Chronology 3 



material, including necessary buildings, construction, equipment, railroad 

 facilities, land, and damages and losses to persons, firms, and corporations 

 resulting from the procurement of the land for this purpose, etc., $1,000,000." 

 After noting the sum requested for the creation of a new Proving Ground, 

 Chairman Padgett inaugurated the first official mention of the future Dahlgren 

 Laboratory with the statement, "Tell us all about that item."^ 



RADM Earle was prepared to do just that. In response to the chairman's 

 request, he inserted a statement into the record outlining the need for an 

 additional Proving Ground. This statement was a classic summation of the 

 arguments presented since 1910 by naval officers who recognized the inherent 

 testing limitations of Indian Head. 



Throughout his testimony, Earle stressed that his estimates of funds needed 

 for creating a Proving Ground were based on the strictest economy. To a 

 question by a committee member as to why he wished to locate the future 

 Proving Ground at the proposed site, Earle responded that the chosen site "is 

 the only place that will give us proving grounds without large expense."^ 

 Inevitably, the question of how the firing guns would affect the farms in the 

 surrounding area was brought up by Representative Littlepage. 



MR. LITTLEPAGE. Within what radius will the yolk of eggs be bursted by the 

 firing of big guns? 



Rear Admiral EARLE. I can state from personal experience in that. I used to live at 

 Indianhead, and we always were more successful with eggs right immediately 

 under the guns practically, within 200 or 300 yards, than anybody was around the 

 country. It does not seem to bother the hen at all." 



Summarizing his reasons for advocating the creation of a new Proving 

 Ground, RADM Earle stressed the need for testing heavy guns fully without the 

 limitations imposed by the range congestion at Indian Head. Regarding am- 

 munition, he stated all ammunition should be tested "in the manner in which it 

 comes aboard ship."^ 



Satisfied with the necessity of acquiring the new Proving Ground, Congress 

 passed an acton April 26, 1918, authorizing the President to takeover the land 

 by Presidential Proclamation. In June 1918 by Proclamation of the President 

 1458, 994.3 acres of land were obtained between Machodoc Creek and Lower 

 Cedar Point Light on the Potomac River. By Presidential Proclamation 1494 

 dated November 4, 1918, the Arnold Farm of 372 acres adjoining the original 

 tract was acquired, giving a total of 1366.3 acres.* 



In December 1918, a recommendation was made to Congress for the pur- 

 chase of Blackistone Island located about 30,000 yards downriver from the 

 Proving Ground. Presidential Proclamation 1514 dated March 4, 1919, gave 

 title of the island to the Navy, and formal possession was taken on June 18, 

 1919. The island was acquired primarily for use as a target for major-caliber 

 projectiles which could be recovered for study. ^ 



