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f C File Reference - 0 L58 P ' UNITED STATES Y DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1 V NATIONAL PARK SERVICE /) f /0 Region One /1191 r Richmond, Virginia f April 6, 1956 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE Memorandum TO: The Director From: Regional Director, Region One Subject: Proposed Establishment of Virgin Islands National Park Enclosed, in duplicate, is summary of the discussions of the conference which Mr. Hubler and I had with you and members of your staff March 15, 1956, on the proposed Virgin Islands National Park. This summary reflects some further discussion Mr. Hubler had with other members of your staff of the preliminary draft we pre- pared in Washington March 15. Mr. Hubler explains that his acreage figures are based on a summation of recent surveys of the parcels which have been pur- chased by or are being negotiated for by Jackson Hole Preserve .for inclusion in the Park and a planimetric computing of the balance of the proposed Park area. It appears to us that this method should produce the most nearly accurate figures possible at this time. Future additional property surveys may call for some revision of these estimates. Since it is susceptible to greater error than Mr. Hubler's method, we have not considered it worthwhile to make a planimetric computation of the area from our print of the revised plan, even for comparative purposes. In connection with this matter of extent of the area, I also invite your attention to Item 10 of the Summary concerning our discussions of control of non-Park use of waters in or adjacent to bays on the perimeter of the Island. Likely the question already has been presented to the Solicitor' s Office for study. The summary has been signed by Mr. Hubler and by me and is recommended for your approval. (Signed) Elbert Cox Regional Director Attachment Copy to: Superintendent, San Juan NHS t 14 1 / 19(4 3GS SU~ARY OF 4 /»,~ 44/L#Lt# litEESI1$, OF DIRECTOR, MEMaERS OF HIS STAFF, REGIONAL mRECTOR, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT REGAmENG S+S'.1 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK PROJECT Bitr March 15, 1956 I. 123993':*"4,4 191,23'4'Mzrlk The propo**a boundary as agrelai ppan is *hgza *n grlen en the attached plma. Aa approximate aer*a# of ¥091/76/ included in this proposed boundary. This acreage, in addition to 284.5 acres, the amount in the cays, would total acres. These acreages vere dstermined by plani-tar on those areas which have not yet been surveyed. The areas Iurveyed am thole which havl been purchased or have been negotiated for by Jackson Hole Preserve for inclusion in the park. This estimated *creage is as accurate as *ext be deterald vitlioul; running a suriey of the entire peri=ter of the area. Ths acqi#*ltiOn ot Grass, Min*, Imange ena Cons, CaB *culd reeel¥e low pti,*1~*e priority. II. PNDOSe¢. ~ve~D=nt Ar*8 W* 0*e no nled for * develepment area at Flah Bay. The development area Ihown at Mary Creek would serve no particular pw)*se) instead the de,¥elo~ arla will be *t Estate Annaberg where perhaps the most interesting estat* ruins exiat. III. Natio*al Pa*. Servige Boat emw There is no apparent preeent nled for a boat tour by a National Park Service concessioner. A majority of thi boating around St. John can be adequately handled by private enterprise. As & matter of fact, there is a boat rental service at Red Hook at the present time. They now have three or four boats for Edire and ex* pect to increase this number as time goes on. It is also doubtful that it will be necessary to set up a concession for transportation between the islands of St. Thomas and St. John in that this activity will be provided also by prl¥ate enterprise. There le in exiltence at the present time a private boat operator who runs regularly scheduled trips to St. John from St. Thomas daily. 1733 Conce#*Son boat *peration# way pmve to be dli*le f- special trip# math 40 to the Marine Warden# for which nativallet service could ** p*•lamd. IV. Utility Ama and Structure* - St. Jobs It *ae agrwd Wat the. Natiowl Pa* Slrd«* utility ares mid aer~*e boat landing f~Ultilis skwuld b* coordilted vith those of the Caneel Bay Plantation *4Jacent *0 *st 18 e=mm#Hknown U Hamic=m EEM ln the Cm Bay W#. Joint *la~iN with 1*. Latrarge of Mt. Rocketeller' s staff will be Moessaq. Mt. Lafarge Ind Mr. Rockefeller have indicated that thoy would have no objection to this coordination Of *etivities. A* regards additional lands rquir*4 it il our thought that the small parcel of pub#O 1**id ©* the ***t end of the park amld be reserved fer poldbl• use. V. P,ib#® co#taot 066*168 - St. 1 J*h# 28* ull of the ymblia eontact station for park Adminlatm. tion Building on Battery Point *t Cruz Bay vas dilcusled. This wguld involve bidlding «unrter, and offices for the local administrator *a-Vire in the Cnza Bay **a. Hubler will contact local officials to discuss thia problem aft*r which tureer studies for thil develop- a:ent will be mads. VI. ~ 8.*14*13.6.* St. John Employee I.Bidewes in *1* Cram Be, 6*4 would 1* neces*ary. Th,Se *oula be located on th• hill Just worth of Crus BAY within We proposed pa* in the region or Und Point. VII. Roads - St. John An automobile road should be bUilt between Estate Carolina to Lamcahur Bey to /rve the public as 1-11 0.* to provide access to the ranger station conte*plated at rameshur. It should be noted that only a portion of this road will lie vithln park property. VIII. Bta *#¢ mourilt. Agcounnads*$94-.ff $4* J~*m We are of the opinion that no facilities of this type 0hould be constructld Within the park ainol adequate space 15 available outside and on the island of St. Thomas. Concession develqpments at Cameel and Trunk BW *:w* to ~matn. 2 . IX. Ran¢*r Station - 54. John A **neer *t*#on at Mary Creek *s not sceasa. Thil alls *am be *mlmumo) Patro:1/4 hy bost fr~ Cr/z B~y. X. Control of Shore Line - St. John P** acreages includa enly *0*0 Jamal *01* th# vater lin*, and there il no provision for control of non-park use of waters in or adjacent to the bays on the pe*timet*r of the illead. Extension Of the boundaries to include water beyond the shore line would reduce th* seyeages alloved within the park and is therefom not COnt;idered feasible. The Solicitor'$ office will be requested to study thll question and adviee us of measures or meana to *Wercise contral. Xr. Wl,are. *ad am~$ p#*pqe Building st Rid Hook - ed._The,Mia Ths land mg~1**ments et; 'this point an *out 10 acre# located immediately ecross the bay from the publle dock, On which there is no¥ 4 gra¥*1 pro¢*saing plant. ¤ * 1*84%,aM-rs I» St.: MI.,mas Read*#WA/Xs for th) C~ibbean unite of the National Park Service Should be in Charlotte Amalle. The preferred location for headquatters te in Old Fort Chrtitian. For such en arrangement, however, Governor Gordon will meat probably insist that the Old Fort be designated a National Ristoric Site. The Governor has in- dleated th*t he lamild here the Fort vacated *nd turned over to thi National Park Service for use, *xcept for space within the Fort for a *mall mu/*w# to be operated by the local Mbseam Sociqty. The Old Fort offers the most *4*antag*gus location for park headque/ters. It occupies a *Ty premi»*nt point easlky ac- cessibl* to the public, with ad quate parking, ete. Kistorical interpretation of the Fort structure would be handled by the National Park Service. Any arnng=ent for the use *f the Fort for park h•,4- quarters Should include only the Fort proper, **eluding the adjacent property. 3 XII. SeMice *9101** Nes:alnees - St. Tliomai There am no a*as vt#hin the tewn limits that ~14 be anlable or 4*airale. An Wel *de®8*te for OBartem will be pur- chased on the road to Red Hook from Charlotte Amall•. The location ~iould be out*lde, but close to the elty linrit*. lf*t•,r m#mly and Sewage dilposal *uld have *0 be provided #lgaral**0 of when 93*r#ers are located. Ther• 10 00 *quat* *1* nt*r *opply. Mgma 15, 1956 4