Proclamation 503—Reservation of Lands in Puerto Rico

Whereas, by "An Act Authorizing the President to reserve public lands and buildings in the island of Porto Rico for public uses, and granting other public lands and buildings to the government of Porto Rico, and for other purposes," approved July 1, 1902, the President is authorized to make, within one year after the approval of said act, such reservation of public lands and buildings belonging to the United States in the Island of Porto Rico for military, naval, light-house, marine hospital, post offices, custom houses, United States Courts and other public uses as he may deem necessary, all public lands and buildings, not including harbor areas, navigable streams and bodies of water and the submerged land underlying the same, owned by the United States in said Island and not so reserved, being granted to the government of Porto Rico upon the condition that such government by proper authority, release to the United States any interest or claim they may have in or upon the lands or buildings reserved under the provisions of said act; and

Whereas, the government of Porto Rico, by an act of the Legislative Assembly of said Island entitled "An Act Authorizing the Governor of Porto Rico to convey certain lands to the United States for naval, military and other public purposes," approved February 16, 1903, has authorized the governor of Porto Rico to release any interest or claim that the people of said Island "now have or may hereafter acquire in and upon any lands or buildings belonging to the United States," for public uses under and by virtue of the power vested in the President under the terms of the act of the Congress above cited;

Now, Therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, by virtue of the authority in me vested, and in pursuance of said Act of the Congress, approved July 1, 1902, do hereby declare, proclaim and make known that the following described lands be, and the same are hereby, reserved.

For a public building site in the city of San Juan the following parcel of land. That certain tract or piece lying in a northerly direction from block number fifty-five of said city and southerly and westerly from block number ninety, the said tract being now vacant and containing an approximate area of one thousand by two hundred feet, --as appears by a map of San Juan, compiled in the office of the Bureau of Public Works, by A. Morales, in 1901.

For the use of the Marine hospital service, a parcel of land at San Juan lying next west of the north and south line of the eastern boundary line of the military reservation west of the first line of defense. near San Antonio bridge,--running three hundred feet front east and west along the so called military road and extending toward the north to the old stone ditch defense. For Custom House purposes:

The lots and buildings used and occupied as custom houses at Ponce, Mayaguez and Humacao and the right until otherwise ordered to the use of the lots and buildings within the Puntilla point at San Juan now used and occupied by the Custom authorities for custom house purposes in said city.

For light house and buoy purposes at San Juan:

Beginning at a point S. 45 deg. E., 8 ft. from corner of parapet; thence S. 45 deg. E., 7.9 ft; thence S. 7.9 ft.; thence S. 5 deg. E., 4.3 ft.; thence W., 10 ft., thence N. 45 deg. W. 108 ft.; thence N. 7 ft.; thence E. 5 ft.; thence N. 3 ft.; thence N. 45 deg. E, 7.9 ft.; thence E. 7.9 to point of beginning.

Contains 400 sq. ft.

The San Juan Bastion.

Beginning at S. E. cor. of bastion, thence N. 12 deg. 45 W., 36.5 ft.; thence along curb line S. 87 deg. 45 W., 104.5 ft.; thence S. 5 deg. 15 W., 39.5 ft.; thence S. 68 deg., E, 63.2 ft.; thence N. 61 deg. E.,63 ft., to point of beginning.

Contains 0.111 acre.

Land Adjacent to San Juan Bastion.

Beginning at the N. E. corner of San Justo Bastion, thence North 78 deg., 30 East, 86.4 feet; thence South 16 deg, East 41.7 ft.; thence South 39 deg., 45 West, 67.6 feet; thence South 88 deg. West, 91.6 feet; thence North 18 feet; thence North 61 deg. East, 63 feet; thence North 12 deg., 45 West, 32.5 feet; to point of beginning.

Contains 0.168 acre.

For Lamp Shop and Buoy Depot.

Beginning at a point in the centre of proposed street; South 75 deg., 56 East, 1356 feet from N. E. corner of Military Ovens and South 4 deg. 55 East, 505 feet from S. W. corner of Industrial School; thence North 4 deg. 37 East, 438 feet; thence North 83 deg., 20 West, 100 feet; thence South 4 deg. 37 West, 993 feet; thence South 85 deg., 23 East 100 feet; thence North 4 deg. 37 East, 555 feet to point of beginning.

Contains 2.28 acres.

Also for light house purposes at Cape San Juan, an area of 1.52 acres; also at Point Mulas an area of ground of 2.6 acres; also at Point Ferro an area of 1.15 acres; also at Point Tuna an area of 4.24 acres; also at Point Figuras an area of 1 acre; also at Muertos Island an area of 7.28 acres; also at Guanica an area of 1.06 acres; also at Cape Rojo an area of 8.66 acres; also at Point Jiguero an area of 2.46 acres; also at Point Borinquen an area of 1.66 acres; also at Arecibo an area of 7.9 acres, all as indicated on maps and plats prepared by the Light House Bureau of the Third Light House District of Porto Rico, which said maps and plats showing the areas reserved have been this day by me signed and ordered filed in the Department of State; Also for Light House purposes at Mona Island a tract of land at and about the present light house station consisting of the area which lies East of a North and South line 500 ft. to the westward of the centre of the present light house in said Island; also that Island lying south of Ponce known as Cardona Island.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 30th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and three, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-seventh.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

By the President:

FRANCIS B. LOOMIS,

Acting Secretary of State.