Comparative summary of appropriations and appropriation estimates (relating to general and special accounts)

Comparative detail estimate for appropriation 1949, maintenance and operation, Panama Canal

Following is a statement of estimated net requirement under this appropriation item, by activity for 1949, as compared with net requirements for 1948 and for 1947.

Comparative detail estimate for appropriation 1949, maintenance and operation, Panama Canal-Continued

The following is a reconciliation of the appripriation requested for 1949 with the amount appripriated for 1948. These data give consideration to the availability of prior year balances, deductions of funds required in 1948 but not in 1949, and the required increases in 1949 for both current operations and improvements and betterments, and show that an increase of $2,938,000 will be required in 1949 over the appropriation for 1948.

MODERNIZATION OF LOCKS ELECTRICAL FACILITIES

Mr. ENGEL. The first individual item is on page 21, modernization of locks electrical facilities, $970,000.

General MEHAFFEY. Yes. The justfiication printed in the book on that subject is rather complete, Mr. Chairman.

The situation at the locks is that we are now still operating with the same electrical equipment which was installed in 1912, 1913, and 1914, while the Canal was being completed.

The fact that the electrical machinery is still operating with a minimum of interruption to traffic is considered by everyone who inspects the locks as a miracle of maintenance. It is only because of very excellent and careful maintenance that we have been able to keep this machinery going as well as we have. But the point has now been reached where we feel that steps are necessary to replace a great part of the obsolete electrical equipment.

Mr. ENGEL. By "electrical equipment" you mean towing equip

ment?

General MEHAFFEY. The electrical equipment which provides electricity for the towing locomotives, the valves and gate operating machinery, the machine tools, and so forth.

Mr. ENGEL. General Mehaffey, in reference to items of this type, the modernization of the locks, and so forth, how do you justify that, in view of Panama's refusal to give us leases or bases which would be used in defending the Canal and the limitation they want to make on any leases to 10 years; if we are going to build a sea-level canal elsewhere, this money will be wasted, will it not?

General MEHAFFEY. I think not, Mr. Chairman. We feel that if the Congress should decide that a sea-level canal should be built, or that a new canal should be built, at some other locality, it would require at least 15 years from the present moment until the new canal could be completed.

In the meantime, we feel that it is absolutely essential that the locks, which are the heart of the present Canal, should be maintained in such condition as to minimize the danger of long interruptions to traffic.

We feel that this equipment has already outlived what would normally be considered its useful life and that the possibility that it could last for another 15 years is extremely small.

Mr. ENGEL. How long is this program going to take to complete? General MEHAFFEY. The program as we now have it planned would take 6 years.

Mr. ENGEL. The total cost will be how much?

General MEHAFFEY. Approximately $5,000,000. The program is set up in the order of the importance of the work. We feel that this first year's program, plus a part of the second year's program, which would be the installation of the equipment ordered under the first year's program, must be carried out. If by next year we find that the probability of moving to another location is great we would perhaps modify the remainder of the program. We have no doubt

about the absolute necessity of carrying out at least the first- and second-year program.

Mr. ENGEL. Of course, if you were to operate and maintain the Canal even in a stand-by condition, in case we had a new sea-level canal elsewhere, you would still have to have some of this equipment to operate to take care of the overflow that must go through the Canal. General MEHAFFEY. That is entirely true.

BREAK-DOWN OF PROGRAM

Mr. ENGEL. On page 22 you give the following break-down of the 1949 program as now contemplated:

Purchase all necessary primary switching equipment for all locks, $420,000.

Purchase all necessary power and lighting transformers, and some cable, $108,000.

Construct approximately 28 new track transformer rooms, labor and material, $420,000.

Engineering work for fiscal year 1950 work, $22,000.
That makes the total of $970,000; is that correct?
General MEHAFFEY. Yes.

HYDROLOGICAL PROJECTS

Mr. ENGEL. The next item is for hydrological projects, carried under function 7, meteorology and hydrography, $33,938. Is that a new item?

General MEHAFFEY. That represents an enlargement of the program of stream gaging and rain gaging in the Chagres River Basin, Mr. Chairman.

In connection with studies which we have made of the possibility of a new canal in Panama, we have had the advice of an expert from the Office of the Chief of Engineers, who informed us that we did not have sufficient coverage of the Chagres River drainage basin to provide the necessary information for future flood control and any other work that is done in the Panama Canal. In accordance with his recommendations, we installed some new stations with money provided for the new studies, and we are asking for a small additional amount for the maintenance of those stations hereafter.

Mr. ENGEL. You have a break-down under two subheads: One, "Operation and maintenance of additional rainfall and streamflow stations," $22,820.

"Initiation of comprehensive review and correlation of existing rainfall and streamflow data," $10,418.

General MEHAFFEY. Yes.

Mr. ENGEL. Also an item for traveling expense in connection with studies in the United States of procedures and technique in streamgaging work, $700, which makes the total $33,938.

General MEHAFFEY. Yes.

REVISION OF STREET-LIGHTING SYSTEM, ANCON-BALBOA DISTRICT

Mr. ENGEL. The next is for the revision of the street-lighting system, Ancon-Balboa district, $30,000. Is that repair of the streetlighting system?