DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

 

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE e BETHESDA 14, MD.

 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ARR 7 a ey eta
PAPE i a a

Dear Mr. Fogarty:

In response to your request of March 31, 1961, I am pleased
to comment on the letter from Mr. James W. Stimpson concerning the
National Institutes of Health farm near Poolesville, Maryland.

Mr. Stimpson is certainly correct in his view that
unnecessary expenditures should be avoided by all governmental
agencies, Including the National Institutes of Health. He is to
be commended for his concern about the NIH farm, and I appreciate
the opportunity to clear up any possible misunderstanding on this
particular matter.

The farm near Rockville, Maryland, which has been used by
NIH since 1949, is entirely too small and lacks the necessary
feclilities to service the greatly expanded research efforts of
the various Institutes. Moreover, our use of that farm has been
entirely at the discretion and through the courtesy of its owner,
Me. Eugene Casey. It is net Government property, and NTH could
not use Government funds to erect adequete facilities there, even
if the acreage were sufficient for such purposes.

' On the other hand, we have absolutely no intention of
making a "showplace" of the farm near Poolesville. Buildings and
other facilities will be designed and developed only to meet the
actual needs of NIH research progrems and to achieve the most
reasonable combination of sultebility for program needs with
economy in construction costs, maintenance, and operations. As
you know, plans and projected uses for ell new NIH facilities are
carefully reviewed at several points both in the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare and in the Bureau of the Budget
before funds are actually releasead for design and construction

purposes.

Briefly, current plans for use of the farm include:
eventual breeding and production of many thousands of small
laboratory animals each year; the quarantine and conditioning of
in excess of 1,500 dogs, cats, and monkeys; the development of an
area where several species of birds and animals will be set free
to breed and live in a natural habitet under observation by
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selentists of the National Institute of Mental Health; and the
maintenance of several hundred large farm animals for use in
research projects and to provide blood and tissue extracts. The
major budget items in our anticipated $10 million expenditure
invlude principally the facilities required for (1) holding large
numbers of dogs, cats, and monkeys, (2) the very large program
for production of small laboratory animals, and (3) needed
utilities to safeguard the health of NIH animals and the citizens
and animal populations of the surrounding commmity. These last
mentioned include facilities for sewerage disposal, fire
protection, adequate water supply for cage washing, incineration
of dead animals and the perimeter fence (see below). All these
plus an adequate road system to service the many program areas
are requirements much in excess of those needed for ordinary farm
operations.

While the investment in buildings and facilities will be
substantial, it is apparent that the value of the animals will be
many times greater, particulerly in view of the inestimable value
of the research dependent upon them. Such an investment will
require adequate security measures. Experience at many govern-
mental installations has demonstrated the long-term economy of
high, strong perimeter fences to control both incoming and
outgoing traffic by man and animals, as opposed to the immense
guard force which would otherwise be necessary to maintain a
comparable degree of security.

Por example, protection will be required against predatory
dogs (one goat has already been killed by dogs during the first
six months of very limited operation on this farm). The animals
and property must be protected against unauthorized traffic by
children, hunters, or possible thieves--it is easy to imagine the
havoc that could be wrought in the “natural habitat" area in one
night, undoing the work of months cr years by the scientists
concerned. Incidentally, this area will be located in a part of
the "wooded and serub land" mentioned by Mr. Stimpson.

Therefore, it is planned to have a chain link fence, seven
feet high with barbed wire at the top, completely surrounding all
of the farm except the small wooded portion north of Elmer School
Road. Contracts have not been let for construction of the fence,
but it is estimated to cost about $145,000.

In summary, the NIH farm will not be the ordinary farm with
which Mr. Stimpson may be familiar, either in purpose, utilization,
or value. The cost of the land and of perimeter fencing will be
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quite small in relation te the overall investment. And the
entire cost of physical facilities will likewise be relatively
small in comparison to the velue of the animals and related
services which will be provided in support of the broad NI
reseerch endeavor--an endeavor which, I most sincerely believe,
benefits all persons in the United States in a measure that far
more than justifies the expenditures involved.

Sincerely yours,

GE bow wu

Director

Hon. John E. Fogarty
House of Representatives
Washington 25, D. C.