APPENDIX G. REPORT OF THE RESIDENT ENGINEER, BUILDING DIVISION. BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, July 14, 1915. . SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report covering the operations of the building division during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915: Organization. During the period of the year from July 1 to October 1 the building division was continued under Resident Engineer Frank Holmes as a part of the organization of the supply department, headed by Capt. R. E. Wood, chief quartermaster. Effective October 1 the division was separated from the supply department and placed in immediate charge of Capt. Wood as constructing quartermaster, reporting direct to the Governor, following which the resident engineer resigned, effective November 18, 1914. A general consolidation and reduction of force ensued, resulting in the work of the division being placed under the direct charge of Superintendents Fields and Haven for Army post construction at Fort Amador, and under Acting Superintendent Whitaker for canal structures in Balboa and vicinity. All other work remaining uncompleted at the northern end of the canal and at intermediate points was carried on under individual foremen reporting directly to the constructing quartermaster. Later the entire Army post work was placed under Superintendent Fields, and with certain other minor changes the organization continued as outlined until May 10, 1915. Effective this date, Capt. R. E. Wood resigned and the position of constructing quartermaster was abolished. Simultaneous with this change, the writer was relieved from duty in charge of the division of municipal engineering and placed in charge of the building division as resident engineer. Buildings authorized.-A general increase in building operations having been authorized at this time, the division was divided into five principal subdivisions or sections, viz, northern district, central district, southern district, Fort Amador district, and designs. The northern district, in charge of James Cosgrove, superintendent, includes all work for both canal and United States Army from Frijoles north, including Toro Point and Margarita Island. The central district, under Superintendent E. Galliher, includes similar work in the territory Corozal to Frijoles. The southern district, under Superintendent R. W. Whitaker, embraces all work south of Corozal, including Ancon, Balboa, and vicinity. The Fort Amador district, under Superintendent J. B. Fields, covers the construction of post buildings for the Coast Artillery at Fort Amador and Naos Island. The designing section is divided into two parts, architectural and engineering. Mr. Samuel Hitt, architect, is in charge direct of all architectural studies and details. Mr. T. C. Morris, assistant engi neer, is in charge of the details and design of foundations, reinforced concrete, and analyses for size, dimensions of beams, columns, floors, etc. At the commencement of the fiscal year there were under construction in all degrees of completion the following principal buildings: Administration building, hydroelectric stations, four substations, commissary warehouse, radio stations' buildings, twenty-seven 4-family and nine 2-family permanent quarters, mechanical shops' office building, fire station, two commissary buildings, and schoolhouse. All of these buildings were completed and occupied within the first half of the year, with the exception of the Balboa commissary, which was not turned over for occupancy until May, 1915. New canal structures were authorized for construction and work was commenced during the year as follows: Eleven 4-family and two 2-family concrete permanent quarters, Balboa dispensary, locks' repair buildings, medical storehouse, oil-storage building, two fuel-oil pumping stations, two public garages, forage-storage building, public bathhouse, slaughterhouse, removal and reconstruction Ancon insane asylum at Corozal, dairy and farm buildings at Corozal; ten type 17, seven type 4, and fifteen type 14 framed quarters at Balboa and Ancon; one type 17 and one type 10 framed quarters at Corozal, and one type 14 framed quarters at Mount Hope; public stables and wagon sheds for Panama Railroad in city of Panama; Panama Railroad station at Corozal; ball-park stands; police headquarters, Balboa; reconstruction Y. M. C. A. clubhouse, Balboa; lightkeeper's house at Punta Mala; motor-car and motor-bus houses; Panama Railroad station at Balboa and Ancon; Colon hospitals. In addition to the above a large number of framed quarters of different type were taken down at Culebra, Empire, Gatun, and other places, transported to Balboa, Ancon, and vicinity, and reerected either in their original design or under modified plans. A large number of such buildings embraced the largest type of official houses, including that of the Governor's. The total number of buildings of all types and classes thus taken down and removed to other localities amounted during the year to 55. Authorization was given during the year for the construction of permanent quarters for housing the Coast Artillery and mobile troops stationed and to be stationed in the Canal Zone. Authority for this work was given in two congressional appropriations, one of $700,000 and one of $1,290,000. Work on the buildings provided for in the first appropriation was begun in October, 1914, and on those under the second appropriation in March, 1915. The following table gives the number, character, location, and degree of completion to June 30, 1915, of the buildings authorized: Fort Amador, Coast Artillery: FIRST APPROPRIATION. 1. Four barracks, concrete, completed. 4. One 1-family quarters, hollow block, completed. 5. Headquarters building, hollow block, completed. 6. Two 4-family quarters, noncommissioned officers, hollow block, completed. 7. One stable, concrete, completed. 8. One wagon shed, frame, completed. 9. Residence, commanding general, frame, completed. Mobile Army-Las Cascadas, Empire, and Culebra: 10. Modifications of buildings transferred from canal, completed. Gatun: 11. Modifications and new frame construction, completed. Coast Artillery, Fort Amador: SECOND APPROPRIATION. 1. Four barracks, concrete, 60 per cent completed. 2. Two 4-family quarters, hollow block, 60 per cent completed. 3. Three 2-family quarters, hollow block, 85 per cent completed. 4. Two 1-family quarters, hollow block, 95 per cent completed. 5. Three 4-family quarters, noncommissioned officers, hollow block, 99 per cent completed. 6. One storehouse, concrete, not started. Naos Island: 7. One storehouse, concrete, not started. Toro Point, Fort Sherman: 8. One storehouse, concrete, not started. 10. One wagon shed, frame, not started. Margarita Island: 11. Two barracks, frame, not started. 12. One 1-family, commanding officer, frame, not started. 13. Three 1-family, captain's quarters, frame, not started. 14. Eight 1-family, lieutenant's quarters, frame, not started. 15. Two 4-family, noncommissioned officers' quarters, frame, not started. 16. One headquarters building, frame, not started. 17. One storehouse, frame, not started. 18. One stable, frame, not started. 19. One wagon shed, frame, not started. 20. One water tank (200,000 gallons), concrete, 35 per cent completed. 21. One pump station (water and sewage), concrete, not started. Corozal, mobile Army: 22. Modifications and alterations, canal buildings and new construction, 5 per cent completed. 23. Engineer stables and sheds, frame, 100 per cent completed. 24. Signal Corps stables and sheds, frame, 98 per cent completed. General building operations.-Prior to October, 1914, the construction of the permanent concrete quarters and administration building was carried on under the same methods and scheme of gang organization as similar work is handled by construction companies in the States. Each building as designed seemed to call for work in at least nine different trades, viz, concrete men, bricklayers, metal lathers, plasterers, tile setters, carpenters, coppersmiths, plumbers, and painters. The men in these different trades were carried under general foremen as separate units and passed from house to house as the building during construction progressed through the different stages to completion. Many or all buildings of necessity were in course of construction at the same time, and, aside from the general head of the work, no individual foreman or other person was interested or could be held in any way responsible for the ultimate cost of the building. Such an arrangement seemed in the light of experience to be particularly open to question, in view of the fact that this service on the canal brought skilled workmen in the different trades 2,000 miles from home and into a Government service that, for some reason unexplained, lead many of them to feel that the amount of work to be accomplished in eight hours was only that absolutely necessary to keep them from becoming |