Immediately after the Army reorganization legislation was adopted in 1920 a subcommittee of your committee began a survey of real estate owned or controlled by the War Department with a view to determining what parcels of real estate should be retained and what sold. Hearings are on file with your committee which describe each piece of real estate as to location, acreage, when acquired, armament, character of improvements, accommodations, garrison activities and purpose, and the recommendation whether or not it should be retained. Following these hearings the War Department was authorized to sell certain surplus real property including certain military reservations, and the proceeds from these sales were placed in the Treasury to the credit of a fund known as the military post construction fund, this fund to be and remain available until expended for permanent construction at military posts, in such amounts as Congress might from time to time authorize. In accordance with this scheme the War Department adopted and submitted to your committee a program for housing the Army in the United States, Hawaii, and Panama in permanent shelter. This program called for a total expenditure of approximately $120,000,000. It was submitted in 1926. Each year, Mr. James, the chairman of your committee has submitted and Congress has passed authorization bills to provide for such construction under this permanent housing program as the War Department could accomplish during that year. During the closing days of the Seventieth Congress a bill was introduced and reported providing authorization for the fiscal year 1932. It did not become a law. Therefore, Mr. James again introduced the bill early in the present Congress. Since that bill was introduced, however, changing conditions have made advisable certain changes in the items as carried in the original measure and the present bill was introduced by the acting chairman, embodying these amendments. After consideration by a special subcommittee and the committee, further changes were noted and are embodied in the present bill herewith. The authorizations carried in this bill will provide additional housing for the following: 216 officers, 466 noncommissioned officers, 2,016 enlisted men, 377 patients in hospitals, and 7 nurses. Since the adjournment of the last Congress, Mr. James has visited Army posts and stations on the Pacific coast, along the Mexican border, and through the Middle Western, Middle Atlantic, and New England States. He has personally inspected the conditions at practically every station for which construction is provided in this bill. Under the Army housing program, Congress has thus far authorized a total of $57,523,509 for Army housing construction. Of this amount $53,298,759 has been appropriated, the Secretary of War has been authorized to enter into contracts for $2,773,000, and the remainder is carried as follows: $125,000 remaining in Public, 518, Seventieth Congress, May 26, 1928; $1,276,750 in Public, 806, Seventieth Congress, February 25, 1928; $50,000 in Public, 195, Seventy-first Congress, May 13, 1930. This $57,523,509 will provide housing for the Army as follows: 1,272 officers, 1,225 noncommissioned officers, 26,893 enlisted men, 1,726 patients in hospitals, and 338 nurses. A statement in detail for each project included in the bill follows: CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION BILL, FISCAL YEAR 1932 ALBROOK FIELD, PANAMA CANAL ZONE For noncommissioned officers' quarters to accommodate 50 bachelor noncommissioned officers... For quartermaster warehouse For fire station___ For magazine.... Congress has previously authorized the following construction at this station: For a dispensary-- $30,000 For barracks to accommodate 634 enlisted men. 560, 000 For quarters to accommodate 90 married noncommissioned officers___ 539, 000 778, 000 No permanent quarters existed at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army-housing program. This is a new flying field, and the funds authorized by the last Congress will provide for the first permanent construction. This completes all housing for officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted men at this station. However, certain miscellaneous buildings are still necessary. COROZAL, CORUNDU ARea, canal zONE For 12 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters... $80,000 140,000 For material for an engineer map reproduction plant to be erected by engineer troops – – – 10, 000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For barracks to accommodate approximately 500 men pertaining to a battalion of Field Artillery FORT DAVIS, CANAL ZONE For barracks to accommodate 119 men.. $357, 500 $95, 500 57, 000 117, 000 The above construction at Fort Davis will replace buildings of canal-construction period which are in a dilapidated condition, and beyond economical repair. The permanent quarters at this station prior to inauguration of the Army-housing program accommodated 1,944 enlisted men, 55 officers, and 24 noncommissioned officers. Except for $557,800 appropriated for construction of the Atlantic General Depot in the Fort Davis area in 1925, $201,900 for improving ammunition storage conditions recently authorized, and Air Corps construction now authorized, no funds of any importance for housing in the Panama Canal Department have been available since $2,400,000 was spent for the concrete construction at Forts Davis and Clayton in 1920-1922. The construction proposed in H. R. 1665 will complete the barrack needs for this post. However, there will still be necessary 19 officers' quarters, 8 noncommissioned officers' quarters, a hospital for 120 patients, and stables for approximately 400 animals. SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAIIAN DEPARTMENT For 10 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters.. $75,000 135,000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: The permanent quarters at this station prior to the inauguration of the housing program by the last Congress accommodated 7,000 enlisted men, 38 noncommissioned officers, and 371 officers. This completes the hospital and nurses' quarters requirements for this station. In addition to all the above construction the following items will still be necessary to complete the program for Schofield Barracks: 99 officers' quarters, 97 noncommissioned officers' quarters, various miscellaneous buildings. Congress has previously authorized the following construction at this station: All construction at this station prior to the present program has been of a temporary nature, and must be replaced by permanent construction. This completes all housing requirements for noncommissioned officers and enlisted men and 63 out of the 70 sets of officers' quarters required, leaving a balance of seven sets still required. Plans will be prepared in the Hawaiian Department for construction included in H. R. 1665 for Wheeler Field when funds are appropriated. Detailed estimates are not available at this time. No funds now available for this purpose. Plans for buildings of this type (in H. R. 1665), suitable for the Hawaiian Department, have not been prepared for any station in the United States. FORT ETHAN ALLEN, VT. For 2 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters____ $15,000 This is the first authorization for permanent construction at this station under the housing program. Ten sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters are still needed to complete the program at this post. The permanent quarters at this station accommodate 1,542 men, 16 noncommissioned officers, and 53 officers. FORT BENNING, GA. For barracks to accommodate 400 men.. $350,000 716, 660 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For barracks to accommodate 2,360 enlisted men. For 96 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters.. For 34 sets of officers' quarters.. To complete hospital for 234 patients.. For quarters to accommodate 28 nurses, complete.- $1, 490, 000 656, 000 484, 000 315, 000 65, 000 60, 000 The permanent quarters at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress accommodated 10 noncommissioned officers, 71 officers, and 102 patients in hospital. The construction listed above completes the houring requirements for noncommissioned officers, nurses, and hospital patients. However, there will still be necessary barracks for approximately 1,376 enlisted men, quarters for 187 officers, and various miscellaneous buildings. For a veterinary hospital... FORT BLISS, TEX. $25,000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station, as follows: For noncommissioned officers' quarters.. $450,000 The permanent quarters at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress accommodated 2,784 enlisted men (barracks for 1,652 men of this total are temporary 1-story brick buildings, satisfactory for some years), 8 noncommissioned officers, and 111 officers. (Quarters for 71 of this total are small brick buildings, frame additions, below standard, but will do for a few years.) Forty-one sets of officers' quarters are still needed to complete the program for this post. FORT BANKS, MASS. For extension of post hospital to accommodate 62 patients---- $220,000 This is the first authorization for permanent construction at this station under the housing program. The permanent quarters at this station accommodate 218 enlisted men, 11 noncommissioned officers, and 9 officers. Seven sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters are still needed to complete the program for this post. Congress has previously authorized the following new construction at this field: For additional land for a new site... For barracks to accommodate 264 enlisted men.. $666, 000 240, 000 All construction at this station prior to the present program has been of a temporary nature and must be replaced by permanent construction on the new site previously authorized. This completes all housing for enlisted men and 15 out of 25 married noncommissioned officers' sets required, and 9 out of 19 officers' quarters required, leaving a balance of 10 married noncommissioned officers', 15 bachelor noncommissioned officers' quarters, and 10 officers' quarters, still required. FORT BRAGG, N. C. For 4 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters___ To complete hospital for 130 patients.......... $25,000 375, 000 Congress has previously authorized the following new construction at this station: No permanent quarters existed at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress. The funds authorized above provided the first permanent construction. This completes the barrack, hospital, and nurses' quarters requirements. To complete the program for this post, additional construction over and above that listed hereon, will be necessary for 52 officers' quarters, 6 noncommissioned officers' quarters, and various miscellaneous buildings. CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA. For barracks to accommodate 150 men.. For beginning of construction of a central heating plant, total cost of which will amount to approximately $302,000_. $120,000 80, 000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For mess hall and kitchen.... $110, 000 The permanent quarters at this station accommodate 449 enlisted men, 3 noncommissioned officers, and 36 officers. The above-listed construction will complete the housing requirements for this post for barracks and officers' quarters. However, additional construction of 28 noncommissioned officers' quarters, the completion of the central heating plant, and of various miscellaneous buildings will still be needed. FORT HAMILTON, N. Y. For addition to hospital to accommodate 15 patients___ $60,000 No new construction has been authorized at this station since the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress. The permanent quarters at this station accommodate 496 enlisted men, 15 noncommissioned officers, and 33 officers. This completes the hospital requirements at this station. Additional construction of 22 officers' quarters and of 12 noncommissioned officers' quarters will be necessary to complete the program for this post. FORT HUMPHREYS, VA. For a hospital to accommodate 30 patients___ $140, 000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For barracks to accommodate 838 men.. For 58 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters.... $740, 000 454, 000 This is a new station and the funds authorized above provided the first permanent construction. This completes the hospital, barrack, and noncommissioned officers' quarters requirements at this station. Additional construction of 63 officers' quarters and of miscellaneous buildings is still needed to complete the program for this post. FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX. For 16 sets of officers' quarters.. For hospital ward of 60 beds.. For 14 sets of noncommissioned officers' quarters.... $250,000 150, 000 100, 000 Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For quarters to accommodate 23 married noncommissioned officers.... $150,000 For quarters to accommodate 18 officers. For barracks to accommodate 2,534 enlisted men.. 250,000 2, 170, 000 30, 000 The permanent quarters at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress accommodated 2,297 enlisted men, 17 noncommissioned officers, and 123 officers. This completes the barrack needs. However, in addition to the above-listed construction, the following will be needed to complete the program for this post: 176 officers' quarters, 145 noncommissioned officers' quarters, completion of hospital, and various miscellaneous buildings. Congress has previously authorized new construction at this station as follows: For a hospital. For barracks.. $400,000 1, 686, 000 This completed the noncommissioned officers', the barrack, and hospital requirements of Fort Jay. The following additional construction will be needed to complete the program for this post: 34 officers' quarters and various miscellaneous buildings. The permanent quarters at this station prior to the inauguration of the Army housing program by the last Congress accommodated 15 noncommissioned officers and 57 officers. |