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ships-I do not want to advertise our shipwrecks-picked up a 15-ton rock in her bow and carried it down to San Francisco. We might have lost 2,000 people, if that rock had not jammed in the bow of the boat.

I have some pictures here which I took last summer- or rather, were taken by the photographer whom I had with me-which will show the condition [producing photographs]. This is north of the Quillayute River. This is the mouth of the Quillayute River in there, you see. These other pictures are south of the Quillayute River. Some pictures we could not get, it was too rough. Here is a picture of the fishing vessels that lie in behind there. I will be very glad to leave those pictures with the committee if it is thought desirable. I can get more of them.

What Mr. Hadley says is perfectly true, we have lost some ships there where men have gotten ashore and died after they got ashore. We lost three ships last winter, and the loss of them is becoming increasingly great every winter. There is a blind spot in there of 400 or 500 miles where you can not see to navigate.

Mr. HOCH. Are there any further questions? If not, we thank you very much, Mr. Underwood.

Mr. HADLEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen.

Mr. Hocн. Admiral, have you anything further to add?
Admiral BILLARD. Nothing further, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HOCH. Then the hearing will be adjourned and the committee will meet in executive session for a few moments.

I will put in the record the letter of the Secretary of the Treasury indorsing the proposition.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 18, 1928.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December 4, 1928, transmitting bill H. R. 14151, Seventieth Congress, second session, “To provide for establishment of a Coast Guard station at or near the mouth of the Quillayute River in the State of Washington," and asking for a report thereon, and for such views as I may desire to communicate. There is no Coast Guard station between the Baaddah Point station, at Neah Bay, Wash., the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and the Grays Harbor Station, Wash., a distance of about 120 miles, south. The shore line of this territory bordering directly on the Pacific Ocean is bold, precipitous, rocky, and extremely dangerous. The country is uninhabited and unprotected. The legislation proposed by the bill under notice would place a station at or near the mouth of Quillayute River, a distance of about 45 miles from Baaddah Point station and about 75 miles from the Grays Harbor station.

During the fishing season there are hundreds of fishing boats passing in and out of Quillayute River over the outlying bar, in addition to a great number of vessels passing along the coast in this vicinity. There is also much

wood pulp taken out of the river in barges for Puget Sound points, and it is the main point from which the Indians conduct sealing.

In case of marine disaster in the present situation it would be considerable time before assistance could arrive from the station on either side, and in the meantime the vessel would probably be ground to pieces on the rocks, resulting in loss of life. Most of the storms on that coast are followed by on-shore wind lasting even for a longer period, generally, than the storm itself.

There is an available location for a station at the mouth of the Quillayute River, at LaPush, Wash., on the LaPush Indian Reservation.

In connection with this matter, attention is invited to bill H. R. 14121, Seventieth Congress, first session, "To provide for establishment of a Coast Guard station at or near the mouth of the Quillayute River in the State of

Washington," upon which, at your request of May 31, 1928, this department submitted a favorable report on November 10, 1928, recommending the passage of the bill, with certain amendments, and stating that the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised that the proposed legislation was not in conflict with the the financial program of the President. This department affirms the opinion expressed in said report of November 10, 1928, that the establishment of the station is necessary in the interests of commerce and humanity. If it be the wish of the Congress, this department has no objection to the passage of bill H. R. 14151 with the following suggested amendment:

That the word " captain," preceding the word "commandant," in line 7, be omitted, so as to conform to the legal designation of that officer.

It may be added that the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advises that the legislation proposed by bill H. R. 14151 is not in conflict with the financial program of the President.

Very truly yours,

A. W. MELLON, Secretary of the Treasury.

(Whereupon, at 12 o'clock noon the subcommittee went into execu

tive session.)

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