Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Admiral BILLARD. Well, we have them all in our register. I can tell you by referring to that.

Mr. GARBER. On the northwest coast.

Admiral BILLARD. There are on the entire Pacific coast only 21 stations. On the coast of Washington at present there are 5 stations. All of the stations of the service are listed, with their portions, in this official register.

Mr. GARBER. Do you recommend the proposed location of this station.

Admiral BILLARD. Yes, sir; it would be located-and our people have considered that phase-it would be located at a very advantageous position to do the work, and I think it is worthy of the committee's attention-on that northwest section of the coast we do not have the protection for shipping that we should have. For example, on the New Jersey coast-we have 40 stations on the coast of New Jersey, but on the coast of Washington there are 5 only.

Mr. GARBER. In regard to the cost and expense of creating a station and maintaining it, what does the station consist of?

Admiral BILLARD. A station consists of a crew, consisting usually of one warrant officer and seven enlisted men. There is a dwelling for the men to live in; there will be a boathouse in which will be a lifeboat, a surf boat, breeches-buoy apparatus, and the various paraphernalia having to do with the rescue of people from wrecks. And the cost of maintenance is simply the pay of the small crew and the usual minor repairs and supplies, soap and paint, and things of that

sort.

Mr. WYANT. The buildings to which you refer are comparatively inexpensive buildings?

Admiral BILLARD. Oh, quite. These life-saving stations, gentlemen, are simply frame structures, by no means elaborate, but we are trying, particularly with new stations, to see that the men have the extraordinary luxuries of a bathroom and light and reasonable comfort, which is not the case in many of our old stations.

Mr. HOCH. Now, Mr. Maxam, we will be glad to hear you.

STATEMENT OF OLIVER M. MAXAM, CHIEF OF DIVISION OF OPERATIONS, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Mr. MAXAN. Mr. Chairman, I do not know that I can add much to what Admiral Billard has said, and to the information contained in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the bill under notice.

Mr. GARBER. Will you state your name, please?

Mr. MAXAM. O. M. Maxam, chief of the division of operations, Coast Guard.

This northwest coast is a dangerous one. It is rocky, bold and precipitous, and borders directly on the Pacific Ocean. There are practically no harbors. In fact, from Cape Flattery to Grays Harbor there is no intervening harbor of consequence.

There is no Coast Guard station between Baaddah Point station at Neah Bay, the entrance to the strait of Juan de Fuca and Grays Harbor, Wash., a distance of about 120 miles.

Mr. HоCH. Pardon me just a moment, Mr. Maxam. Can we have a map here so that we can see this?

Mr. MAXAM. Yes, sir; I was going to say that perhaps you would like to see this situation graphically, because I think you can get a better understanding of it. I am very sorry that I had to bring two large maps, but they were the only ones at hand covering that part of the coast to which I would like to call your attention. [producing maps.]

Here are the straits of Juan de Fuca, and Cape Flattery. Just inside is Neah Bay, where our Baaddah Point station is located. There is no station between that one and Grays Harbor station, 120 miles. The purpose, if this bill is enacted into law, is to locate this statiton at the mouth of the Quillayute River. That will be about 75 miles north from Grays Harbor and about 45 miles south from the Baaddah Point station, Neah Bay.

Mr. SHALLENBERGER. What are these marks out here, depth of water?

Mr. MAXAM. Yes, sir; they indicate the depth of water.

Mr. CROSSER. How far is Grays Harbor from San Francisco?
Mr. MAXAM. I do not recall exactly what the distance is.
Captain HAMLET. It is approximately 600 miles.

Mr. CARTER. I think it is 722 miles by rail from San Francisco to Portland, and you can get a conception of that by taking the distance out from Portland.

Captain HAMLET. Then it is just a little over 600 miles.

Mr. HOCH. Do you consider this location the most desirable location within that territory?

Mr. MAXAM. Yes, sir; the Coast Guard thinks enough of this bill to place this station first, if the bill be enacted into law, on its list of stations that have been authorized by law, but for which appropriation to build has not been made. There are 15 of such stations, and if this bill is passed this station will go at the head of the list. Mr. Hocн. There are 15 already authorized?

Mr. MAXAM. There are 15 stations now authorized by Congress for which funds to construct have not been appropriated.

Mr. SHALLENBERGER. This will be 16.

Mr. HOCH. Can you tell us how much would be necessary at this station?

Mr. MAXAM. We have made no examination of a proposed site, and, of course, the nature and pecularities of the locality would affect the cost. However, it is estimated that the cost would be between $45,000 and $50,000, including the construction of the station and the equipment.

Mr. GARBER. The 15 stations that you refer to are not to be located along here?

Mr. MAXAM. No, sir. They are on the several coasts of the country, the Atlantic, Pacific, and coasts of the Great Lakes.

Mr. CROSSER. What did you say is the nearest station now to this location?

Mr. MAXAM. This is about 75 miles from Grays Harbor and about 45 miles from Baaddah Point, Neah Bay, making about 120 miles of coast line absolutely unprotected so far as a Coast Guard station is concerned.

Mr. CROSSER. Is that the longest distance on the Pacific coast without stations?

Mr. MAXAM. Yes, sir; I should say so.

Admiral BILLARD. With one exception, Mr. Chairman. In southern California we have none. The weather is much better down there.

Mr. MAXAM. I thought you were referring to the northern coast. Mr. HOCH. Are you through now, Mr. Maxam?

Mr. MAXAM. Yes, sir; unless you wish to ask me some further questions.

Mr. HOCH. Are there any questions?

Representative Hadley is here, and we will be very glad to hear you, Mr. Hadley.

STATEMENT OF HON. LINDLEY H. HADLEY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

Mr. HADLEY. Mr. Chairman, I introduced a bill upon very urgent representations that have been made to me as to the necessity for this station.

I am familiar with the general situation on the ground. The Quillayute River is in my district-the mouth of it is. The locality in question is all in my district. The station at Neah Bay referred to by Mr. Maxam is also in my district, on the southerly side of the entrance to the straits of Juan de Fuca, and while it is a matter of 120 miles, I understand, between those two stations and it is intended to put one in between at this point, it might as well be a thousand miles in case of a disaster without this station, so far as relief is concerned. That is another important element in the situation. By that I mean this: As was stated by the last witness, this is a very bold and precipitous coast. It is very rocky. At seasons of the year fogs prevail, and the inshore area is covered by rocky buttes which stand at the mouth of the Quillayute. The little village of Lapush, which is a fishing village, looks out over it, and I do not think you or I would feel very safe in those waters in the stormy periods that prevail. There have been some great disasters off that coast occasioning great loss of life and property. There are instances where crews have had to creep ashore and then die, lost for the want of attention, no access to them-no access to them without considerable time, and nobody aware of the situation at all. The service in and out of that locality is very inadequate, although there is a road some 75 miles from Fort Angeles, the county seat of the county adjacent to this locality. It is about 75 miles, perhaps, out to that point. But as to coming around from Neah Bay and getting in touch with a disaster that occurs there, a matter of some 45 miles I belive, it is too late. Nobody knows about it. There is no opportunity to make rescues, and there should be a station here to take care of the unfortunate consequences of wrecks that occur on that coast between these stations. I do not know of any place that is more subject to wild and terrifying storms than that area.

In addition to the shipping up and down the coast, there is a good deal of fishing along here-fishing smacks, fishing fleets, a large fishing population that is located at this point of La Push, and also around Neah Bay-and they come and go in and out over the bar there, and a Coast Guard station at that point would be very,

very important in taking care of that commercial situation in connection with sea distresses.

I do not care to amplify the subject further than the basic facts that were stated after I came in by Mr. Maxam, and it does not occur to me that it is necessary to extend the statement.

On the subject of cost, I know nothing about that. That is a matter that you, of course, must take from those who are advised, and while no survey has been made specifically with reference to this, the general knowledge of the department upon the cost of installing stations and cost of the equipment and all is such as to unquestionably justify the general estimate that was made, which I understand to be some $45,000.

Mr. HOCH. I may say, if you will pardon me, right upon that point, that I note that the bill introduced by Mr. Johnson provides that there shall be a limit of cost for station buildings and the equipment thereof of $75,000, whereas your bill provides that appropriations for the establishment and construction thereof are hereby authorized out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. The Secretary of the Treasury, who has transmitted a letter indorsing these two bills, states with reference to Mr. Johnson's bill-I will read from his recommendation:

That the words "at a limit of cost for station buildings and equipment thereof of $75,000," appearing in lines 8 and 9, be omitted. The cost of the station buildings and equipment will not amount to the sum named.

Mr. HADLEY. Thank you. I noticed that the estimate submitted a while ago by the witness was $40,000 or $45,000, I think.

Mr. MAXAM. Between $45,000 and $50,000, including equipment. Mr. HADLEY. I take it that that testimony is adequate upon the subject for the information of the committee for present purposes. Mr. HоCH. Does the committee have any questions to ask?

Mr. HADLEY. I was going to say, if you will pardon me, upon the form of the bill, I did not provide any figure with reference to estimated cost. I thought it best that it should be submitted in this way. But in addition to the establishment of the station which this bill provides for. I have provided an authorization for appropriations for the establishment and construction. Without that additional language it would certainly be open to objection, after this bill would pass, merely establishing a station, when we would ask for an appropriation, because the situation would be open to the objection that no authorization for appropriation had been made; therefore there is a general authorization in this bill, which will be accompanied by this testimony to the House, if the bill be reported, giving information as to the probable and estimated cost. So I am very anxious that the bill shall carry the authorization for the appropriation as well as the establishment, in order that no objection can be made that there is no authorization later, requiring us to go through the same processes before you again for the authorization.

Mr. CROSSER. You are satisfied with the language which you have used?

Mr. HADLEY. Yes; I think that is in good form, except that I noticed the report suggested the word "captain" be stricken from the

30922-29- -3

form, and I think that is quite proper. I do not know how that got in.

Mr. GARBER. I would like to ask Mr. Hadley as to the advisability of a limitation in your bill, say not to exceed the cost of fifty or sixty thousand dollars?

Mr. HADLEY. That is in the judgment of the committee.
Mr. GARBER. Probably that might be satisfactory.

Mr. HADLEY. If you desire to insert a limitation that it will not trench upon the estimated cost, that will be satisfactory to me.

Mr. HOCH. Admiral Billard can tell us what form has been used with reference to these other authorizations.

Admiral BILLARD. I think the explanation of the situation may be found in the fact that I am told that these bills authorizing new life-saving stations have not, as a general rule, carried a limit of the sum authorized to be appropriated, doubtless because what a life saving station is, is pretty well standardized and pretty well known to the Congress. There is certainly no objection on our part to the limitation, you understand, but I am told it has not been the custom to embody them in these authorizing bills. Just as Mr. Hadley has omitted it in his.

Mr. HADLEY. That is the reason I drew it in that form. But it is immaterial to me.

Admiral BILLARD. It is doubtless due to the fact that when the nature of the site was developed, the exact cost might change, and Congress, understanding just what a life-saving station is, they have not insisted on the limitation.

Mr. GARBER. I asked the question because of the necessity, perhaps, for giving the information to the House, Members of the House passing on these bills.

Mr. HADLEY. Of course, the report of the committee could carry the information along with the report from the department, by way of a statement of what the proof showed to the committee. If you did not care to put in the limitation, the proof would go through with the formal report to the House.

Mr. HOCH. The committee will consider that question in executive session. Are there any other questions?

Mr. HADLEY. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Underwood is present, who represents the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and has a good deal of information on this subject.

Mr. HOCH. We will take a few moments to hear Mr. Underwood.

STATEMENT OF J. J. UNDERWOOD, REPRESENTING THE SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SEATTLE, WASH.

Mr. UNDERWOOD. I want to say that almost every Chamber of Commerce on the Pacific coast and every port commission from the mouth of the Columbia River to the border of British Columbia has indorsed this proposition. It was first recommended by a commission appointed by President Roosevelt about 20 years ago, after the Valencia disaster. In recent years the loss of ships has become very much greater because of the increase in traffic. We are running ships in competition with the trains from Seattle to California ports, and what scared the life out of us here a couple of years ago, one of these

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »