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UMASS/AMHERST ^!TY IJBRARY i!!l! II!!! Mill !!ll!|i|ii|»i I'll MASS, 2066 0344 2009 2 STtOK A JN IX TJ A L REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR "^^^ FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1948 Annual Report OF THE Governor of the Virgin Islands TO THE Secretary of the Interior Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1948 STACK '"f^y^R UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR J. A. Krug, Secretary TERRITORY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS William H. Hastie, Governor United States Government Printing Office, Washington : 1949 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Qoveriunent Printing Ofllce, Washington 25, D. C. Price 10 cents Contents PAGE The Community 100 Years After Emancipation 1 Public Finance and Taxation 4 Agriculture i 5 Commerce and Shipping 6 Education 7 Health and Sanitation 9 Police and Prison Adrainistration 9 Public Lending Program 10 Public Utilities 11 Social Welfare 12 Tourism 12 Deactivated Military and Naval Property 13 Legislation 13 Conclusion 15 III Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofgo1948virg Annual Report of the Governor of the Virgin Islands William H. Hastie, Governor ^TT^HIS report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1948, is concerned -*- principally with significant current developments in government and in community life in the Virgin Islands of the United States. An elaboration of a number of the items here mentioned, as well as a considerable body of general and background information, appears in the 1948 report on the Virgin Islands of the United States prepared by the government of the Virgin Islands in cooperation with the Department of the Interior, and transmitted by the United States to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to article 73 (e) of the charter. That report has been published and is available through the Department of the Interior. The Community 100 Years After Emancipation In 1848 human slavery was abolished in the Virgin Islands, then a possession of Denmark. During the first 6 moniiis of 1948 the Virgin Islands celebrated the completion of a century of freedom. The cele- bration was high-lighted by a visit of President Truman on February 22 and 23, and by messages from President Truman and the King of Denmark, as well as the presence of the Ambassador of Denmark to the United States, at the climactic conclusion of the celebration on July 3, 1948, the one-hundredth anniversary of the emancipation proclamation. On so significant an anniversary, it seems appropriate that this report contain at least a summary presentation of the status of the Virgin Islands and their 30,000 inhabitants after 100 years of freedom. Persons born in the Virgin Islands of the United States are citizens of the United States. Written into the Organic Act or territorial Constitution of these islands are the basic provisions of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. Universal suffrage is ap- plicable to the election of a local legislature which enjoys legislative 1 tV report of the governor of the virgin islands authority essentially as broad as that of the legislatures of the several States of the Union. Out of 22 principal officers of the executive branch of the government of the Virgin Islands, 17 are Virgin Islanders. Ovl\j in the denial of representation in the Congress, in the with- holding of the privilege of participation in the election of the President and Vice President of the United States, and in the selection of their Governor by Presidential appointment rather than popular election, are citizens of the Virgin Islands less favored politically than citizens of a State. From a different approach, the citizens of the Virgin Islands enjoy a somewhat more pri\dleged political status than do the citizens of the District of Columbia, the National Capital. Services of government to the people in the Virgin Islands compare very favorably with those ordinarily found today in outlying posses- sions of metropolitan countries, although the need for improvement and expansion of such services is very great and very obvious. The government makes essential medical services and hospitalization avail- able at moderate cost to the entire population, and to the needy without charge. Public health measures have served to reduce the death rate from 41.5 per thousand to 15.9 during the 30-year period from 1917 to 1947. During the same period the infant mortality rate was reduced from 328.9 to 88.9. No epidemic has occurred for many years. Informed persons come to live in the Virgin Islands with no less assurance as to general conditions of health than in the case of migration within the continental United States. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. As a result, more than 85 percent of the people are able to read and write. About 100 students now graduate each year from the senior high schools. This means that between 10 and 15 percent of the youth of the community are receiving the benefit of 12 years of formal education. Annual public expenditure for education has now reached the level of $95.46 per child, of which $30.36 represents the cost of providing a daily lunch for each child. Local social legislation has followed the pattern of the continental United States. The local government administers a system of com- pulsory workmen's compensation insurance. Minimum wages and maximum hours in most categories of employment are controlled by legislation. To the extent possible, with very small resources, loans from public funds are provided for small business ventures, small agri- cultural enterprises, and the construction of homes. Public assistance is provided from local funds to students of promise, including veterans who seek advanced training in mainland educational institutions. Such data reveal and demonstrate an important national policy. Our conception of the status and rights of the individual and the REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ 3 organization, responsibilities, and services of government makes no distinction between outlying and dependent areas on the one hand, and the metropolitan area of the United States. In practice as in theory, we rejected the notion of a double standard of human rights and public responsibilities, a superior one for the metropolitan area and an inferior one for offshore possessions. Economic progress has not kept pace with political and social advancement during this first century of freedom in the Virgin Islands. The abolition of slave labor and the competition of larger and more productive areas have reduced the once profitable and dominant sugar industry to a level of bare subsistence. Where slave labor once raised sugarcane all over the islands and even on steep hillsides, only a few thousand acres of the better land are now devoted to this crop, and even here the operation yields very small profit. The decline of sugar has meant a general and continuing economic decline because no adequate substitute for the sugar economy has been developed. Recurrent periods of drought and poor soil are fundamental handicaps of agriculture. Lack of natural resources or other special advantages has prevented the islands from being attractive to new industry. Capital invest- ments are small. Today the total assessed valuation of all real property, agricultural, industrial, and residential, in the Virgin Islands is only about $11,000,000. Although a significant increase of local production for local use is possible and would be very advantageous, the community must con- tinue to depend upon the outside world for much of its essential food, clothing, and materials. Until this unavoidable expenditure abroad is balanced by the creation of marketable wealth or value at home, the community cannot prosper. Three approaches, each complementary to the other, are being made to this problem. The development of tourism as a major industry is in progress. By 1950 tourism should be a major favorable factor in the local economy. Second, the production of specialty crops for export is the subject of continuing experimentation. Every success- ful effort along this line is a significant gain. Third, the promotion of new industry must be carried on both through modern methods of advertising the community and through devising and offering special public assistance to new enterprises. At the end of a century of freedom from chattel slavery, these are paths to economic em^ancipation. But the goal is yet in the distance. We have yet to achieve the freedom from want which is so important a part of our contemporary conception of freedom. 814583—49 4 1^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Public Finance and Taxation During the fiscal year 1948, the financial situation of the Virgin Islands remained unsatisfactory and precarious. In the last few years current revenues have been insufficient to cover current expenditures, and demands have been met only through the use of reserves which were established during the war years. These reserves no longer exist. The total budgeted expenditures of the local government for the fiscal year amounted to $1,422,626.23, as against $1,523,651.18 for the previous year. Revenues collected from local taxation in the two municipahties totaled $1,087,056.02. The balance to make up the total receipts included transfers, contributions, loans, and a Federal deficit appropriation of $140,000. The budgeted expenditures of the municipahty of St. Thomas and St. Jolm alone were $965,733.23 as against $1,104,283.18 for the pre- vious fiscal year. This reduction, in spite of mounting costs, was made possible partly through administrative reorganization of various agencies, boards, and commissions, including the consolidation of certain governmental services and the elimination of several positions. There were significant changes in three major sources of revenues in the mimicipality of St. Thomas and St. John. Income-tax collec- tions decreased from $511,870.18 for fiscal year 1947 to $417,698.91 for fiscal year 1948, while collections from customs decreased from $49,775 to $28,000. However, collections from trade tax increased from $58,457.36 to $176,073.05, offsetting the losses in revenue from income tax and customs. The reduction in income-tax collections was due chiefly to the decline in the production of alcoholic beverages for export to the United States, while collections from customs were adversely affected by a marked decrease in the importation of molasses used by the distilleries. Revenues in St. Croix remained stable, if woefully inadequate, at a level of about $265,000. Even with a Federal subsidy of $140,000, this sum is insufficient to maintain services at an acceptable level. Although there were small declines in the majority of revenue sources in the municipality of St. Croix, these were offset by the following increases: Real-property tax yielded ^62,407.39 as against $57,342.66 for the previous fiscal year, and income-tax collections were $103,069.94 as against $86,232.22 for 1947. In an effort to bolster the declining revenues of the local govern- ment, the trade-tax law of the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John was revised to include taxes on luxury items heretofore not specially taxed, and the excise tax of St. Croix was amended in order to yield more revenue. The results have been gratifying. An increase of $117,615.69 over the collections from the St. Thomas trade tax during fiscal year 1947 was obtained. Collections from the excise REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ 5 tax of St. Croix also increased $13,851.95 over the previous year, although the new rates were in effect only part of the year. Pros- pective schedules are being drafted and studied with a view to the adoption of a uniform modern statute for business taxation for the entire Virgin Islands. Apiculture During the year activities of the Soil Conservation Service and Farmers' Home Administration were resumed in the Virgin Islands. The Production and Marketing Administration established an office for conservation payments for the first time. A soil- and water- conservation program for the Virgin Islands has been developed, and the Farmers' Home Administration has taken a very active part in improving the water-supply system in rural areas. In St. Croix the agricultural station was particularly active in vegetable production, soil and water conservation, and pasture im- provement. Vegetables were produced and transported to the United States by airplane on a profitable experimental basis. This experi- ment resulted in the organization of the St. Croix Fruit & Vegetable Co. which plans to plant over 250 acres of vegetables during the coming winter season. Pasture-improvement demonstrations were successful in the most difficult areas of the island. In a single year a demonstra- tion pasture was changed from over-grazed hurricane grass to an adequate growth of guinea grass. The agricultural station also propagated and distributed 103,100 vegetable slips, 2,667 assorted ornamentals and 391 coconut seedlings. A total of 3,316 farm visits were made,, 47 farmers' meetings held, and 96 public meetings attended related to extension services. A farm survey for the island of St. Croix was completed and has provided information necessary for planning and executing an island-wide agriculture improvement program. In St. Thomas the agricultural station completed a land-use map of the island, showing the land uses of the present time, and classifying the land according to its capability. This is the ffi^st step toward preparing an agricultural development plan for St. Thomas and St. John by which an effort wiU be made to better utilize the limited agricultural resources of the municipality. The nucleus of an exten- sive orchard project has been established. Several varieties of citrus trees, including lime, orange, and grapefruit, special mangoes, bananas, breadfruit, and plantains have been planted at the station in order to develop material for future propagation work. During the year, 171 pounds of vegetable seeds and 24,000 vegetable slips were sold to farmers. Over 1,600 ornamentals were sold for landscape work. Approximately 1,000 slips of bull tyre palms have 814583—48 2 6 ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS been started to provide a local supply of fiber for the handicraft industry. Plant quarantine was extended to St. Thomas to prevent the intro- duction of harmful plant diseases and insect pests. The work of inspecting imported fruits, vegetables, and plants has been assigned to the station. Informal discussions with the Department of Agriculture have been initiated by the government of the Virgin Islands and the Department of the Interior with a view to the ultimate coordination of all Virgin Islands agricultural activities under supervision of the Department of Agriculture. Commerce and Shipping A much larger amount of money is sent from the Virgin Islands in payment for food, clothing, and other commodities produced abroad than comes from the outside for things that are produced and work done in the islands. During the calendar year 1947 goods valued at $9,031,743 were imported into the Virgin Islands, while exports were valued at only $2,183,744. The correction of this unfavorable situation continues to be a major economic objective. The Government-owned Virgin Islands Company produced 4,350 tons of sugar this year, 1 ,400 tons more than last year. Employment was provided for about 1,000 persons during crop time and half that number during the rest of the year. In addition, the Company processed the cane of about 600 independent cane farmers. Its rum operations, however, were severely restricted by the continuing general inactivity of the rum market. A still better sugar crop is predicted for 1948, but rum sales remain very uncertain. In St. Thomas the unfavorable rum market also curtailed the exportation of alcoholic beverages. As a result only 224,236.86 proof gallons of alcoholic beverages were exported from the Virgin Islands this year as compared with 390,880 last year. The lack of United States dollars in many countries seems to have affected shipping in the Virgin Islands adversely by discouraging a number of ships of foreign registry from calling that usually came to St. Thomas for bunkers and refueling. In addition, difficulties have been experienced in obtaining adequate regular supplies of fuel for the bunkering and refueling trade. In these circumstances, a slight decline in shipping as compared with the preceding year was experi- enced. The transshipment of bauxite at St. Thomas continues to be a substantial commercial activity. The number of tourists coming to the Virgin Islands by water was also reduced when the Alcoa Line replaced a 90-passenger ship with 2 slower ships capable of carrying only 12 passengers each. Report of the governor of the virgin islands ^ 7 Despite the slight dechne in shipping as compared with last year, the general prospects for the development of commercial activities to surpass the level of the period immediately preceding the war years are good. Ten years ago, during the fiscal year 1937-38, 743 ships with a gross tonnage of 2,951,913 called at St. Thomas. During the current fiscal year 417 ships with a gross tonnage of 2,435,760, entered the port of St. Thomas, a difference of only about 500,000 gross tons. Education One of the noteworthy developments of the year was the establish- ment of a veterans' education program in the Virgin Islands, through the collaboration of the local government and the Veterans' Adminis- tration. The program of instruction includes elementary education and secondary subjects for resident veterans. Nearly 300 veterans are enrolled in these courses in the Virgin Islands. The municipality of St. Thomas and St. John has also made special provision by legis- lation for the payment of transportation of veterans who enroll in institutions in the United States. In addition, scholarships of $250 each for vocational training in the United States were provided from a municipal appropriation made available for that purpose. The cost of education and related services to school children, including school lunches, in St. Thomas rose to the unprecedented amount of $95.46 per pupil as compared with $79.62 for the preceding year. In St. Croix the cost per pupil also increased from $52.59 in 1947 to $57.51 this year. The high cost of equipment, consumable supplies, and services contributed largely to the increase in the cost of education. Another factor has been the increase over a 10-year period of the average salary per teacher in St. Thomas from $58.63 to $100.73. In St. Croix the average salary per teacher increased from $57.54 to $78.19 during the same period. For the fiscal year 1948 there were 2,574 pupils enrolled in the public schools in St. Thomas, as compared with 2,624 in the preceding year. Of this number, 766 were enrolled in junior and senior high school grades, as compared with 785 in 1947. In St. Croix there was an increase in enrollment from 1,570 in the preceding year to 1,686 in 1948. Enrollment in the junior and senior high schools in St. Croix was 496, an increase of 135 over the enrollment of the preceding year. Through administrative reorganization in St. Thomas, the public library was placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the depart- ment of education. The division of public playgrounds, formerly in the social welfare department, was eliminated, and the recreational areas and equipment transferred to the department of education under the supervision of the physical education staff. 8 ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Observing its tenth anniversary, the Teachers' Institute sponsored one of the most successful summer sessions, in which four selected extension courses were offered by the Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico, and college credits were given to qualified registrants. The Junior Art League established in the schools this year should prove to be a valuable medium for developing and sustaining interest in art activities. In addition to the regular classroom activities in art, the schools engaged in an impressive number of extracurricular activities. For the first time the kindergarten program in St. Thomas bene- fitted from the full-time services of a trained supervisor. Through "in-service" training measures, a marked advancement was shown in greater adherence to practices recommended by authorities in this field. There were 288 children enrolled in 9 kindergartens in St. Thomas and St. John. The school-lunch program heretofore confined to the elementary schools was extended to include the Charlotte Amalie High School. With 23 schools included in the operation of this service, the number of children participating increased from an average of 1,800 daily to more than 2,200. An aggregate of 400,583 lunches were served with an over-all cash cost of $66,441.18, exclusive of contributions of food from the United States Department of Agriculture, estimated at $12,000. The average cash cost per meal was 16^ cents. A vocational department was added to the high school m St. Croix. Started on a small scale, it is expected that this department wiU expand as additional funds for vocational training are made available. Although continuous and concerted efforts have been made through the years to obtain Federal funds for vocational training in the Virgin Islands, Congress has failed to include these islands in its program of assistance to States and Territories for vocational training. The school-lunch service in St. Croix was successfully operated throughout the year with an average daily participation of 1,179 pupils in 10 schools. The sum of $3,048.72 was contributed by the children themselves to the program. Besides, fresh vegetables pro- duced in the rural-school gardens aided in providing a balanced meal at low cost. Some of the schools produced more vegetables than they could consume, and donated the surplus to other public mstitutions. The department of education is working toward the equivalent of 2 years of post-high-school training as a mmimum standard for teacher training in the Virgin Islands. This training should include one or more years in institutions beyond the Virgin Islands. While teacher-training courses offered locally are of benefit, teachers fail to acquire the professional zeal and inspiration which is developed in professional institutions abroad that are closely in contact with REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ 9 demonstration schools. However, the attainment of this objective would require a substantial annual appropriation for teacher training to be applied as scholarships for selected teachers to be sent abroad. Health and Sanitation A steady increase in Federal funds made available through grant- in-aid programs has greatly assisted in the development of an exten- sive public health program in the Virgin Islands, most notably in the fields of maternal and child health and care for crippled children. The Virgin Islands also became eligible for the benefits of the Hospital Construction Act in June 1948. One of the objectives of Federal grant-in-aid programs is the stimulation of spending of local funds in extending the public health services. Despite the economic con- dition of this territory, all requirements of matching Federal funds with local expenditures have been met. A general program of immunization against typhoid fever was suc- cessfully carried out in the Virgin Islands. In addition to the here- tofore inaugurated mosquito control program for the elimination of filariasis, the Lederle Laboratories, in cooperation with the territorial government, conducted a program of treatment of filariasis with the new drug Hetrazan, assisted by the local health department. The work was undertaken to prove the efficacy of the drug in a highly endemic area. Results will be recorded and reported. In January 1948, a program of mass X-rays was initiated as a feature of tuberculosis control in St. Thomas. A total of 1,925 pictures has already been taken and read. Up to the end of the fiscal year, the results continued to emphasize a lower incidence of tuberculosis in St. Thomas than would be expected for a simdar community in the United States. While the bacteria count of milk in St. Thomas is still high, it is expected that with the installation and operation of a modern pas- teurizing plant early in the near future, a healthy and wholesome milk will be available for general consumption. Improvement in the sanitary handling of meat can also be expected when a modern abat- toir is completed during the next fiscal year. However, additional legislation controlling the handling of meat will also be necessary in order to raise the process to a satisfactory level of sanitation. Police and Prison Administration Under the leadership of a new director of police, a native of the Virgin Islands recently retired as an officer of the United States Army, a juvenile-aid bureau was established in the St. Thomas police depart- ment for the purpose of carrying out a broad program for the preven- tion and reduction of juvenile delinquency. Over 500 youngsters lO ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS have enrolled in a police athletic league sponsored by the juvenile- aid bureau. During the year this bureau, with the cooperation and assistance of the department of social welfare, handled 84 cases of juvenile delinquency. The first policewoman in the history of the Virgin Islands was appointed, and assigned to the juvenile-aid bureau. The St. Thomas police department secured conviction in 775 complaints of a total of 1,033 cases filed in the courts. Most of the complaints charged violation of traffic regulations, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, and similar misdemeanors. There was a de- crease of 17.6 percent in felony complaints as compared with the preceding year. Fourteen such complaints were processed, in comparison with 17 in 1947. Of a total of 67 criminal cases referred to the bureau of investigation, 48 resulted in the apprehension of a person believed to be the offender, while 19 were still pending at the close of the fiscal year. The police department, assisted by 25 members of the home guard, furnished a guard of honor for the President of the United States and members of his immediate staff when they visited St. Thomas on February 22. There were 166 arrests made by the police department in St. CroLx during the year, most of which were for disturbance of the peace and violation of traffic regulations. The police force also provided a guard of honor for the President and his party when they visited St. Croix on February 23. Efforts are being made to establish a police athletic league similar to the one recently started in St. Thomas. At Rich- mond Penitentiary the prisoners produced charcoal and white lime which were sold. There were 20 prisoners at Richmond at the close of the fiscal year, 13 from St. Thomas and 7 from St. Croix. Public Lending Pro-ams The insular government has made a small but significant beginning in facilitating the construction of homes, providmg water supply facilities for householder, helping the small farmer start his crop, and establishing small industries. Despite the fact that very little money is available for such programs, assistance on a small scale has been given in the form of loans based on proper and sufficient security. Durmg the fiscal year 1948, 7 loans totaling $2,807.20 for the con- struction of cisterns were made in St. Thomas, under the water supply ordinance. At the same time, 12 mortgage loans totaling $5,080 were made from trust funds to property owners for the purpose of repaning their houses. Under the home-loan ordmance a total of 32 loans have been made since 1944, aggregating $56,000. These loans have been granted with proper security for the purpose of assisting persons who are desirous of building their own homes. In order to encourage the establishment REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ II of small native industries, during the fiscal year 1948, 7 loans totaling $5,050 were granted under the native industries and small businesses ordinance. Many important services are furnished farmers in St. Croix through the agricultural development revolving funds. These services include plowing, pasture clearing with bulldozer, and the supplying of seeds, slips, fruit trees, and livestock. In St. Thomas similar services were rendered by the station through the special revolving fund for poultry, livestock, and seed development. Public Utilities In the reorganization of departments, boards, and commissions, the telephone board was abolished, and the control and operation of the municipal telephone system of St. Thomas transferred to the St. Thomas Power Authority, which was created m 1945 to manage and operate municipal-owned public utilities. The existing telephone dis- tribution network, which was installed many years ago, needs to be replaced and the system modernized in order to meet the increased demands for telephone service on the island of St. Thomas. Upon the transfer of the properties and facilities of the deactivated United States naval submarine base to the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John on January 1, 1948, the large Navy power plant was placed under the control of the power authority. Using this facility as a source of power, the task of converting the island of St. Thomas from direct current to alternating current was begun. In April 1948, the San Jose project, a chemical warfare unit of the United States Army, took over the operation of the naval submarine base and all related facilities including the power plant. A satisfactory temporary agreement has been worked out between the Army and the authority, pending the execution of a formal contract, whereby the Army is supplying alternating current to the authority at pro- duction cost for distribution and sale to consumers. In the process of conversion, the old direct current distribution system in the island was purchased by the municipality from the West Indian Co., Ltd. Direct current is now being purchased from the "West Indian Co. Ltd., by the power authority, and resold to consumers who are still on the direct current system, while consumers in that portion of the island that has been converted are being supplied with alternating current. Conversion has been a slow process due to the difficulty of obtaining supplies and equipment, and also because of the need to raise more capital. At the close of the fiscal year approximately 17 percent of the total conversion had been completed. However, it is expected to complete the conversion during the next fiscal year. 12 ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS In St. Croix the conversion of the electrical energy in the two towns to 110 volts alternating current with the Rural Electrification Administration plant as the source of power, has been progressing satisfactorily. Large portions of both towns have already been changed over. It is expected that conversion will be completed during the next fiscal year. Social Welfare Since the passage of the territorial Social Welfare Act of 1943, welfare services have been organized on an insular basis, with two municipal departments as integral parts. Singleness of purpose and coordination of effort have resulted. The child welfare division of the insular department had its first full year of operation, financed in part by grants under title V of the na- tional Social Security Act. To improve the professional caliber of its services, this division has provided scholarships in professional social work to two Virgin Islanders who are under contract to return to the islands for staff assignments. The total of public assistance expenditures in St. Thomas for the fiscal year 1948 was $38,681.40. During that same period some assistance was provided in 425 cases. Grants to the needy averaged only $6.77 per case per month. During the year the supervision and control of the juvenile school for boys was transferred to the social welfare department, and assigned to the child welfare division. Six boys from St. Croix were admitted to the juvenile school under enabling legislation passed by both municipal councils. The Queen Louise Home for the Aged operated at its full, but Imiited, capacity of 20 inmates. The Corneiro Home, which was bequeathed to the municipality under a trusteeship, was opened under emergency conditions to admit 11 indigents who were desperately in need of shelter and care. However, proper repairs must be made before the home can be put into full use. By June 1948, the child welfare division in St. Croix had 206 children under its supervision. There were 141 at home with their parents, 38 in homes of relatives, 20 in foster homes, and 7 in institu- tions. During the year 469 needy persons received monthly grants averaging only $2.50 each. It is obvious that much more money is necessary in order to provide even minimum necessaries for the indigent in St. Croix. Tourism There have been favorable developments in tourism and related real-estate activity throughout the Virgin Islands. During the year two small hotels in St. Croix and one in St. Thomas were completed and placed in operation. In St. Thomas at the close of the fiscal year REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS -^ 1 3 plans were completed and ground cleared to start the immediate con- struction of a large hotel and 25 resort cottages. Efforts are also being made, in St. Thomas, to have a well-located site, recently re- turned from the United States Army to the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John, leased or sold outright for the development of additional tourist accommodations. The interest of visitors in St. Croix as a place to live gained considerable impetus. A number of old estates were purchased to be rehabilitated for personal use, and a few of them for development and resale.. A tourist development board created for the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John in 1947, has been active to the extent possible with limited financing during the fiscal year publicizing the islands, making arrangements for sightseeing tours, and entertaining visitors to the islands. Deactivated Military and Naval Property On December 31, 1947, the United States Navy removed its per- sonnel and ceased operations of the submarine base and the Marine Corps air facilities at Bourne Field in St. Thomas. At the same time, the United States Army ceased operations of the airport at Benedict Field, St. Croix. These properties and facilities were transferred to the respective municipalities of the Virgin Islands, where they are located, for use and operation. The Navy has retained the right to require the immediate return of the facilities in St. Thomas in event of a national emergency. The St. Thomas Development Authority was created by legislation to manage and operate the property and facilities at the submarine base and Bourne Field, including the public airport. The propert}^ has been made available for tourist development projects and com- munity facilities. Most of the facilities have been advertised for lease. The low cost housing division, Lindberg Beach area, and recreation hall at Bourne Field are being operated successfully by the development authority as a housing and recreational facility. In April 1948, the San Jose project, a permanent installation of the United States Army Chemical Service, was transferred to St. Thomas from Panama. Most of the former naval submarine base has been turned over to this Army project, as well as Fort Segarra at Water Island. Employment has been provided for about 200 civilians of the local community. Legislation The Eightieth Congress considered but failed to enact several bills of major importance to the Virgin Islands. After extensive hearings the Committee on Ways and Means refused to report to the House of Representatives the administration-supported bill to give to the 14 1^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Virgin Islands the revenue derived from United States internal- revenue taxes on Virgin Islands rum and other locally produced alcoholic beverages. Congress adjourned with this legislation, pro- posed as the financial foundation for vital improvement of local governmental services, still held in the House committee although it had passed the Senate a year earlier. A bill to recharter The Virgin Islands Company and to expand its functions of economic rehabilitation in the Virgin Islands passed the House, but unyielding Senate committee objection forced a compro- mise which served only to continue present operations of the Com- pany for 1 year. Even less consideration was accorded a bill to authorize the Vu'gin Islands to be represented in Congress by a non- voting resident commissioner as is done in the case of other territories and possessions. This measure failed to receive even committee approval in either House of Congress. Action on certain appropriations for the Virgin Islands was more favorable. Approximately $1,000,000 was appropriated for water- front development as part of the $10,000,000 Virgin Island postwar public-works program heretofore authorized by Congress. However, companion legislation to provide funds for badly needed dredging of the excellent natural harbor of St. Thomas was rejected by the House of Representatives. The critical financial plight of the local govern- ment after the defeat of the heretofore mentioned rum revenue bill was relieved in some measure by an appropriation of approximately $500,000 for general purposes of local government. A Building Code for the Virgin Islands was a principal enactment of the 1948 session of the local legislative assembly. This measure is essential to orderly and safe development during the period of postwar building and community expansion. In the area of political advancement the legislative assembly pro- vided for a referendum to be held at the November 1948 local elections on questions of basic importance in any revisions of the present Organic Act or Constitution of the Virgin Islands as passed by Con- gress in 1936. The voters are to be afforded an opportunity to ex- press their views on the merits of the present system of Presidential appointment of their Governor as contrasted with popular election. Various aspects of the suggested unification of the quasi-independent political districts of St. Croix and St. Thomas and St. John are also presented for referendum. Also deserving of mention are local enactments for public operation of the two Virgin Islands airports, for the retirement of municipal employees and for the transportation of veterans at public expense to the mainland for vocational and academic training. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ 1 5 Conclusion The American people are rapidly discovering the Virgin Islands. Such popular periodicals as Esquire, Holiday, Look, Saturday Evening Post, Town and Country, and Vogue are among those which have published Virgin Islands articles or have prepared materials for pub- lication during the last 12 months. The Sunday supplements and feature sections of many newspapers have publicized these islands. Visits of the President and other distinguished persons to the Virgin Islands have been featured in the press throughout the Nation. In these circumstances, it seems clear that large-scale tourism and business promotions of various types are ahead. Such increased interest in the community means greater responsibility on the part of the local citizenry and upon local and national government to safe- guard basic community values. The influx of large numbers of per- sons from the mainland for various purposes and with diverse ideas, some constructive and others hurtful to the community, is bound to bring problems which have not heretofore been acute because of our isolation. Opportunities and pitfalls are inevitable in a period of expansion and exploitation. The community and its leadership will be tested as never before to maintain values of character, integrity, and human dignity in the Virgin Islands. Passenger arrivals and departures, plane and boat, 1947 l6 ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Rainfall in inches, 19^7-48 ^ Month July 1947 August September,.. October November___ December... January 1948 St. Thomas 0.46 3.24 10.44 6.08 2.03 2.66 3.89 St. Croix 1.12 1.83 14.35 6.57 2.79 2.23 1.82 Month St. Thomas February... March April. May June Total 3.06 1.01 1.78 2.62 2.47 39.74 St. Croix 1.85 1.55 2.78 4.41 2.19 43.49 ' 1947-48 average for VirL'in Islands, 41 .62 inches. 10-year rainfall record Year REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ I7 Education statistics, 1947^48 Number of schools: Public Parochial Private Total - School population: Public Parochial Private Total. School enrollment: Grades 1 through 6_-- Grades 7 through 9._. Grades 10 through 12_ Total (public only) Number of pupils per classroom teacher: Rural elementary Urban elementary High school Average salary of teachers (public school) : Elementary High school Teachers' training: College trained- High school Others Total number of teachers. Total cost of education: Municipal appropriations.. . Federal appropriations Total. Cost of education per pupil in public schools Aid to college students School lunches: Number of schools participating Number of employees. Total salaries paid Total lunches served Average daily participation Amount contributed by participating children Amount contributed by municipalities: Cash contribution Other contributions Federal contributions: Cash Other Total cash contributions from Federal and municipal sources, and children. St. Thomas '13 1 4 1 2, 574 495 280 1.790 570 214 2,574 25 38 32 $1, 051. 91 $1,631.06 ' $161, 446. 53 5, 712. 96 167, 159. 49 $95. 46 $5, 664. 13 23 37 $18,207.85 400, 583 2,177 None $39, 918. 33 3 $5, 350. 00 $26, 582. 85 4 $12,000.00 $66,501.18 St. Croix 1,686 1,064 23 2,773 1,290 258 138 31 30 22 $819. 01 $1. 265. 43 $73, 320. 00 15, 513. 25 S, 833. 25 $57. 51 $1, 176. 50 10 10 $2, 384. 46 198,793 1,179 $3, 048. 72 $5, 084. 46 $4, 860. 00 $10, 384. 00 8, 517. 18 Virgin Islands 4,260 1,559 292 6,111 3, 080 828 352 $234, 766. 53 21,226.21 255, 992. 74 $6, 840. 63 33 47 $20, 592. 31 599, 376 3,356 $3, 048. 72 $45, 002. 79 $10,210.00 $36, 966. 85 $12, 000. 00 $85, 018. 36 1 Exclusive of kindergartens, of which there were 9 in St. Thomas and St. John with 10 teachers em- ployed, and a total enrollment of 288 children. 2 Does not include expenditures for school lunch service or kindergartens. Expenditures for kindergar- tens, $6,908.80. 3 Value of services and facilities contributed without charge by department of education and other local 3-SGTlCiGS. * "Free food." Value of commodities contributed without charge by the United States Department of Agriculture. 1 8 ^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Institutional statistics, department of health Beds Bassinets Average occupancy Peak occupancy Minimum occupancy Number of physicians Number of graduate nurses Average salary Average number of student nurses Average salary of student nurses Number of student nurses graduated. Other employees Total salaries Equipment Subsistence Main tenance Health project Average ration rate per day _ Total budget (municipal) Cost per patient per day Receipts (bills sent) Actual cash receipts Births in hospital Births out of hospital Deaths in hospital Adm!.ssions to hospital Sick days in hospital Admissions to clinic Dispensary treatments Christian- sted 73 12 47 69 25 3 11 $730. 92 5 $390 1 25 $23, 857. 34 $1, 721. 30 $12,027 $8, 264. 66 $0. 4275 $45, 957 $2. 85 $3, 493. 75 3 $4, 630. 30 104 88 50 1,293 16, 103 1,740 3,843 Frederik- sted 61 10 44 60 26 2 12 $765 7 $381. 43 2 25 $25, 273 $348. 10 0, 931. 73 $7,100 $0. 38 .$45, 778 $3.07 $3, 657. 25 108 28 45 1.248 14,900 560 6,647 Leper asy- lum (') 10 $3, 516 $238. 27 9, 014. 73 $4, 975 $0. 5875 $18,016 $1.49 1 2 12, 069 Kings Hill Home 126 132 129 4 $930 (') 24 $11,5.56 $365. 95 $17,376 $4, 463 $0. 3166 $34, 056 $0.73 31 44 46, 618 Charlotte Amalie 100 12 83 100 59 6 2 12 $1,200 10 $720 2 79 $72, 519. 20 $2, 200 $25, 000 $24, 500 $3, 600 $0.47 $127,819.20 $3.60 $15,941.27 $8, 252. 65 279 227 91 2,207 30, 541 9.092 32, 116 ' Part time. Including 3 paid from ?rant-in-aid funds. 3 Total for Christiansted and Frederiksted. Summary statement of Federal appropriations and grants-in-aid administered by government of Virgin Islands Title Annual appropriations: Central adm inistration Agricultural station. Virgin Islands Deficit appropriation, St. Croix Grants-in-aid to States and Territories; Tuberculosis control fund Venereal disease control fund General health control fund Maternal and child health services. Crippled children Child welfare Cancer control fund Mental health control fund Hospital construction 1947 1948 $228, 015 REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ^ I9 Import and export statistics Imports from the United States Animals and animal products, edible Animals and animal products, inedible Vegetable food products and beverages Vegetable products, inedible, except fiber and wood Textile fibers and manufactures Wood and paper Nonmetallic minerals Metals and manufactures, except machinery and vehicles Machinery and vehicles Chemicals and related products , Miscellaneous ' Total Total imports from foreign countries Grand total 1946 $841, 072 72, 339 1, 941, 567 420, 319 267, 316 339, 914 836, 261 554, 966 547, 385 368, 401 533, 374 6, 722, 914 1, 817, 392 8, 540, 306 $813, 763 106, 454 1, 694, 088 480, 122 270, 024 220, 108 869, 543 690, 134 768, 891 309, 415 779, 707 7, 002, 249 2. 029, 494 9, 031, 743 Exports to United States and Puerto Rico 1945 Cattle Other animals, edible Beef, fresh, chilled, or frozen Other animals, edible products Hides and skins Animals, inedible Coconuts in the shell Cane sugar Gin Rum Whisky Cordials, liqueurs Wood and manufactures Charcoal wood Perfumery and toilet waters including Bay Rum Containers Household and personal eflects All other articles Total Total exports to foreign countries Grand total _ $20, 572 761 54, 737 3,654 6,290 900 295, 630 , 127, 308 4,238 ,175,000 264,650 3,109 160, 775 4,117,624 238, 807 4, 356, 431 $33, 245 2,762 64, 140 5,904 8,674 2,110 374, 224 1, 435, 320 107, 775 4,311 371, 175 302, 778 2,742 952, 856 3,668,016 458, 075 $30, 132 704 46, 600 1,625 11, 435 1,612 70, 198 312, 395 1,010 343, 424 34, 376 144, 170 5,377 3, 098 1,649 304, 446 1.641 17, 473 1,331,365 852, 379 4, 126, 091 2, 183, 744 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1949