auxiliaries. From the results of studies made along the above-mentioned lines, the indications are that there is a shortage of 14 docks in the San Francisco area to satisfactorily meet the docking needs of the fleet. In arriving at the number of docks required, all docking facilities, both commercial and Government-owned have been considered.

A report of the inspecting officers for battleships on the Pacific coast section States:

Lack of sufficient time in dry dock is a contributing cause to many of the unsatisfactory conditions found during material inspections. This is believed largely due to the lack of sufficient dry docks on the Pacific coast. In order properly to maintain satisfactory material conditions of naval vessels, more dry docks should be provided on the west coast.

The board notes rapid deterioration, due to excessive corrosion in the double bottoms and voids, and is of the opinion that unless more time is devoted to care and preservation work, deterioration will get so far ahead of corrective measures that the cost of repairs will be alarmingly high and will require a great amount of time. The length of time allowed for ships in dock is not sufficient to allow a thorough. drying out of the inner bottoms preparatory to painting, which necessitates the applying of paint to surfaces not thoroughly dried out. This prevents the paint from asserting its full protection to the steel surfaces. A longer stay in dock by the provision of additional dock capacity will materially reduce the maintenance cost of ships' hulls and render the ships much more efficient and seaworthy.

The Mare Island Navy Yard is designated as a repair yard for vessels up to 30-foot draft which includes all classes of vessels except the capital ships of the Navy. This project contemplates the construction of a concrete drydock of sufficient capacity to take the various classes of vessels based on the Mare Island Navy Yard. The

construction of this dock will materially add to the preparedness of the fleet for emergencies and will reduce maintenance costs in the upkeep of the underwater sections of naval vessels.

Time signal station building and accessories, $35,000.-This project contemplates the construction of a one-story electrically insulated building about 36 by 60 feet with road, water supply, power and control lines. This building is necessary in order to adequately and suitably house the diversity receiving system and clocks used for rebroadcasting Washington time signals. The diversity receiving equipment is now housed in a dilapidated wooden building which is a fire hazard, is poorly located and not adaptable for this activity. Many thousand dollars' worth of chronometers and other expensive equipment is now stored in this building and the radio time service is important to mariners throughout the Pacific and overseas.

NAVY YARD, PUGET SOUND, WASH.

Graving drydock, services and auxiliary construction, $4,500,000.— The Puget Sound Navy Yard is the main repair yard for the capital ships of the battle fleet when located on the West coast. There are at present two drydocks at this yard, one of which has capacity for the capital ships; the other being limited to the smaller vessels of the fleet. The docking and routine repairs are of such volume that it is impossible under present conditions to allow sufficient time in dock for the thorough drying out of inner compartments preparatory to repainting. The statements relative to the preceding item are equally applicable to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. An additional dock will materially relieve the congestion and will overcome to a large extent the difficulties in inner hull repairs by allowing a longer stay of the ships in dock with the consequent result that the inner sections can be thoroughly dried before protective painting is proceeded with.

This project contemplates the construction of a concrete drydock at the Puget Sound Navy Yard capable of taking any vessel which can pass through the Panama Canal. This yard is admirably suited to dock construction by reason of the fact that foundation conditions are such that piling is not necessary. In the development of the yard, space has been reserved for a dock of this character, and it is highly desirable and essential to the efficient operation of the fleet that this dock be provided at the earliest practicable time.

Purchase of land for foundry extension, $10,000.-This project contemplates the acquisition of lots 1 to 6, inclusive, in block 20, in the city of Bremerton, just west of present foundry building. It will provide sufficient space for the extension to the foundry, which is urgently required to relieve congestion and to permit economical work.

In view of present low prices and prospective rising values of real estate, it is of particular importance that funds be appropriated for the purchase of this tract. A delay in making the appropriation will result in greatly increased cost to the Government.

From the standpoint of cost of construction and economy of operation, the extension of the foundry in the space occupied by this tract is the only practicable one.

NAVY YARD, PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII

Floating drydock, type B, including berth and mooring facilities and accessories, $10,000,000.-This item contemplates a closed-end floating dock of the general type of the ARD-1 recently completed and now with the fleet on the West coast. The ARD-1 was built to test the possibilities of this type of dock, and it has been so successful in its preliminary tests as to warrant the construction of such a dock of a larger size. This new dock will accommodate the largest battleships, the aircraft carriers Lexington and Saratoga, and all other ships of the fleet, singly or in groups.

The dock will be equipped with duplicate Diesel electric power plants for the operation of its own machinery and will be self-contained in every way except that it will not be self-propelled, dependence being placed instead on towing for mobility. Suitable crews' quarters will be provided on the dock together with steering mechanism, a full complement of shops for the various classes of repair work and weight, ship handling, and other facilities will be of a type suitable for the classes of ships to be accommodated in the dock. A stern gate will be provided for economy and speed in docking.

The dock is urgently needed because of our general lack of properly equipped advanced bases, and for this reason the item has been designated by the Chief of Naval Operations as no. 1 on the Navy's priority list for new construction.

Floating drydock, type D, including mooring facilities and accessories, $750,000. This item contemplates the construction of another small docking unit similar to the recently completed ARD-1 which has been so successful in its preliminary trials and is now with the fleet on the West coast. This type of dock is of a closed end shape construction, which together with its steering mechanism facilitates towing and makes for complete mobility. The dock will be self-contained, in that it will have duplicate Diesel electric power plants, complete crews' quarters, dock and shiphandling facilities, shops for light repair work, light lifting equipment and a stern gate for economy in construction and speed in docking operations.

The amount requested covers also such shore facilities as are not already available at Pearl Harbor, and movable equipment necessary for use at an advanced base.

An additional small docking unit is an urgent necessity for advance base with the fleet and will normally be located at Pearl Harbor. Power plant, building and accessories, $500,000.-The constantly increasing demand for power at Pearl Harbor and the extent of the additional load anticipated in connection with the repair basin and other projects under the development plan will require power generating capacity beyond the capability of the present power plant.

The present plant is old, inefficient, and the boilers, turbogenerators, and air compressors, besides having insufficient capacity, involve constant, expensive maintenance charges which not only increase the cost of all forms of power but in addition cause a severe drain on the appropriation, "Maintenance, yards, and docks," in providing for extensive overhaul and repair. The condensing water facilities are insufficient for any appreciable increase in the load and facilities for expansion to provide additional space are limited.

The commandant of the Fourteenth Naval District recommends that the power-generating facilities be increased, either using the

present building or by the construction of a new building at a different site, and he points out the many advantages which would result from the construction of an entirely new building. Considerable study has been given to this question and it is found that the present building is not of sufficient size, is not adapted for the proper installation of equipment necessitated by modern power-plant practice, and the surrounding space limitations would preclude the necessary expansion to obtain additional space. A new plant could be located at a site well adapted for the conditions. It would be near the center of the anticipated load, thus reducing distribution losses and it would be possible to provide a modern design giving the lowest cost of various forms of power consistent with the funds to be expended.

The increase in the requirements for electrical energy has made it necessary to provide a tie-in connection with the power plant of the Hawaiian Electric Co., but this is considered to be for temporary use since the rate charge by the public-utility company is higher than the rate at which current can be generated in the yard power plant, and it is also considered inadvisable to place much dependence on an outside supply of power due to possible accidents and interruptions from lightning disturbances.

The increasing demand for compressed air has also made necessary the purchase of a new air compressor. This unit has been installed and is of a type which may be transferred to a new power plant and used successfully with other new air compressors which would then be required. On account of space limitations, it was necessary to remove certain electrical equipment to provide room for the installation of the new compressor, thus reducing the yard's electrical generating capacity.

The proposed new power plant would provide sufficient power for present as well as for loads anticipated in the near future and would result in large savings in operating and repair costs.

The capacity of the equipment proposed for installation in the new plant is as follows: 20,000 kilovolt-amperes turboalternators, 10,000 horsepower oil-burning water-tube boilers, and 15,000 cubic feet per minute air compressors.

The completed project will involve an expenditure of approximately $2,500,000 including all of the power-plant equipment, distributing lines and accessories. Authorization is requested at this time for that part of the project, namely, the power-plant building which requires legislative authorization. The estimated cost of this part of the project is $500,000. The remainder of the project which does not require specific legislative authorization will be requested in later appropriation measures.

Cold-storage plant building, and accessories, $595,000.-This item contemplates the construction of a new cold-storage plant, ice-freezing equipment and refrigerating machinery for the naval operating base to store food supply for the fleet. The present plant is old, worn out and inadequate for the yard's requirements at present. It was installed in 1915. The layout contemplated will have a daily capacity of ice of 72,000 pounds and approximately 530,000 cubic feet of refrigerated storage space.

Industrial shop building and accessories, $1,400,000.-The repair basin with its wide slips, pier, quay walls and crane facilities is primarily for repair work on large ships. Shore shop facilities for ship