Mr. SCRUGHAM. You have an increase there of $27,840, for administration and maintenance. Mr. DEMARAY. This covers all of these types of areas that we have. Mr. SCRUGHAM. But you have some general reasons for that increase, have you not? Mr. DEMARAY. We have some general reasons. The very heavy travel, and most of them are due either to an increase of personnel or of maintenance, repair, and operation. Mr. LAMBERTSON. You have a marked decrease at Antietam. Mr. DEMARAY. Yes. There is a marked decrease there. We had an equipment item there, and we bought the automobile last year. That was the reason for the decrease in that appropriation. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you have many more of these things? Mr. CAMMERER. Ŏh, yes. I may say that there are historical sites which are in process of being organized under the Historic Sites Act. We look at them purely from the national standpoint, whether these are things of great value in some great national movement, as in the Revolutionary War or in the Civil War or in the western treks, and things like that. We weed out the smaller historical places and just put markers on them. SCARCITY OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND HISTORICAL PARKS IN NEW ENGLAND Mr. O'NEAL. I would like to have you comment on the fact that there are very few of this sort of society or movement being done in New England, like in Massachusetts, where they have a lot of those places that figured in the Revolutionary War and in colonial days. Isn't it correct that you do not have many of these national historical parks and battlefields and so forth in New England. Mr. DEMARAY. Yes, sir. That is correct. On of the reasons for that is that in the New England States they want to retain the ownership of their historical homes and sites in their own hands; and they have consistently refused to have any of them transferred to the Federal Government. The only one that I know of is Derby Wharf at Salem, Mass., which might be called a break-down in that general policy. Congress has already approved that, and the old customshouse has been transferred to the National Park Service. Mr. RICH. Do you have any supervision over Mount Vernon? Mr. DEMARAY. No, sir. That is owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Mr. SCRUGHAM. Is there any further comment on this subject? BOULDER CANYON PROJECT, ARIZONA AND NEVADA Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item has to do with the Boulder Canyon project in Arizona and Nevada. Mr. DEMARAY. Our justification for that is as follows: The lake created by construction of the Boulder Dam will contain approximately 227 square miles of water service, 550 miles of shore line, and will measure approximately 150 miles in length and 30 miles in width at the widest point. Among the largest assets will be opportunities for water recreation including boating, swimming, camping, etc. The recreational activities of the project will be administered by the National Park Service under an interbureau agreement with the Reclamation Service. Amount included in Budget, fiscal year 1938. Net increase, 1938 over 1937____. $15,000 10, 000 5,000 The net increase of $5,000 is recommended to provide as follows: Administration and protection; increase, $4,000. This increase is necessary to provide for the establishment of two additional ranger positions at $1,860 each to provide proper care and protection for visitors and Government property, and for additional supplies and materials, etc., for the increased ranger personnel. Maintenance, repair, and operation; increase, $1,000.-The additional sum of $700 is recommended to provide for the proper maintenance of buildings and grounds. An increase of $100 is recommended for the proper maintenance and operation of a passenger car purchased in 1937, and $200 is needed for adequate sanitation facilities to safeguard the health of the large number of visitors, estimated at 500,000 annually. Mr. SCRUGHAM. I would like you to give particular attention to this Boulder Canyon project in Arizona and Nevada. You are asking us to appropriate $15,000. Will you give us the number of visitors that come to Boulder Canyon? You probably don't have it for 1936, but you probably can give it to us for 1935. Mr. DEMARAY. I am not sure that we have that figure immediately here; but I understand the number of visitors there has been simply tremendous over the Easter holidays, they have simply been swamped with visitors. They have hardly been able to get around there. But we have not had it long enough to be able to quote statistics. Mr. SCRUGHAM. I would like to give particular attention to this project because it is a matter of personal interest to me. I have lived out in that section from the earliest inception of the project. In fact, I have been somewhat responsible for the initiation of the project. The attendance at this project last year was probably 300,000 people. Over Easter it probably ran 2,000 people every day. And yet they are only asking an appropriation of $15,000, while the Grand Canyon, with only half the number of people attending it, had $185,000 and Yellowstone, with very little more attendance, had $411,000 appropriated. This has had no money put in it at all, and I would like the committee to increase this estimate according to the supplemental estimate that was made by the National Park Service. Do you have that supplemental estimate here? Mr. DEMARAY. Yes. We have a copy of the supplemental estimate. We have asked for an additional $50,000, making it a total of $65,000. If it is the desire of the committee, we will justify the $65,000 rather than the $15,000. Mr. SCRUGHAM. I wish you would do that. Mr. DEMARAY. I will insert this justification in the record here. (The justification is as follows:) BOULDER DAM RECREATIONAL AREA, ARIZONA AND NEVADA The lake created by construction of the Boulder Dam will contain approximately 227 square miles of water surface, 550 miles of shore line, and will measure approximately 150 miles in length and 30 miles in width at the widest point. Among the largest assets will be opportunities for water recreation including boating, swimming, camping, etc. The recreational activities of the project will be administered by the National Park Service under an interbureau agreement with the Reclamation Service. Amount recommended, fiscal year 1938. $65,000 10, 000 55, 000 Net increase, 1938 over 1937.......... The net increase of $55,000 is recommended to provide as follows: Administration and protection; increase, $21,850.-Of this increase, the sum of $18,340 is recommended for the establishment of new positions of chief clerk at $2,300 per annum, two assistant clerk-stenographers at $1,620 each per annum, four rangers at $1,860 each per annum, a navigator for the patrol boat at $2,000 per annum, and two boatmen at $1,680 each per annum. The remaining sum of $3,510 is recommended for office supplies, gasoline, oil, first-aid equipment, communication service, travel expenses, printing and photographing, heat and light, transportation of things, etc. Maintenance, repair, and operation: increase, $10,900.-An increase of $700 is necessary for the maintenance of buildings, including the hospital building. The increase sum of $3,200 is included to provide for adequate maintenance of trails, paths, sidewalks, and grounds, for safe travel and convenience of the large number of visitors. An increase of $3,200 is urgently recommended for the employment of a radio technician at $2,000 per annum to provide for the maintenance and operation of the three 2-way radio sets proposed for purchase under the equipment account, and for adequate maintenance of the electric and telephone systems. Proper repairs to machinery and equipment necessary in the administration of the area will require an increase of $600. An increased sum of $1,600 is necessary to provide $100 additional for the maintenance and operation of a passenger car purchased in 1937 and $1,500 for the operation of the patrol boat recommended for purchase under the equipment account. An urgent recommendation is made for an increase of $1,600 to provide adequate sanitation facilities to safeguard the health of the large number of visitors, estimated at 500,000 annually. Equipment, increase; $22,250.-Of the increase recommended, the sum of $18,500 is included for the purchase of a 50-foot patrol boat with a 50 horsepower Diesel engine and radio equipment. The availability of such a boat is essential to safeguard the lives of the large number of visitors who will utilize the excellent opportunities afforded for aquatic sports on such a large body of water, and who will take sight-seeing trips by boat thereon. An increase of $3,000 is urgently recommended to provide for the purchase of radio equipment. It is proposed to install three two-way stations at Pierce's Ferry, Overton, and the site of the dam. Availability of such equipment is essential to provide communication at such points to render immediate assistance to visitors whose lives may be imperiled by both land and water accidents. The remaining increase of $750 is recommended for the purchase of office and museum equipment and small tools. Authorization is included to recompense Six Companies, Inc., for the hospital building erected on Government-owned land by that company at a cost in excess of $50,000. The building will be used by the Government as an administrationmuseum building for office space for the National Park Service staff that will administer the Boulder Dam recreational area and for housing articles of interest in connection with the Boulder Dam construction and artifacts of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Boulder Dam recreational area. The sum of $27,355 has been allocated by the Public Works Administration to provide $15,000 for purchase of the property and $12,355 for renovation. Mr. RICH. Let me ask you: What is the reason you had $15,000 in the bill and now you want to make it $65,000? Mr. DEMARAY. We submitted a larger amount to the Budget Bureau, and the Budget Bureau cut it to $15,000. Since that time we have organized there. We have taken this area over quite recently. We have appointed a superintendent. And, with the travel that is coming down there, we have since realized that we cannot possibly provide the service necessary out of $15,000 a year. So we have submitted a supplemental estimate to the Budget Bureau, and it is there now for consideration. As I understand it, at Congressman Scrugham's request, we have been asked to indicate what is in this additional request now before the Budget Bureau. has not been acted on by the Bureau as yet. Mr. RICH. We will be very glad to have that. Is it because there has been an increase in travel that you submitted this larger estimate? Mr. DEMARAY. This estimate was originally made on theories; and now that we actually have employees there, and have had an opportunity to study and see what is really necessary, we feel that we are entitled to ask for at least $65,000. Mr. RICH. You say that it was only recently that you started there. How long have you been there? What do you mean by "recently"? Mr. DEMARAY. Last year the committee put in an item of $10,000, and also included an item in the roads and trails item for the construction of roads and trails. It was some time before we got our work organized and before we had a superintendent. We didn't get started immediately on the 1st of July. Since then we have had engineers and an opportunity to study the situation. You see, these estimates were submitted last year in September to the Budget Bureau, and the hearings were had in October. At the time the estimates were submitted we had had only about 2 months of actual experience on the ground. Now we have had at least 8 to 10 months' experience, and we are in a very much better position to advise what we feel is essential to do a satisfactory job. Mr. RICH. We are talking about the Boulder Canyon project. Mr. DEMARAY. That is correct. Mr. RICH. I don't believe there is anyone in the country but would want to go there and see Boulder Dam. I know I would love to see it. Isn't it possible for you, if we make this investment of $65,000, to charge a small fee? I don't think it would be a hardship for anybody who wanted to see the dam, and that would help to carry this on. Mr. DEMARAY. It is largely a question of what is the correct fee to charge. REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOSPITAL We are asking for this language: Provided, that not to exceed $15,000 of funds available for the purpose may be expended to recompense Six Companies, Inc., for a hospital building erected on Government-owned land at Boulder City, Nevada. Under the law, and under section 34 of the contract with the Six Companies, they were required to remove certain buildings by a certain time, but negotiations had been started with the department looking toward the purchase of this building. I think the actual negotiations of record were started after the date mentioned in the contract. But the solicitor has held as follows; There appear to be certain equtable considerations on the side of the S Comparies, Inc. That it failed to exercise either of the privicges given to at under section 34 of the cot tract, beca ise of the pen ding negotiations between the Buren 1 of Reclamation and itself, seems to be borne out by the fact that as to other bui fr gs not at voived in the regotiations it acted prompt.y and secured an extension of time in which to remove them If, however, these comoderat are to govern, the proper course is for the company to seek relief from the Congress, That is what we are asking here. They said they would sell the structure for $15,000, but the Solicitor has ruled that under its contract the title to the building is already in the United States, although he says that there are equitable considerations here. The money is available, and if you would put this language in the bill it could be paid to them for the building. Mr. SCRUGHAM. Is there any further comment on this item? Mr. DEMARAY. By the way, I wish we could change the name of Boulder Dam Reservation. We got into trouble before on the question of the name. Could we call it the Boulder Dam Recreational Area? Mr. SCRUGHAM. Are you making a suggestion? Mr. DEMARAY. We ask that the name of the reservation in the roads and trails appropriation be changed to correspond with the name of this appropriation item. Mr. SCRUGHAM. Submit a change of language for the record. Is that what you are doing now? Mr. DEMARAY. Yes. EMERGENCY RECONSTRUCTION AND FIGHTING FOREST FIRES IN NATIONAL PARKS Mr. SCRUGHAM. On page 436 of the bill there is an item for emergency reconstruction and fighting forest fires in national parks. Mr. DEMARAY. Our justification for that is as follows: This appropriation is for fighting forest fires and construction or replacement of physical improvements destroyed or damaged by the elements, and is an insurance to protect the regular park and monument appropriations so normal work may proceed. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year 1936 as there was a balance of $64.642 carried forward from the previous year's appropriations. Several large fires which occurred during the fiscal year 1936 reduced_this amount to $10,535, which is carried forward and made available for the fiscal year 1937. With the sum of $40,000 appropriated, there is available a total working fund for $50,535 for the fiscal year 1937. Of that amount, $5,163 has been allotted to Grand Canyon National Park for repairs of storm damage, and several large fires in Glacier National Park costing $76,651.25 to extinguish will require the remaining balance and a large deficiency appropriation for the fiscal Year 1937. An appropriation of $40,000 is requested to provide for the cost of forest fires and other emergencies which may occur during the fiscal year 1938. Indicated below the amounts expended and obligated during 1936: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Devils Tower National Monument. Gettysburg National Military Park.. Glacier National Park.. Grand Canyon National Park.. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hot Springs National Park.... Mesa Verde National Park. Mount Rainier National Park. Sequoia National Park.. Tupelo National Battlefield Site.. Yellowstone National Park....... Yosemite National Park.......... Total..... There are Fiscal year 1936 $481. 06 872. 06 92.52 25.00 31, 821. 18 73. 98 3, 698. 86 13. 33 130. 00 36. 76 6, 436. 24 2,500.00 7, 917. 60 8. 47 54, 107. 06 Mr. SCRUGHAM. You say that an appropriation of $40,000 is requested to provide for the cost of forest fires and other emergencies. which may occur during the fiscal year 1938. What do you estimate that your unexpended balance will be? |