Gen. SHARPE. But we have got to have these depots for supplying troops when they are stationed around in these cantonments. We have not anything in the way of storage at St. Louis now. I have some photographs here which will show you the way our material is now piled up; it is piled up outdoors with paulins placed over it. Capt. DALY. St. Louis will have all of that southern territory to supply, even if the troops do go to France, as we will always find it necessary to keep a large force on the Mexican border, and St. Louis is the center of that district. We also have our own reservation there, but a lot of inferior buildings.

Gen. SHARPE. We own a splendid piece of ground there.

Capt. DALY. Through the Belt Line Railroad we have railroad connection with all the railroads entering St. Louis. There are over a million cubic feet of stores now out in the open under paulins. The CHAIRMAN. Which is the more necessary, the administration building or the warehouse? You have some facilities there for administration, have you not?

Gen. SHARPE. We have very inadequate facilities, Mr. Chairman. Most of the offices are in an old building which is occupied by the depot quartermaster, just an old dwelling which has been adapted to offices.

Capt. DALY. A part of the depot quartermaster's force is in a small building vastly overcrowded, a one-story building, another part of his force is in a sheet-iron warehouse, and another part of his force is in a set of quarters; so that there is no chance to coordinate his work and there is no chance to get maximum work out of the men because they are not all under direct observation.

The CHAIRMAN. How long would it take you to construct these buildings?

Gen. SHARPE. I think it could be done by the end of the year, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The end of the fiscal year?

Gen. SHARPE. I think it could be done; yes. It is a very urgent matter.

The CHAIRMAN. By that time most of those troops and their supplies will have been taken away.

Gen. SHARPE. Not from that district, because troops will always be down along the border and in the South and Southwest, which section that depot supplies.

Capt. DALY. Besides that, we must assemble stores at St. Louis for many of the troops in France.

Gen. SHARPE. There are deliveries of large quantities of stores made in St. Louis.

Capt. DALY. A great many of our shoes are delivered there ast well as underwear.

Gen. SHARPE. I really believe it is one of the most urgent places where we have got to have storage.

Capt. DALY. We have nothing there now, our stores being housed in sheet-iron buildings.

The CHAIRMAN. You estimated that nine units would give you 3,000,000 cubic feet, and I was talking about 33,000 cubic feet when I should have been talking about 330,000 cubic feet, which would be about one-ninth of the 3,000,000 cubic feet. You have increased the cost from $45,000 to $60,000, and you have reduced the capacity from

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330,000 cubic feet to 210,000 cubic feet, so that the cost has increased 33 per cent and the capacity has been reduced 33 per cent.

Capt. DALY. Well, we must call on Col. Littell to explain this.

NOTE.-Nine units of 240,000 cubic feet each would give 2,160,000 cubic feet, to which should be added 700,000 cubic feet in the center pavilion, making 2,860,000 cubic feet in all.

The CHAIRMAN. I am taking the statement that was made in January; that was the statement you made. I can understand why the cost of the building would be higher but I do not understand why the capacity is to be so much less.

Capt. DALY. We will have to defer this, Mr. Fitzgerald, for Col. Littell to explain; these figures are all in his branch.

ACQUISITION OF LAND, LEON SPRINGS MILITARY RESERVATION.

The CHAIRMAN. There are two items here for the acquisition of land at Leon Springs Military Reservation, the first being "For the acquisition of approximately 16,578 acres of land as an addition to the Leon Springs Military Reservation, $314,441," and the second being "For the acquisition by purchase or condemnation of approximately 85.3 acres of land as an addition to the Leon Springs Military Reservation, $2,500."

Capt. DALY. A total of $316,941.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the necessity for this?

Capt. DALY. That estimate was made in accordance with instructions received from the Secretary of War and is based on correspondence with the department authorities down there, which is filed here with the estimate.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you know anything about the need or reason for it?

Capt. DALY. Only as set forth in these letters. The 85.3 acres are stated as being required by the department quartermaster of the Southern Department, as follows:

Reference being had to my memorandum dated June 23, 1917, relative to the proposed acquisition of certain tracts of land adjoining the Leon Springs Military Reservation, there are three additional tracts of land, the possession of which is considered necessary to give an uninterrupted entrance to the present reservation. These tracts, indicated on inclosed blue-print map, are: Rudolph Aue, 23.4 acres; Aue estate, 57 acres; John Moreau, 4.9 acres; a total of 85.3 acres. The actual value of these three tracts for pasture purposes is estimated to be not more than $15 per acre, exclusive of the well on the Rudolph Aue tract, which probably costs, approximately, $1,200; and some small houses which could easily be moved off by the owner. Another very objectionable feature that would be removed by the acquisition of this land is the riddance of the small houses referred to in paragraph 3. of which more are constantly being constructed and rented to undesirable people. The present owners have a very high idea of the value of this land, owing entirely to the activities of the Government at this point, and it does not seem probable that the land can be secured by negotiations at a reasonable price. Condemnation proceedings would therefore have to be instituted to obtain the tracts at a reasonable price. The total cost of the three tracts, including the well on the 23.4-acre tract of Rudolph Aue, would hardly exceed $2,500.

The department commander forwarded that paper to The Adjutant General, and was transmitted by The Adjutant General to the Quartermaster General with instructions by the Secretary of War that the amount called for be included in the Quartermaster General's additional estimates for 1918.

The CHAIRMAN. What about the big tract of 16,500 acres? Capt. DALY. This is the memorandum we have from the department quartermaster, Southern Department:

In obedience to your verbal direction, I have secured purchase options on approximately 16,000 acres of land lying just south of the Leon Springs Military Reservation and between the Blanco Road and the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway, as indicated in red lines on inclosed blue-print map. These purchase options, which are transmitted herewith, include the following tracts, all of which are shown on the blue-print map referred to.

Shall I read the names of the owners?

The CHAIRMAN. No. Have you the blue-print map?
Capt. DALY. Yes.

The acreage as stated above is based upon figures obtained from the tax assessor's rolls, except in the case of the Stowers estate and Fritz Braun, which was estimated. It is probable that an actual survey will show a slightly greater acreage in some of these tracts. Additional purchase options have also been secured on the following tracts, and which, to distinguish them from the former, on account of their higher price, are shaded on the blue-print map referred to. These options are also inclosed herewith.

The average per acre on the first lot of options is $17.88, and the average per acre on the second lot of options is $39.88.

The difference in the price of these latter tracts over the former is due to the fact that the first three areas are highly improved farming land. On the fourth tract there is a lime kiln owned by the San Antonio Sand, Lime & Brick Co., which makes it somewhat more expensive. Adding the latter four tracts to the total of the first group, we have 16,578 acres; average cost per acre, $18.96, or a total of $314,441. The area of the present Leon Springs Reservation is about 17,273.87 acres. The acquisition of the aforementioned tracts would make the total area 33,851.87 acres.

The CHAIRMAN. Why is it wanted:
Capt. DALY (reading):

The acquisition of these additional tracts will materially add to the value of the Leon Springs Reservation as a maneuver ground, small-arms and artillery practice, and ranges for machine-gun practice, in connection with the training of the large numbers of troops that will garrison the cantonments now under construction at Leon Springs and at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. They also afford good grazing in connection with the remount depot.

Now, here are the commanding general's reasons:

The Leon Springs Military Reservation is an excellent tract of land of about 17,273.87 acres for military purposes. It has, however, a number of disadvantages: (a) Owing to its distance-22 miles from Fourt Sam Houston-it takes two days for infantry to make the march. (b) It is now becoming somewhat crowded, on account of the cantonments recently completed and under construction for four regiments of Field Artillery, one regiment of Infantry, one regiment of Engineers, a training camp that will accommodate 3,000 student officers, a large remount depot, storehouses, and two small-arms target ranges. (c) The greatest dimensions of the reservation from north to south is about 5 miles, and from east to west about the same, but the tract is quite irregular and the difficulties of conducting suitable maneuvers on this ground have been found in the past to be serious when large bodies of troops are employed. (d) Additional room is very much needed for artillery practice, machine-gun practice, exercises in combat firing, and for maneuvers for large bodies of troops, notwitstanding that the cantonment now under construction for the regular troops was located up against the western boundary line of the reservation, in order to avoid undue interference in the use of the ground for range practive and maneuvers. It is proposed to extend the resevation toward the south for a distance of about 5 miles, having an area of approximately 16,000 acres, the land costing on an everage, $18.96 per acre, a very reasonable price.

The advantages of the enlargement are as follows: (a) It will bring the portion of the reservation upon which camping is possibe within 10 miles of the post instead of 22 miles, making it an easy march for Infantry. (b) It will more than double the value of the tract for maneuvers and for artillery practice. (It will bring on the reservation 12 additional wells, with a total of 168,000 gallons of water per day. This is an important matter, as water has been scarce at times. (d) It will afford large additional areas for grazing animals and for cutting hay. It is to be noted that by using hay cut on the reservation it will be possible to save $5 per ton. Since each animal consumes on an average 2 tons of hay per year it is not impossible to pay the interest on the value of this property in savings on hay alone. (e) Finally, it will add to the reservation an area making the whole an important field for the conservation of troops, and training ground worthy of its importance.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you finished your statement?

Capt. DALY. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. I will read into the record the statement of Gen. Tasker Bliss, speaking on the bill for enlarging the military reservation at Fort Sam Houston, Tex.:

That is what led to the acquisition of this tract at Leon Springs of some 17,000 acres, which was obtained for a very small sum as compared with the area that was purchased, and which is used as a target range by the Infantry for machine guns and for the Field Artillery. It is a very wild, broken, uncultivated tract of land, mostly covered with timber, except where it has been cleared for this range purpose. It is very rocky and can not be cultivated at all for agricultural purposes, nor could it be used for building or drilling purposes. I thought it was about 25 miles by road from the post, but these gentlemen say 18. It is used solely for large maneuvering and target-range purposes and will provide for the training of that kind of a large body of men. Senator BRADY. It is not adapted for any other purpose?

Gen. BLISS. No, sir; it is not adapted for any other purpose. When I was in the command we had troops march in turn all the way from Brownsville to all the stations along the river. When their practice season began, if there was nothing to require their presence on the river, the organizations would march from Brownsville, taking about 18 days to march for the artillery. They would go and camp at Leon Springs and go into practice. It is so large that by no possibility could you fire a shot off the reservation, and therefore it is perfectly safe.

This tract of land, I assume, must be of a similar character. You are asking $314,441. Do you know whether they want this land at this time merely temporarily for the training of these troops that are being organized?

Capt. DALY. This would not indicate that they do.

The CHAIRMAN. The statement I have just read was made before the Senate Committee on Military Affairs on February 2, 1917. Do you know whether this is to be used just for the training of those troops which are now to be raised?

Capt. DALY. No, sir. I think they have in mind the future garrison at Fort Sam Houston.

EL PASO COUNTY, TEX.-PURCHASE OF LAND.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is as follows:

El Paso County, Tex., purchase of land: To enable the Secretary of War to acquire by purchase for military field maneuvers and field-gun target practice a tract of land of about fifteen thousand acres situated in El Paso County, Tex., and lying within 5 miles of the Fort Bliss Military Reservation, $155,400.

Capt. DALY. That estimate was submitted in accordance with instructions from the War Department. This tract contains open, flat country for aviation and drill purposes, rolling country, with suffi

cient opportunity for concealment, adapted to maneuver purposes, and is backed to the west by ground forms comprised within its limits of sufficient altitude to render the holding of infantry and artillery combat firing practicable, with no possibility of objection by neighboring landowners, at all ranges and in many directions. The purpose of acquiring the land is for maneuvers and artillery firing. I have here a great deal of descriptive matter about it and the recommendation of the commanding general.

The CHAIRMAN. We would like to hear what you have, Captain. Do you know the extent of the Fort Bliss Reservation?

Capt. DALY. No, sir; I do not. I can not tell you from memory the area of the Fort Bliss Reservation.

The CHAIRMAN. Put that information in the record.

Capt. DALY. Yes, sir; I will do so.

The area of the Fort Bliss (Tex.) Reservation is 1,271.78 acres. The CHAIRMAN. Why do you need this?

Capt. DALY. I will file these papers for the record.

The CHAIRMAN. We would like to hear them read.

Capt. DALY. This is a letter from Gen. George Bell, the commanding general of the El Paso district, to the commanding general of the Southern Department.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the date?

Capt. DALY. March 3, 1917. The letter is as follows:

Referring to your file No. 601.1, ind., of December 5, 1916, on War Department communication, A. G. O., dated November 23, 1916, the following report is submitted concerning the securing of additional land needed in this district for the military purposes set forth in the subject heading.

The subject heading is: "Tracts of land for permanent mobilization, training, and supply stations." The letter continues:

The reservation of Fort Bliss is adapted both on account of its size and topography for merely parade ground maneuvers. There will undoubtedly be stationed in this vicinity a considerable body of troops of all arms, and for their proper training ground must be provided, sufficient in area to permit maneuvers of some magnitude, and of such character, topographically, as to insure that combat firing for both Infantry and Artillery can be held with a guarantee of noninterference from neighboring property owners.

The situation has been thoroughly canvassed and only one satisfactory tract of land, fulfilling all requirements, has been offered.

This tract of land, approximately 5 miles square and containing about 15,000 acres. is shown on the accompanying blue print was a reasonable degree of accuracy.

This tract contains open, flat country for aviation and drill purposes, rolling country, with sufficient opportunities for concealment, adapted to maneuver purposes; and it is backed to the west by ground forms comprised within its limits of sufficient altitude to render the holding of Infantry and Artillery combat firing practicable, with no possibility of objection by neighboring landowners, at all ranges and in many directions.

The letter continues

The matter of securing an option on this tract of land has been handled by the Chamber of Commerce of the City of El Paso, through its military committee, and the following is quoted from the report of this committee to the president of the chamber:

"Your committee on military affairs begs to submit its first report on the matter of securing a site for maneuver grounds for the United States Army in El Paso County, Tex. A further detailed report will be submitted in a short time, but this report is made to-day for the reason that the commanding officer of the El Paso district has twice been urged by wire to expedite this matter.