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AUTHORIZE AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION AND REPAIR OF HISTORICAL FORTIFICATIONS AT FORT NIAGARA, N. Y.

FEBRUARY 20, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. WAINWRIGHT, from the Committee on Military affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 15770]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15770) to authorize an appropriation for the preservation and repair of historical fortifications at Fort Niagara, N. Y., and for other purposes, introduced by Mr. James of Michigan at the request of the War Department, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment: Line 8, after the word "purpose" insert "which shall first be paid into the Treasury of the United States".

The purpose of this amendment is to safeguard the interests of the Government.

This project is necessitated by the crumbling of the sea wall at old Fort Niagara, the estimated cost being $70,000. The Fort Niagara Association is to contribute an equal amount to that carried in this bill, namely, $35,000, for this improvement. The investment already made there appears to warrant the immediate repairs to the wall. At the very top of the reservation, at a point adjacent to the sea wall, there is an old French castle and barracks which are of historical interest, having been built by the French in 1700. The old Fort Niagara Association has already contributed approximately $58,000 for the restoration of the old castle and French barracks. Hearings have been held on this bill by your committee. The letter of the War Department is as follows:

The SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

DECEMBER 19, 1930.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is inclosed the draft of a bill to authorize an appropriation for the preservation and repair of historical fortifications at Fort Niagara, N. Y., and for other purposes, which the War Department presents for the early consideration of the Congress with a view to its enactment into law.

There are no existing laws authorizing appropriations for the preservation and repair of fortifications of historical interest in the United States and its insular possessions that have not been declared National Monuments under the provi sions of the act of June 8, 1906. (34 Stat., 225.)

By the end of the fiscal year 1931, approximately $155,000 will have been expended for repair, rehabilitation and restoration work at old Fort Niagara, of which amount approximately $58,000 has been contributed by the Old Fort Niagara Association. Present estimates indicate that approximately $114,000, including the present item of $35,000 in addition to the $35,000 to be contributed by local interests, will be required to complete this project. The necessity for the instant legislation is to authorize an early appropriation for repairs to the sea wall in order to prevent further undermining of existing walls and thereby protect the investment already made, and that contemplated in the old fort area at Fort Niagara, N. Y.

The fiscal effect of the proposed bill is to authorize an appropriation of $35,000 for the proposed work at Fort Niagara, N. Y.

Sincerely yours,

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MOVING-PICTURE THEATER AT FORT SNELLING, MINN.

FEBRUARY 20, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mrs. KAHN, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 17142]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 17142) to authorize the erection of a moving-picture theater at Fort Snelling, Minn., introduced by Mr. James of Michigan, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it pass.

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The necessity of this legislation making funds already authorized available for construction of a moving-picture theater is clearly set forth in the following letter from the commanding officer at Fort Snelling, Minn., which is made a part of this report:

Hon. W. FRANK JAMES,

FORT SNELLING, MINN., October 28, 1929

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. JAMES: In reply to your letter of October 9, 1929, relative to the motion-picture theater at Fort Snelling, I am inclosing a photograph of the theater together with the following data which may be of use to you in presenting the matter to your committee:

1. The building being used as a theater was constructed about 50 years ago. It is not known what use was made of the building prior to 1896, but between that date and 1911 it was used as a combination chapel and dance hall. It has been repaired at various times and some additions have been made. It is of oldtime wooden construction with a very poor foundation. Most of the timbers in it are deteriorating and the foundation is beginning to crumble. Attempts have been made to repair the building and seal up the cracks and make it weatherproof. The building, however, is so old that these repairs have been of little benefit toward making the place comfortable during cold weather. The furnace was run over capacity last winter and still the men attending the show were forced to keep on their overcoats and overshoes in order to keep warm. While the furnace was being forced in an attempt to warm the place up, it was necessary to keep a man on duty with a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher to guard against the possibility of a fire. In order to heat the building at all, it is necessary to keep all windows and doors closed and shut off the ventilating

system. Exactly the opposite trouble is experienced during the warm months. Due to the construction of the building it can not be properly ventilated or kept cool during warm weather.

2. The building itself is not suitable in size for the population of the post. It has a capacity of 400 as against a population of about 1,600. The stage is extremely small and will not permit entertainment in conjunction with the moving pictures.

3. The repair of the present theater has been considered from every angle. Suitable repair would involve a large expenditure which would go far toward the construction of a new theater. Even with extensive repairs we would still have an old, dilapidated, and inadequate theater building.

Sincerely yours,

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TO AMEND THE SECOND DEFICIENCY ACT, FISCAL YEAR 1930

FEBRUARY 20, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. ELLIOTT, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 17166]

The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred H. R. 17166, a bill to amend the second deficiency act, fiscal year, 1930, having duly considered the same, hereby make report of it to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

The committee is informed that the above bill is not in conflict with the financial program of the President and is recommended by the Bureau of the Budget and the Treasury and Post Office Depart

ments.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 2a of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives the following is submitted:

PARTS OF EXISTING LAW AFFECTED BY
THE BILL

Proviso to act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. 922), as contained in second deficiency bill, Public, No. 519:

"Provided, That no new site shall be acquired unless the city of New Bern shall agree to purchase the old site and building for a sum not less than the cost of the new site and in the event such an agreement is entered into the Secretary of the Treasury may sell such old site and building to the city on such terms as he may deem proper.'

PARTS OF BILL AFFECTING EXISTING

LAW

Provided, That no new site shall be acquired unless the city of New Bern shall agree to purchase the old site and building for a sum not less than the cost of the new site, and in the event such an agreement is entered into the Secretary of the Treasury may sell such old site and building to the city on such terms as he may deem proper.

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