AGREEMENT AND STIPULATIONS BETWEEN THE WASHINGTON BIOLOGISTS’ FIELD CLUB, INC. AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
This agreement made this 5th day of March, 1959, by and between the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. and the United States of America.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, The United States Government has by condemnation proceedings, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Civil No. 10676 and by order of Court made the 24th day of June, taken possession of the defendant’s Washington Biologists’ Field Club, property designated in said proceedings as parcels “A” and “B” in tract no. 7, and
WHEREAS, This property was acquired by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. and has been used by the said Club as a natural wild area for scientific research for over 50 years and a great many scientific papers have been written in reference to biological and natural history discoveries made on said land and, more particularly, on that part of said land known as parcel “B” and more familiarly known as Plummers Island containing some 12.238 acres more or less, and
WHEREAS, The said Plummers Island has become among systematic biologists one of the world’s most famous collecting spots and type localities, and
WHEREAS, The discoveries have indicated the probability of new knowledge in the field of biology and natural history, and
WHEREAS, The fame of this island is world-wide and many scientific organizations are interested in its preservation as a source of discovery, and
WHEREAS, The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. and the United States Government desire to preserve this natural wild area as a sanctuary and scientific research preserve.
Therefore, The United States Government’s petitioner in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Civil No. 10676 and the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc., defendant, and the owner of said parcel of land known as parcel “B” containing some 12.238 acres more or less which said land is an island in the Potomac River and is more familiarly known as Plummers Island, do hereby stipulate and agree that the said parcel “B” be withdrawn from these proceedings and that the said Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. does hereby agree to deed the said island to the United States Government without monetary consideration reserving in said deed to the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc., the right to continue to maintain the island as a natural wild area and use it for scientific research and for meetings of the Club and to pursue its studies in the field of biology and natural history on the said island so long as the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. exists and desires to continue to use the island for scientific research and so long as the further provisions and stipulations contained herein are complied with which are as follows:
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. agrees to supply the National Park Service with copies of scientific papers resulting from research conducted on said island when available.
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. will supply the National Park Service with an annual report and will include the names and addresses of the officers, list of the members, and a summarization of the scientific investigations carried on.
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. will indemnify the United States against any loss or damage or injury due to the Club’s negligence or any of its members or guests in the use and occupancy permitted under this agreement.
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. shall maintain its building and facilities on the island or replace the same in orderly and safe condition without expense to the United States.
- No additional buildings, structures, or other physical facilities shall be constructed on the island by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. without first obtaining written approval of the National Park Service.
- It is further stipulated and agreed between the United States Government and the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. that the membership of the Club as constituted on I August 1958,
| Honorary Members:
Bartsch, Paul Active Members: Aldrich, John W. |
Johnson , David H. Kelson, Keith R. Killip. E. P. Krombein, Karl V. Leonard, Emery C. Lincoln, Frederick C. Linduska, Joseph P. Meehean, 0. Lloyd Morrison, J. P. E. Nelson, A. L. Oehser, Paul H. Parker, Kenneth W. Presnall, Clifford C. Reed, Theodore H. Russell, Paul G. Setzer, Henry W. Smith, Albert C. Smith, Lyman B. Sohns, Ernest R. Stevenson, James 0. Stewart, Robert E. Stickel, William H Swift, Ernest F. Uhler, F. M. |
Vogt, George B. Walker, Ernest P. Wetmore, Alexander Zahniser, HowardNonresident Members: Allan, Philip F. |
shall have the privilege of having their ashes placed on said island and a small bronze plaque in their memory placed on the stones of said island and that this privilege shall apply only to the membership as named above as it shall exist as of 1 August 1958.
- It is further stipulated and agreed that the United States Government will allow the membership of the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. to have access by foot over the land owned by the United States Government to the island at all times and whenever desired.
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. will be permitted to maintain and operate passenger-carrying ferry boats from and to the island which is to be for the exclusive use of the Club and its members and guests for access to the island.
- The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. will be permitted to erect and maintain a fence and gate at a suitable location to exclude the general public from the island, but the National Park Service is to be furnished keys to the lock or the National Park Service may provide its own lock if keys are delivered to the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc., and will also be permitted to clear the channel between the island and the Maryland shore to maintain a free flow of water therein.
- It is further stipulated and agreed that authorized agents and personnel of the National Park Service shall have access to the island and the right to take scientists to the island, but, in that event, the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. shall not be responsible for any injuries or damages resulting to said persons due to conditions upon said island provided said injuries or damages are not caused by negligence of the Club or by a failure on the part of said Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. to comply with the requirements of this stipulation.
- It is further stipulated and agreed that all rights accruing to the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc, or to any member thereof by reason of the provisions of this stipulation or any amendment thereto may be terminated if said Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. no longer exists or in the event after due written notice that the provisions of this stipulation and/or deed which will be executed following signing of this stipulation have been violated and continue to be violated by said Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. or its members, guests, employees, or servants for a period of time in excess of six months after receipt of said notice, and further in the event the island shall be no longer used for scientific research by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc. for more than two years then this stipulation and any like provisions of the deed to be executed conveying the property to the United States shall terminate.
- It is further stipulated and agreed that the United States may construct or permit the construction of needed nonrecreational public improvements upon the island or a portion thereof, which said improvements shall not be inconsistent with the uses to which the island has been dedicated by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc.
- It is further stipulated and agreed that this stipulation shall become effective after the filing and acceptance by the United States of a deed of conveyance containing the provisions outlined herein.
The United States of America
By: WILLIAM E. FINLEY
Director of the National
Capital Planning Commission
Condemning Authority
The Washington Biologists’ Field Club, Inc.
By: LLOYD W. SWIFT
President
1, Albert C. Smith, certify that I am the Secretary of the corporation named as party herein; that Lloyd W. Swift, who signed this contract on behalf of the party, was then President of said corporation; that said contract was duly signed for and in behalf of said corporation by authority of its governing body, and is within the scope of its corporate powers.
ALBERT C. SMITH, Secretary