Executive Order 6621—Placing Certain Government Property Under the Control and Jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, Virgin Islands

Whereas by Executive Order No. 5566 of February 27, 1931, the administration of the government of the Virgin Islands, including expenditures and the appointment of personnel, was placed under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior; and

Whereas certain lands, buildings, and improvements at the Naval Station, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, as shown on P.W.O. drawing "D" attached to and made a part of Executive Order No. 5602 of April 20, 1931, and as hereinafter enumerated under class 1, which were acquired by the United States for naval activities are not for the time being needed for such uses and are available for temporary use in the administration of the government of the Virgin Islands, to wit:

Class 1

St. Thomas:
     (a) Storehouse (no. 4);
     (b) Machine shop and blacksmith shop (nos. 14 and 15);
     (c) Boiler house for marine railway (no. 16);
     (d) Marine railway (no. 17);
     (e) Boat sheds (nos. 18 and 19);
     (f) Water shed (no. 24);
     (g) Water tanks (nos. 25, 26, and 27);
     (h) Gasoline storage (no. 56); and

Whereas certain furnishings, hereinafter enumerated under class 2, which were acquired by the United States for naval activities are not for the time being needed for such uses and are available for use in the administration of the government of the Virgin Islands, to wit:

Class 2

     (a) All fire hose at the naval station;
     (b) All fire extinguishers;
     (c) All water pumps;
     (d) The remnants of the dredge and pile driver and other odds and ends stored in the gasoline storehouse;
     (e) The folding steel cots at present stored at the navy yard.

Now, Therefore, by virtue of and pursuant to the authority vested in me by the act of March 3, 1917 (ch. 171, 39 Stat. 1132), and as President of the United States, it is hereby ordered that all items above enumerated under class 1 be, and they are hereby, transferred temporarily to the control and jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior for use in the administration of the government of the Virgin Islands, upon condition that the premises shall be maintained in a state of good repair and returned to the control and jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy when required for naval uses. It is further ordered that all items above enumerated under class 2 be, and they are hereby, transferred to the control and jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior for use in the administration of the government of the Virgin Islands.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

The White House,
February 28, 1934.