Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. Mr. SHERLEY. At the present time you can accommodate about 600? Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. Mr. SHERLEY. You are planning to build there a building of the same type as these you have just mentioned? Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. Mr. SHERLEY. What is the character of the buildings now there? Dr. CREEL. Frame construction, single walls, tongued and grooved, probably more substantial (although of frame) than those we will put up. Mr. SHERLEY. Will the officers' quarters be a frame building? Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. I will state that the construction of the quarantine station, on account of the difficulties of transportation, is considerably higher than it would be if it were in the city. Mr. SHERLEY. You are asking for a vessel here? You have a vessel there now? Dr. CREEL. We have a vessel there that was purchased from the city of Boston two years ago. It was built in 1888. In the summer of 1916 it was condemned by the local boiler inspectors. We patched her up, and she is still doing duty. With another vessel in use, we can still get four or five years more service out of that vessel, probably. If that vessel alone has to do the work of transporting supplies from the city of Boston and fumigating ships in all parts of the port. it is bound to break down again. We have already received three years' use of the vessel, and it can probably be of considerable use for three or four years more, supplementing another vessel. ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF ITEM FOR INCREASED QUARANTINE FACILITIES ON THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD, IN AMOUNT $559,270. It is contemplated to use this amount for providing increased capacity and equipment of the quarantine stations at Boston, Reedy Island, Cape Charles (Norfolk), and Savannah. It is apprehended that during the course of the war there will inevitably arrive transports with returning troops that have developed infection or a quarantinable nature en route. It is desirable that at least some of the stations on the Atlantic seaboard be so equipped and have such capacity as to make it possible to remove the troops from transports, thus releasing the vessel after proper disinfection. If a transport were required to be held at quarantine merely for the purpose of troop accommodation, it would work a materiat injury to the transport service. Aside from this feature, the inability to properly segregate or isolate infected persons or contacts on a crowded troopship would seriously interfere with efficient quarantine treatment. It is especially desirable that there shall be during the present war no repetition of the experiences in the Spanish-American war, at which time there were a large number of transports detained in quarantine for days at a time, solely because there was no other means of isolating the troops. Reliable reports as to the sanitary conditions prevailing in Europe are not available. It may be stated in general, however, that during the past year there has been a wider spread of plague infection in the English ports than has heretofore been reported (within the past 30 years), plague-infected rats having been reported from Liverpool, London, Bristol, and Hull. Typhus has caused great ravages, not only in the Balkans but even in Germany and on the western battle front. Cholera, although it has chiefly prevailed in southwestern Europe, has, nevertheless, been reported on the western battle front. The present detention capacity at Reedy Island is 865 in barracks and 10 in the hospital. Whereas there are 2 officers on duty there is only 1 set of quarters, junior officer occupying one of the station buildings. By providing an additional set of quarters this will release the building at present occupied by the junior officer for use in the increased hospital facilities and will provide about 20 more beds. There is no laundry at Reedy Island and all laundry has to be sent across to Delaware City. When a considerable number of persons are detained an adequately equipped laundry is imperatively needed at a quarantine station. At present the attendants are partly housed in one room of the executive building, some of them being quartered in the cabin-passengers barracks. Adequate quarters for the attendants will release additional detention space for persons in quarantine. If a large number of persons were held in quarantine, especially a large number of sick or wounded troops, the number of attendants would have to be materially increased. Recently, when the battleship Connecticut was remanded to Reedy Island by the Navy for treatment, a number of nurses from Philadelphia were temporarily employed and had to be quartered in part of the cabin-barracks building. The $7,000 requested for blankets, pillows, and sheets is required because the quarantine appropriation for maintenance is inadequate for such unusual expenditure. CAPE CHARLES QUARANTINE (NORFOLK, VA.) The appropriation requested for the establishment of a properly equipped quarantine station at Norfolk is $225,826, in detail as follows: 7 barracks buildings, capacity 300 each__ 3 mess halls____ 1 officer's quarters. Remodeling old brick building for attendants_. Heating plant and plumbing... 667 Standee bunks, triple, at $18 each_ 4,000 blankets, at $4 each__. 4,000 sheets 2,000 pillows. Lighting plant and equipment_. Cooking utensils, dishes, etc--- Disinfection building and equipment.. Laundry building and equipment_. Sewage, drainage, and approach work Other equipment__. Disinfecting and boarding vessel.. Hospital building and equipment (50 persons). Total_____ $31,500 12,000 10, 000 4,000 20,000 12, 006 16, 000 2,500 3, 320 10,000 3, 500 16,000 10, 000 15,000 5,000 40,000 15,000 225, 826 The present detention facilities at Cape Charles quarantine consist only of eight beds on a hulk anchored in the stream. Fisherman's Island, about 20 miles from Cape Charles quarantine, was acquired by the Government in 1884 for use as a quarantine station. It was selected at that time chiefly because of its isolation and as a yellow fever detention camp. It is surrounded by shoal water and can not be used in connection with the treatment of large vessels. At the time it was selected it probably served its purpose, as infected vessels (yellow fever) were probably of light draft, and for the most part sailing vessels from the West Indies. At the outbreak of the war the War Department requested the use of this reservation, as it was a desirable location for the placement of fortifications. Consequently, on account of the fact that it was impracticable of use for quarantine purposes, it was temporarily turned over to the War Department. A force of Coast Artillery is now stationed there. The Government owns Craney Island, an admirably situated location for a quarantine station, midway between Cape Charles and Norfolk, and it is desired to erect an adequate quarantine station at that place. The plans of the Navy to make a very large naval station at Norfolk materially emphasizes the necessity for adequate quarantine facilities. Aside from the present emergency, it may be stated that such station is necessary on account of the increased importance of Norfolk as a shipping center. Whereas in the year 1914, 574 vessels 'were inspected, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1917, there were inspected 1,939 vessels, the amount of quarantine work during the past few years being increased more than threefold. It is desired to place at Norfolk a boarding and disinfecting vessel similar to those now on duty at Reedy Island, Boston, San Francisco, and other larger stations of the service. There is no disinfecting vessel at present at Norfolk, boarding being done from a small gasoline launch. SAVANNAH QUARANTINE STATION. The increased quarantine facilities at Savannah will amount to $98,644, in detail as follows: The present facilities at Savannah quarantine station are wholly inadequate to take care of any considerable number of persons in quarantine. There are hospital accommodations for 12 to 15 patients, and detention facilities only 40 persons. The quarters for the attendants are cramped, and some of them are housed in the hospital building. There is no laundry equipment at present, and it is desirable that the station capacity be increased to take care of not less than 1.200 persons. During the Spanish-American War there was considerable embarrassment to the movement of troops because of the inadequate quarantine facilities at this place. BOSTON QUARANTINE STATION. The appropriation requested for increased quarantine facilities at Boston amounts to $187,800, in detail as follows: 6 barracks buildings, capacity 300 each__ 2 mess halls.. 1 hospital 1 officers' quarters_ 1 attendants' quarters. Heating and plumbing. Lighting $27,000 8,000 25,000 10,000 10.000 25,000 3,000 Sewage, drainage, and water works. Disinfecting equipment.. Cooking utensils, dishes, and miscellaneous equipment.. 600 Standee bunks, $18 each_- 5,000 6. 000 3,500 10, 800 4400-17-3 1,800 blankets 1,800 pillows-.. 3,600 sheets Furniture, equipment, officers' and attendants' buildings_. Total $7,200 3,000. 2,300 2,000 40,000 187, 800 It is desired to increase the capacity of the Boston quarantine station so as to accommodate a total of 2,400 persons. The present accommodations are for 600 persons. At present three medical officers are living in one building in very cramped quarters, and with the increased capacity it is contemplated that additional officers will be stationed at the place. The present attendants' quarters. are barely sufficient for the force, and increased capacity will be necessary for the additional force required when the station is enlarged. A boarding and disinfecting vessel at $40,000 is requested to supplement and eventually take the place of the present tng Vigilant. The Vigilant was built in 1886, and has now reached the stage where continued repair is of questionable economy. In the summer of 1916 the vessel was condemned by the local steamboat inspection service, but was patched up and was continued in use. It was appraised at a value of $13,000 upon purchase from the city of Boston, and has been in use thus for somewhat over two years. Supplemented by another vessel it is probable that considerable service can still be gotten from the Vigilant for some three or four years more. If all the work at the station has to be performed by the Vigilant it will continue, as it has in the past, to break down at intervals. The vessel at Boston is used not only for boarding, but also for the fumigation and disinfection of vessels at the quarantine station, and at the wharves at different parts of the port. It is necessary to have a vessel of some power to operate in the winter, when the harbor fills with ice, for the transportation of supplies from the city to the station. One vessel in first-class condition might be sufficient, but when sole dependence has to be placed on a vessel as old as the Vigilant, which is apt to break down from time to time, quarantine administration is bound to be seriously handicapped. The small launch Relief, purchased from the city of Boston in 1915, at an appraised value of $2,000, has recently been condemned by a Coast Guard officer as unfit for further use and has been disposed of, after having been in use two years. The foregoing items contemplate increased quarantine facilities at only four stations on the Atlantic coast. In addition there is requested an item of $15,000 for the purchase of 250 hospital tents, 12 by 14 feet, each to accommodate four persons. These tents could be shipped, as required, to the various smaller stations on the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard for the purpose of supplementing the station capacity. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1917. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. STATEMENTS OF MR. LOUIS BROWNLOW, COMMISSIONER, AND GEN. JOHN G. D. KNIGHT, ENGINEER COMMISSIONER. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. The CHAIRMAN. "Public Utilities Commission: For incidental and all other general necessary expenses authorized by law, including the employment of expert services, where necessary, fiscal year 1916, $352.03." Mr. BROWNLOW. That represents audited certified vouchers in the auditor's office, and includes a balance due the Kelly Printing Co. for printing the annual report, $334.81; Western Union Telegraph Co., $7.49; Adams Express Co., 28 cents; Postal Telegraph Co. The CHAIRMAN (interposing). How did you happen to spend more money than you were given? Mr. BROWNLOW. Those small items came in late, and as to the printing item, was on account of a change in the estimate. We contracted for this printing under the law; and under the District contract, which is based on the measured setting of the type and tabular work, the estimate exceeded the appropriation, and we have not been able to pay it. That is the item of $334.81. That has been here once before, but came too late to be considered by the committee. Mr. CANNON. When was that-before the war or since? Mr. BROWNLOW. It was before the war; it came too late for consideration at the time of the last bill. Mr. CANNON. The expenditure was made before the war? Mr. BROWNLOW. Yes; the expenditure was made before the war. CONTINGENT AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. METAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TAGS FOR VEHICLES. The CHAIRMAN. "Contingent and miscellaneous expenses: "For purchase of enamel metal or other metal identification number tags for horse-drawn vehicles used for business purposes and motor vehicles, fiscal year 1918, $5,500." Mr. BROWNLOW. That is a prospective deficiency caused by al change in the law, in the District of Columbia appropriation act which was approved March 3, 1917, requiring that all identification. tags and automobile license tags should expire on January 1, 1918. This is the first time we have had the annual licensing of automobiles, and the appropriation for the other tags, the current tags, will be very nearly exhausted, and would not be available for these new tags; so it is necessary to have an appropriation to purchase those tags. The CHAIRMAN. You want to issue the new tags under the new law? Mr. BROWNLOW. Yes, sir..i Mr. GILLETT. When does the automobile year run out? Mr. BROWNLOW. It has been continuous heretofore. Mr. GILLETT. I know, but I mean now. Mr. BROWNLOW. It will begin the 1st of January, 1918, and expire the 31st of December, 1918. Mr. GILLETT. I was just wondering whether my license was still good?i Mr. BROWNLOW. It is good until the 1st of January. The CHAIRMAN. This is to provide tags that must be issued the first of this coming January? Mr. BROWNLOW. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. About what do those tags cost? Have you any idea? Mr. BROWNLOW. We are now paying 13 cents, Mr. Donovan tells me, but I think the new contract was 20 cents; the price has gone up and the new contract is 20 cents. Mr. CANNON. This is a deficiency, so-called, of $5,500? Mr. CANNON., Is that for the current year, the past year, or both? Mr. BROWNLOW. That will be for the current year. It will be necessary to have the tags on hand by the 1st of January, 1918, which i |