, 1959-05-04
obstruction cost IS expected to Be

$500 kilowatts. The construction cost i. expected to be
about $~1,500,O00.
In the matter of vital airport and harbor improve
mentS, we recently accepted a grant offer of $1,060,5O0
from the Federal Aviation Agency for the construction of
a modern terminal and airport on the island of st. Croix.
The contract has been awarded. ST. Croix, therefore, is
now assured Of adequate and modern airport facilities.
As to the airport in ST. Thomas, you and | already
know the access and space problems connected with any
possible major enlargement of the landing strip here. 1T is
for that reason that a contract was awarded a few months
ago for an engineering survey Of another possible site for
a In modern air strip in ST. Thomas. The survey is now in
progress and when the report with recommendations is
available, we shall have the facts before us and we shall
be able to make an intelligent determination Of the action
to be taken to provide modern airport facilities in st.
Thomas
With regard to harbor improvements; we ae able to
report some favorable developments In regard to the con
Struction Of a pier at FrederikSted. The final engineering
plans have been completed and approved. shall present
more to you on this subject during the session. The pro-
ject for dredging the harbor of st. Thomas, originally
authorized by the Congress in 1887, has been revived and
considerable interest has been indicated by business lead
ers Of the island. The Governors Office is now engaged in
bringing up to date the facts, information and statistics
which were compiled in 1887 to justify the project, and it
is hoped that Congress will make an appropriation to
authorize q new survey.
In regard to a modern communication system, / be-
lieve that you will agree with me that the only way in
which we can have a new telephone system throughout
the islands is by sale of the present outmOded system to
private interests ana the granting OF q 1rancnlse Tor prl-
vate development and operation. Acting in conformity
with the authorization given the Governor by the Legis-
lature last year to advertise for sale the present system,
a survey was undertaken by experts Of the Department of
the Interior with the assistance Of the Rural E~lectriica-
ton Administration. This has resulted in the submission
Of a report of basic conditions and needs which you and
/ discussed at an informal conference quite recently. AS a
result Of this survey, we have advertised the system for
sale with the condition that prospective bidders shall I'M
der take to install modern dial telephone systems through
out the Virgin Islands. with adequate capacity for present
and for future needs. These bid proposals will be opened
on June IA, 1859. AS soon as they shall have been evalu-
ated by q competent e~vauaton board, shall call a special
session of the Legislature to consider the proposals. The
more expeditiously this can be done, the better it will be
for the advancement Of the economy Of the Virgin Islands.
/ think you know that the system which is now being
operated BY the Virgin Islands Government is not only
outmoded but cannot be expanded without the introduc-
ton OF major capital improvements which the Govern
1nent is not in a position to undertake..