to a depth of 17 feet and a width of 240 feet. Additional dredging has been accomplished along the water front of the reclaimed area to a depth of 17 feet and a width of about 200 feet. There has been appropriated for the increased capacity of marine railway of 2,500 tons, and the transfer of same to this site, and to provide additional shore facilities, $750,000. Bids for the marine railway and the necessary dredging therewith were opened on October 27, 1920, the low bid being $207,000. It is understood that the option on the land held by the Pacific Marine & Construction Co. is still in existence and award of this contract is held in abeyance pending settlement or cancellation of this option. Proposed projects consist of 1. Extension of quay wall. 2. Dredging to a depth of 22 feet from the water front to the channel. 3. The construction of permanent piers necessary to secure destroyer fleet of size of at least equal to the present reserve flotilla. 4. It will be necessary to provide roads, walks, additional shops, and railway extensions. NAVAL FUEL DEPOT. This property comprises 260 acres. Proposed projects for which appropriations are required utilizing present equip ment: Dredging, $38,260. This is necessary to provide sufficient water for loading barges alongside south face of pier and inside of basin and to permit the handling of these barges by tugs. This will afford an opportunity to load barges on both sides of the approach and also provide a protected and sheltered area for barges and other floating craft. Concrete platform and quay wall. This project will permit of barges being loaded by cranes direct from coal pile and will result in a saving of money and time in furnishing coal to ships in harbor. The coal storage capacity with coal storage depth of 10 feet is 50,000 tons. The fuel-oil storage capacity is 4,000,000 gallons, carried in two tanks-one steel and one reinforced concrete. The present facilities for discharging cargoes utilizing the equipment on these vessels average about 600 tons per 8 hours. With miniature equipment for loading barges an average of 250 to 300 tons per day can be maintained. The present coaling station and facilities for handling coal are inadequate to take care of the growing needs of the station, and steps should be taken toward increasing the coaling facilities. Details and estimates covering the necessary equipment for a larger and better equipped station can not be prepared until operations decide that an increased capacity of this station is desired. UNITED STATES SUBMARINE BASE, SAN PEDRO, CALIF. Submarines are now based in San Pedro Harbor at the city of Los Angeles munic. ipal pier and are utilizing the municipal buildings. The proposed submarine base consists of Highlands.... Tidelands and section of bay.. Tidelands and section of bay proposed for reclamation.. First stage: Dredging along the southern section of the property and re- Acres. 46 179 82 $275,000 424,000 Third stage: Construction of concrete road, railroad, buildings, and an additional dredging of 800,000 cubic yards. 877,000 Total... 1,576, 000 This will provide for the necessary and immediate needs of submarines, tenders, and other vessels and small boats which are attached to the submarine base. Later provisions will be necessary for the extension of sea wall, permanent protection for earth mole, marine railway, shops, additional piers, and buildings. NAVAL RADIO STATIONS. Chollas Heights radio station. Contains, 74 acres. This is a high-powered radio station and contains three 600-foot steel radio towers, with necessary power house, office building, shop, water tank, main barracks, four quarters for operators and quarters for the officer in charge. The high-powered arc set for this station is used for communication between San Diego, Honolulu, Cavite, and the west coast of Mexico. Point Loma Radio Station. Contains, 83 acres. This station contains necessary buildings for officer in charge and operators, and is equipped with spark set, utilized for general intercommunication between San Diego, ships and fleet traffic, and a wireless set for aviation purposes. NOTE.-Both of the above stations are controlled from the North Island control sta tion. In addition to the above there are radio compass stations at Point Loma and Imperial Beach. ROGER WELLES. SAN DIEGO NAVAL ACTIVITIES. HEARINGS And Brief oF REMARKS MADE AT EACH OF THE SEVERAL SITES, DURING THE VISIT OF INSPECTION, SAN DIEGO, NOVEMBER 26, 1920. Present: Senators L. Heisler Ball, Henry W. Keyes, and Thomas J. Walsh; Representatives Fred A. Britten, Frederick C. Hicks, A. E. B. Stephens, Lemuel P. Padgett, Daniel J. Riordan, and William Kettner; accompanied by the following naval officers: Admiral R. E. Coonts, Chief of Naval Operations: Admiral Hugh Rodman, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet; Rear Admiral Charles W. Parks, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks; Rear Admiral W. L. Capps, Navy Department; and Lieut. Commander H. W. Hill. FLEET SUPPLY BASE AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (FOOT OF BROADWAY), SAN DIEGO. STATEMENT OF CAPT. T. S. JEWETT, SUPPLY OFFICER NAVAL BASE, SAN DIEGO. Capt. JEWETT. A general supply base at this port is necessitated by the basing here at this date of 107 vessels, of which 86 are the destroyer type, 9 are mine sweepers, 4 are patrol vessels, 3 are destroyer tenders, namely: Buffalo, Melville, and Prairie; 2 are light cruisers, Birmingham and Salem: 1 is a cruiser, Brooklyn; 1 is a mine layer, Aroostook, at present used as a tender for aircraft; and 1 is a fleet tug; total, 107 vessels; also by the shore activities now operating, which are the naval air station, the naval hospital, the naval fuel depot, and the radio stations. There are 6 vessels of the destroyer type in commission which will come here soon, 25 are building which are tentatively assigned to this port. The shore activities are to be increased by the destroyer repair base and the naval training station. The number of vessels based here at present is about onesixth of the number of naval vessels in commission in Julv. The supply department, navy yard, Mare Island, Calif., is the source of supplies for this port for all general supplies. Fuel oil and coal are furnished by the naval fuel depot, located at this port; fresh provisions under contracts with San Diego merchants; technical materials and supplies by shipment from the Atlantic coast, and some emergency purchases are made here. Due to the large increase during the last year in the number of vessels comprising the Pacific Fleet, the supply department, navy yard, Mare Island, is taxed beyond its present facilities to supply the needs of the industrial department of that yard and of the naval vessels depending upon it for their supplies. No matter how much the facilities of the navy yard, Mare Island, are increased, the distance (more than 500 miles) which separates it from this port precludes sufficient supplying of the naval vessels and the naval activities ashore at this port. Admiral RODMAN. The site at which we are at present standing is an admirable one for the proposed building projects, plans for which, I understand, have been drawn and contracts let. Berthing facilities for vessels of the Pacific Fleet at this port are at present totally inadequate. As I point out now you see the masts of six vessels over the warehouse to your left, which is a poor condition. Lack of proper berthing facilities makes this crowding necessary at the present time. Senator WALSH. Mr. Kettner, does the city of San Diego own the water front? Mr. KETTNER. Yes; the city owns everything here. MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CALIF. STATEMENT OF COMMANDER NORMAN M. SMITH, PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER, TWELFTH NAVAL DISTRICT, SAN DIEGO, CALIF. Commander SMITH. That portion of marine base the elevation of which has been raised from 9 to 18 feet above mean low-water tide The is 237 acres. That portion of marine base the elevation of which will be raised under existing contracts comprises 145 acres. remaining unclaimed tideland, total 292 acres, or a total acreage of 674. There are two contracts completed, covering: Dredging, $268,000; water supply and sewer systems, $190,000. There are 10 existing contracts amounting to $1,767,000. There are funds available for quartermasters, storehouse, refrigeration and cold storage equipment, and insulation, roads, transformer, and gatehouse, $375,000. The above construction provides barracks for 1,400 men, with power house and industrial building, gas, electric, steam, and water distributing systems, with necessary drains and sewers, and provides a channel of 15 feet depth and 310 feet width along the water front. Mr. PADGETT. I understand, Commander, that you contemplate erecting a sort of bulkhead running along here. Commander SMITH. Yes. That bulkhead will run from the point you see over there (Point Loma) to the site of the old brewery, Rosecrans Avenue and India Street. Investigations and the preparation of estimates are under way for the installation of a water system and pumping station for all purposes except drinking. This scheme contemplates utilizing a site in Mission Valley, where several years ago the city of San Diego operated one of its pumping plants; this with the understanding that the city of San Diego will donate the property for this purpose. |