Gi /MePanam CanalMhewm
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PANAMA i


CAN AL


Vol. 3, No. 5 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, DECEMBER 5, 1952 5 cents


DECISION


BY


BOARD


OF


DIRECTORS


ON


RENT


INCREASES


EXPECTED


EARLY


NEXT


WEEK


Future


President


And


First


Lady


Governor


Will Attend


Sessions V
Monday In


Vhich


Open


Definitive action on the pro-
posed increase of rents on U. S.-
rate employee quarters will be
taken early next week at the
quarterly meeting of the Board
of Directors of1 the Canal Cornm-


pany.
The Board
open Monday
nor Seybold


FOR THE FIRST TIME in its history the Canal
Zone will have one of its former residents in the
White House when President-elect Dwight D. Eisen-
hower takes office next month. He and Mrs.
Eisenhower lived at Camp Gallard on the west side
of the Canal from January 1922 to September 1924
while he was a Major in the Infantry.
The picture above was taken in front of the
Administration Building in August 1946 when they
revisited the Isthmus soon after his triumphal return
from the battlefields of Europe.
During his residence in the Canal Zone the Presi-
dent-elect was an ardent canoeist and the old Canal


The following is a hitherto unpublished incident of
the 1946 visit:
An informal invitation to make "another canoe trip
through the Canal" was extended to General Eisen-
hower by the late George W. Green, Municipal En-
gineer. Mr. Green was in New York at the time and
encountered the Eisenhowers as they were leaving
a theater. The General immediately recalled his
canoe trip and his association with Mr. Green in the
construction of a road to Camp Gaillard.
During his visit to the Isthmus Mr. Green presented
General Eisenhower with a swageer stick made from


sessions are scheduled to
in Washington and Gover-
left by plane this week


to attend the meeting. Before his de-
parture, the Governor said that he expects
to make an announcement as soon as the
board reaches a decision.
For the employees, the rent question
will be the most important item on the
agenda of the Board meeting, since
nothing of its nature has aroused such
widespread interest and debate in the
Canal Zone in many years.
Members of the Board of Directors will
have ample reading material on the sub-
ject on which to base their decision.
Recommendations of the Rent Panel have
been furnished each member in addition
to a complete transcript of the Panel
proceedings, consisting of more than 200
typewritten pages of verbatim testimony.
Create Better Understanding
Regardless of the final disposition of the
pat _ nmiao 4n n.,� 4fbiu y\ikH0 'l lvyr A


Washington


Ice
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THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


Study Resume

Electrical


Ad


On


Plans


For Conv

60-Cycle


rerting


Current


Decision


Board


Rent Increases


Early


Next


Week


DEEPLY ENGROSSED in rent schedules are and Mr. Wagner. Also a member of the group but
members of the Rent Panel shown above during their not shown in the picture above was Jack Rice, of the
visit to the Atlantic side to inspect employee quarters. Cristobal-Margarita Civic Council. This picture was
Left to right are: Dr. Ashton, Mr. Lovelady, Profes- taken during the inspection of quarters in New
sor Kaplan, Mr. Haskins, Mr. Randall, Mr. Burrows, Cristobal.
(Continued from page 1) Commu- given by Mr. Munro and Rufus M. Love-
nications, and Utilities Division, of the lady, National Vice President of the
Department of Commerce, and Orrin A. American Federation of Government Em-
Burrows, Assistant to the President of the ployees and Chairman of the Canal Zone
International Brotherhood of Electrical Emergency Legislative and Finance Corn-
Workers. mittee. Both Mr. Munro and Mr. Love-
Public Hearing Arranged lady read prepared statements and other-
The Panel hearings were decided upon wise participated actively throughout the
the latter part of October during a visit to hearings.
Washington by Governor Seybold. Also Assisting in the preparation of the case
in Washington at the time was Howard E. presented by the American Federation
Munro, Legislative Representative of the of Labor was W. C. Hushing, former
Central Labor Union-Metal Trades Coun- Panama Canal employee and for many
cil. The final plans were made after years Legislative Representative of the
irii, ennfnranop s lhnr e mo , ~t A. F. L. in Washington. Mr. Hushing


Studies are being resumed on plans for
converting the Canal Zone electrical sys-
tem to 60-cycle current, an allotment of
$30,000 having been made available for
this fiscal year.
The conversion project will require
several years for completion and it is
expected that it will be in the planning
stage for at least another 18 months.
Engineers familiar with the plans and
work required estimate that it will be at
least six years before the change from
25-cycle current can be completed.
During the preparatory period, plans
and specifications will be made with a
view to placing orders for the necessary
equipment by the beginning of the fiscal
year 1955, providing the necessary funds
are made available.
Several months of study on the con-
version were made on the proposal two
years ago but the project was abandoned
because of the expected scarcity of vital
materials.
The conversion project will involve the
replacement or rewinding of all generators
in the hydroelectric plants, replacement
of large transformers, and conversion or
replacement of both Government-owned
and private electrical equipment. It is
not presently planned to convert the
operating machinery of the Canal Locks
since this type of equipment operates
more efficiently with 25-cycle current, and
the locks' operation requires only about
four percent of the total power output.
Conversion Often Studied
Consideration of converting the elec-
trical system to 60-cycle current is an old
and often-discussed subject. Serious con-
sideration was given to the proposal in
the early 1930's during the construction
of Madden Dam and hydroelectric station.
The urgency of the problem lately has
been largely influenced by the increasing
difficulty of obtaining (See page 14)


employee in Balboa, volunteered a state-
ment as an individual. Mrs. Choate ap-
peared at the closing session and read a
statement on the rent and general living
conditions in the twelve-family apartment
*^ *1 �


System





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Lower Fire Insurance

Rates Are Announced
At November Meeting

A substantial reduction in fire-insurance
rates on personal property in the Canal
Zone has been made by one insurance
firm as a result of conferences with Canal
officials, Governor Seybold announced
at the November Governor-Employee
Conference.
The Governor expressed the hope that
other firms will follow the lead in reducing
rates. The reduction was made in view of
the exceptionally low fire losses reported
in the Canal Zone.
The November meeting was one of the
shortest since the conferences between
Canal administration officials and repre-
sentatives of employee groups were ilsti-
tuted more than two years ago.
For the first time in several months
there was no question or discussion on
rents although Governor Seybold took the
occasion to express his satisfaction at the
manner in which the rent hearings were
conducted.
Panel Hearings Praised
"I thought it was the best conducted
panel hearing of which I have ever had any
personal knowledge," Governor Seybold
stated. He said he thought the hearings
were conducted in an eminently fair man-
ner and he complimented both Govern-
ment and employee representatives on
their presentation of material for the
panel's consideration. His statement was
made after Rufus Lovelady, of the Ameri-
can Federation of Government Employ-
ees, asked and was given permission to
reproduce the transcript and exhibits of
the rent hearings for the various organiza-
tions of the Canal Zone Emergency Legis-
lative and Finance Committee, of which
he is Chairman.
Most of the subjects discussed at the
November conference were of a continuing
nature and the Governor reported what
has been done on about ten problems
which had been under consideration at
previous meetings.
Group health insurance, furloughs, in-
creased hospital and medical services,
quarters' assignments, the problem of
cashing Canal Company checks in the
jl J ^ C4-n4'/�rt ^L A ^4-.n-l-�j-� ^.� X�.��->A�A ^-


Local


Traditions
During


UNCONVENTIONAL as the choice may be, this
offshoot of a South Pacific tree family is scheduled
to appear again this year in the role of "official"
Canal Christmas tree. Local tradition has proven
Christmas catches the Canal Zone
every year about this time.
Little musicians in the schools and
adults in other circles start tuning their
instruments and trying their vocal cords
on the "Messiah" and other Christmas
music that will be shared with audiences
at choral and instrumental programs
during the holiday season,.
Plays and pageants will be the thing at
other Christmas performances.
Budding young artists in the schools
are pondering art and craft principles in-
volved in making Christmas cards and
gifts to be given to their elders. The
youngsters are also viewing Nativity


Reappear
Christmas


Season


that the Pandanus at the Balboa Railroad Station
looks as good in colored lights and plays the part
just as well as possibly more proper northern pine
Christmas trees.
ties, open to view from several directions,
not too big and not too little, and dark
green in color and properly cone-shaped
like more conventional Christmas trees.
While it is decked out by the Electrical
Division with colored lights for its holiday
role, other branches of the pandanus tree
family back home in the South Pacific
will be bearing another kind of fruit far
removed from Christmas baubles.
Newcomers' Pineapple
Some of its cousins in the South Pacific
islands have a nutty tasting fruit that
looks like a pineapple minus its green top.
The islanders call the tree "newcomers'
V\.W^f~e\V\V~ f^' ^ r/f r 11/* rt j"*4 L -,j nj-fL*� m - .1.. a




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


Tourist

With


Season

Arrival


Will

OfN


ew


Cru


December

ise Ship'


29

"Maasdam


... / "


S - ..-. I
'- * > ii':
.*hL *Jlft *^-,
Bi .1


ONE OF THIS YEAR'S cruise ships to transit the
Canal will be the SS Caronia of the Cunard Line.
The 715-foot liner, distinctive with her hull painted
in various shades of green and her bright-red funnel,
has made six previous trips to Canal ports. In 1949,
her first season, she called at Cristobal four times on
Men who like to look at ships and
women who like to see what well-
dressed tourists are wearing will have
ample opportunity to satisfy their desires
this coming dry season.
The tourist season begins on December
29 with the arrival of the new Maasdam,


sister ship of the Holland
which opened last year's
Between December 29
when the Canadian Pac:


Line's Ryndam
tourist season.
and March 18,
ific's 26,000-ton


p n .1 1 * I im


impress of Scotlana wins up the cruise
season, 18 shiploads of tourists will have
visited the Canal Zone. In addition, there
will be the regular passenger runs of the
Pacific Steam Navigation's Reina del
Pacifico, the United Fruit Company ships,
the Grace Line's vessels, and the ships
which run regularly through the Canal
back and forth to New Zealand.
Several new ships will visit the Canal
Zone this year and others will be making
their first call at local ports.
New Visitors
New visitors will be the Maasdam, the
Furness Bermuda Line's Queen of Bermuda


Caribbean cruises. In 1950, she was again on a
Caribbean cruise, and in 1951 she was southbound
through the Canal, carrying 214 passengers on an
around-the-world cruise. This year she is to cruise
around South America. She has a registered gross
tonnage of 34,183.
in Cristobal at 8:30 o'clock the morning
of February 8. She will sail at midnight
the same day.
She has a normal service speed of 23
knots and accommodations for 1,250 pas-
sengers in three classes. The ship is air
conditioned throughout. Each class has
its own public rooms, a movie and swim-
ming pool, covered promenades, and open
spaces for games and sports.
The Maasdam, "identical twin of the
Ryndam," has a registered gross tonnage
of 15,014.19. Built for the tourist trade,
she is 503 feet overall, has eight decks
and, with the exception of a limited
number of first class accommodations, she
is tourist class, with a tourist capacity of
842 of which 60 percent will be in two-
berth rooms. She is completely air condi-
tioned. Like her sister ship, the Maasdam
has a specially designed funnel which
keeps soot and ashes from being deposited
on the decks.
"Queen Of Bermuda" Coming
The Queen of Bermuda, grossing 22,550
tons, will be another first-time visitor


Begin


' ".* * '. /'' .^'
* ' * . '**
***
:*'


LOCAL TRADITIONS REAPPEAR
DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON
(Continued from page 3) which are flood-
lighted at night.
The employee committee which is in
charge of all these Christmas activities is
headed this year by Richard L. Penning-
ton, an operator at the Locks.
SSanta Claus Lane
Oleander Place, a short street in Balboa,
will play this year the traditional role
that has given it the name "Santa Claus
Lane." Residents there get together each
year to work out large outdoor displays
that have made their street the place to
go to see Christmas decorations.
The Canal will not want for other
Christmas trees. The Commissaries will
have about 14,000 that are expected on
the Panama Line ship that arrives Decem-
ber 15. They will be balsam firs from
northern New York, where they are
planted and grown solely as a Christmas
industry.
The trees will be stacked at the At-
lantic and Pacific side toy centers where
purchasers can take their choice. Or, if
the trees are ordered in advance, they will
be delivered to homes as in former years.
"Messiah" Planned
Musical programs that go into the
making of the Canal Zone Christmas tra-
dition will include the second annual
presentation of the Canal Zone Commu-
nity Chorus. This choral group of stu-
dents and adults will present Handel's
"Messiah" in the Balboa High School
Library.
Balboa High School will have its annual
program of choral and instrumental music
on the steps of the high school building
and the Balboa Junior High School also
will present a Christmas music program.
On the Atlantic side, the Cristobal
Junior and Senior High Schools will have
a joint program of Christmas music.
La Boca and Rainbow City Occupa-
tional High Schools will have musical
programs and pageants.
The elementary schools also will have
various types of Christmas programs.
Other practical or ever-present aspects
of the local Christmas tradition include
the expected Commissary and Clubhouse
crush of late and last-minute Christmas
business; the booming business in cards
and packages that go through Canal Zone
postoffices; housewives' concern with
turkey and trimmings and other details of
L j^1 jJ.4 i J._ . . C *..' n -re ..-_ J --~ nf AA *L. I i, �* f t. i�f--* l


E


I






December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


FOR YOUR INTER


T A
SI-s


Management,


IDENT


Supervision,


PREVENTION


And


Safety


In a previous issue, the SAFETY ZONE
gave a condensed version of an article by
the National Safety Council on the char-
acteristics of an "accident-prone worker."
Now we give a version of what they have
to say about the boss.
In the Canal Zone Government-Panama
Canal Company organization, most U. S.-
rate employees are usually some kind of
boss. They may not be in charge of a
bureau or division, but many are in charge
of a shop or gang, or only have an assistant.
Since each boss has a boss over him, then
he becomes a worker in turn, and could also
have the characteristics of the "accident-
prone individual" described previously.
There are also local-rate bosses among the


HONOR


ROLL


Bureau Award For
BEST RECORD
October
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
BUREAU


AWARDS THIS CALENDAR
Community Services ---......-..--


YEAR
---- -


Civil Affairs


Engineering and Construction ....-- --


Industrial ......
Health ..........


-- ------------------


Marine _.s. .. ..
Railroad and Terminals......
Supply and Service_.......


Division Awards For
NO DISABLING INJURIES
October
MAINTENANCE DIVISION


local-rate employees, so what the National
Safety Council has to say about bosses
applies to all these people.
The extent to which an individual is
influenced by others depends upon how
important they are to him. It has been
found that the average worker spends about
one half of his waking hours on the job and
it means more to him than just earning his
bread and butter. Since his job is then a
very important and vital part of his life,
the boss becomes one of the most important
people in his life. How the boss thinks,
feels, and acts determines in a large degree
how the employees under him think, feel,
and act.
The boss, as the immediate supervisor of
the workers, is the medium through which
* . S .


- management carries out its policies and
production. If top management selects a
typical straw boss, loud, cursing, bawling
out his workers for the least little thing,
belittling their work and persons in front of
others, trying to establish by force that he
is the boss, then he is sure to have trouble.
His workers will do nothing on their own,
and eventually his best workers will resign,
leaving only the "apple polishers" and such
workers as the "accident-prone individuals."
Some workers often appear indifferent to
the point of having an accident just to spite
the boss, somewhat as little children think
when their parents have scolded them.
If any part of management impulsively
5 institutes new policies without explaining
the whys and wherefores, and procrasti-
3 nates min attending to those things which
3 make for efficiency and safety, then the
workers become resentful, frustrated, and
3 develop a tendency to worry about their
1 jobs and security.
o Because of the resulting emotional upset,
they become less skillful and mindful in
o performing their jobs, with injuries as the
0 possible result. It is evident that such a
one-side viewpoint of pushing only the
wishes of management at the expense of
neglecting the human element will result in
management having a labor problem with
a definite increase in their accident rate.
If we are to expect safety consciousness
and safe operation among our workers,
their management and supervision must do
their part. Experience has taught the im-


portant fact that safety and supervision are
inseparable. A good safety record is not
possible without good supervision.
The National Safety Council says it is
rather a common practice for the managers
and bosses to delegate the responsibility for
safety into the laps of its safety engineers.
Responsibility for safety cannot be dele-
gated in such a manner, any more than man-
agement would delegate production also to
the Safety Engineer.
Safety engineers are important in carry-
ing out the wishes of management as to
ways and means to promote safety, but they
cannot assume all the essential functions of
management. The National Safety Coun-
cil found the accident rate to be in direct
proportion to management's interest in the
total problem of working with people. You
as a boss, no matter where you are on the
ladder of management, are the key person
to the success of any accident prevention
program.
It is then to the best interest of manage-
ment to see that the workers have the right
kind of bosses with the following char-
acteristics:
1. He must be interested personally in
every worker.
2. He must be willing to take the time
to be a teacher.


3. He
his ego.


aims


to build good workers, not


4. He must know his job, but not know
it all.


5. He may be tough, but he


is fair.


6. He never fails to keep a promise.
7. He must not only have his door open,
but have the welcome mat out at all times.
8. He must be willing to do everything
possible to settle every grievance as soon
as possible.
9. He must be ready as a leader to as-
sume personal responsibility when one of
his workers pulls a boner.
10. He must assume personal responsi-
bility for his own boners.
From this, it is evident that the boss,
who has the good points described above,
also will have a well-run and efficient group
of workmen with a good safety record and
very few lost-time injuries among the
employees under his supervision.


DREDGING DIVISION


--





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


ew


Coded


By


Circuit


Railroad


Supe


Developed

rvisor Of


Signals


The seven-mile stretch of Panama Rail-
road tracks between Frijoles and Monte


Lirio will be equipped early next
with an automatic signal system v
will represent a savings of many
sands of dollars by the elimination o
use of costly cables.
Heart of the new system is a
pocket contraption consisting of a
tricate system of relays powered by
age batteries and rectifiers which
control all signals on that section of t
The rails themselves are used as the
ductor for the electrical impulses
trolling the signals. Formerly both c
and rails were used.
The new system has been devise


year
which
thou-
f the

vest-
n in-
stor-
will
rack.
.con-
con-
ables


dbv


the Railroad's Supervisor of Signals,
Robert S. Wood, who spent two months
of about as intensive study and work as
would be possible on a project. During
that time he gave up practically every-
thing except his meals to fit the jigsaw
pieces of electrical equipment together in
workable fashion. Among other things
he gave up his hobby of a small weekly
poker game with a few intimate friends.
Often Awakened At Night
While he was at work on the new
system he would often wake up during
the night when some idea as to an ar-
rangement or rearrangement of the relay
circuits would occur to him. On such
occasions he would not take the chance
of forgetting the idea during a few more
hours of sleep but would put the idea
down on paper and test it out the
following day.
On two or three occasions he had the
circuits where they would work but not
in a manner satisfactory to him nor in a
manner which he thought would provide
the utmost in flexibility.
The average person would call the new
automatic signal system an invention but
Mr. Wood modestly says it is only an
adaption of principles and equipment al-
ready in use. The system itself is known
as a coded track system, which means
that the electrical impulses controlling
the railroad signals are transmitted by
the rails.
A -.L .^11-- i.L _ D ......... T 'I- ... -1 *_ _1


THIS COMPLICATED SYSTEM of relays and
batteries will control the signal system on the seven-
mile stretch of Panama Railroad tracks between
Frijoles and Monte Lirio when it is installed next
month. It is known as a coded track system and its
for trains meeting or following each other
within the same block.
The latest circuit arrangement is com-
plicated by the functions it must perform
and an explanation of what it does or how
it works is more complicated that the
maze of relays and wiring used to make
it work.
Explanation Of Functions
The following briefly summarizes, in
Mr. Wood's own words, what the new
system is and how it will work when
installed:
"The Panama Railroad has eight
sidings between Colon and Panama where
trains may meet or pass each other. At
each end of these sidings are two signals.
One of the signals at each end protects
the limits of the sidings, and the other
two signals protect the track between
adjacent sidings. About a mile away
from the sidings there is another set of
signals, one of which indicates an ap-
proaching train, the condition of siding


operations are being explained to Governor Seybold
and A. C. Medinger, Railroad and Terminals Direc-
tor, (left) by its designer, Robert S. Wood, Supervisor
of Signals, (center). Mr. Wood worked day and
night for two months to develop the system.
throughout the distance between sidings."
Current Is Short Circuited
When a train enters a section of clear
track controlled by the coding apparatus,
its wheels and axles short circuit the rails.
This automatically prevents the electrical
impulses from returning from the coded
track section. The latter causes the auto-
matic signals to display stop indicators
to trains approaching in the opposite
direction.
Protection against following trains is
provided by shorting out the "leaving"
impulses through the rear wheels and
axles. Under the new system, this will
provide for a stop indicator to appear on
the signal immediately back of the train
and a caution signal to be displayed
only after the train has passed the second
signal entering the section or block.
Thus, the train is protected with stop
signals throughout the block in front and
two red signals immediately back of the
train. When the caution signal is dis-


Track


I





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Official
Panama Canal Company Publication
Published Monthly at
BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE
Prinud bu tA Printing Plant
Mount Hope, Canaltoni
JOHN S. SEYBO, Governor-President
H. O. PAXSON, Lieutenant Governor
E. C. Lo0 AD, Executive Secretary
J. RUrus HARDY, Editor
ELEANOR H. MCILHENNY
OLEVA HASTINGS
Editorial Asaistanta
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters containing inquiries, suggestions,
criticisms, or opinions of a general nature
will be welcomed. Those of sufficient interest
will be published but signatures will not be
used unless desired.
SUBSCRIPTIONS-$ 1.00 a year
SINGLE COPIES--5 cents each
On sale at all Panama Canal Clubhouses,
Commissaries, and Hotels for 10 days after
publication date. ____
SINGLE COPIES BY MAIL-10centseach
BACK COPIES-10 cents each
On sale when available, from the Vault
Clerk, Third Floor, Administration Building,
Balboa Heights. __
Postal money orders should be made pay-
able to the Treasurer, Panama Canal Com-
pany, and mailed to Editor, THE PANAMA
CANAL REVIEW, Balboa Heights, C. Z.


Six United States Representatives
delegate to Congress from Alaska are
uled to visit the Canal Zone this mon
Rep. H. R. Gross, Republican of
with his wife and son will be the first
visitors, arriving December 8 on the
Ancon.
The following week, Rep. Frank E. S
Democrat of Mississippi, and Mrs.
will visit, arriving December 15 o
S. S. Panama.
The remainder of the visitors are


and a
sched-
th.
Iowa,
of the
.5. S

mith,
Smith
n the
sched-


uled to sail on the S. S. Cristobal, arriving
December 22. They are: E. L. Bartlett,
Delegate to Congress from Alaska, Mrs.
Bartlett, and their two daughters; Rep.
Clyde Boyle, Democrat of California, and
Mrs. Boyle; Rep. Harold C. Hagen, Repub-
lican of Minnesota, and Mrs. Hagen; Rep.
Carroll D. Kearns, Republican of Pennsyl-
vania, and Mrs. Kearns; and Rep. H. O.
Talle, Republican of Iowa, Mrs. Talle, and
their daughter.

More than 1,500 names were put in
the spinmning cage which was used for
the drawing for low automobile license
numbers for 1953 which was held
November 24 and 25 at the Civil Affairs
Building in Ancon.
License applications made by several
score of others were ineligible for the
drawing and were returned to the appli-
cants because the forms were not filled
out properly or were incomplete.
The license plates issued as a result
of the drawing are numbered from 21
through 1527.
Low numbered licenses formerly
were acquired on a first-come, first-
served basis, with early bird applicants
sometimes waiting at the License Sec-
tion as long as 48 hours before the doors
were opened on the first day the new


Send


CHRISTMAS


GIFT


FRIENDS


More
CANAL


than


1,000


REVIEW


former


regularly.


ANE
Cana
There


SUBSCRIPTIONS
n r- A Tr3 irr


K.Lf 1. I Y r'3
employees noc
are several th<


w receive
ousand o


others


p
I
I


1A~ wnnl mtJ wairama it no n Ckricsmno fl~ A* J~n rfiva nrd^nr~l


plates were issued.
The drawing for low numbers was
proposed by and was conducted with
the assistance of the Civic Councils.
Thomas Lutro, an employee of the
Locks Division, received License No. 21
for the coming year. The winners of
numbers 22, 23, 24, and 25 were: Wil-
liam P. Pfleger, John F. Voss, Benja-
min S.Chisholm, and Warren A.Gramly.


The former Ancon Police Station, va-
cated early in September when police
activities there were transferred to the
Balboa Station, has now been occupied by
the Ancon Kindergarten.
The second floor of the building will
serve as a girls' dormitory for the Canal
Zone Junior College.
The move provided greatly needed addi-
tional space for the kindergarten which
now has about 65 students, about double
the number enrolled last year.
The second floor will provide living quar-
ters for about six girls and their house-
mother. There has been no regular girls'
dormitory for the College since the old
Balboa Police Station was demolished in
August 1951, the upper story of which had
served as dormitory space. Since that
time non-resident girls attending the Col-
lege have been provided accommodations
on a special student basis at the Tivoli
Guest House.

The semiannual review of rates of
pay for the Craft and Craft Supervisory
Sub Group based on average wages m
the nine United States Naval Shiapyard
area wage schedules resulted in pay
increases ranging from two to eight


cents an hour for
The semiannual
in increases of 22,
hour, respectively,
employees who are
terman, and Chief


:raft employees.
review also resulted
27, and 32 cents an
for craft supervisory
Leadingman, Quar-
Quarterman.


The adjustments in the supervisory
rates provide for three within-step rates
in each designation allowing for pro-
motion to the next higher step on the
basis of certain time requirements in
each step and the recommendation of
the bureau director or division head.
In applying the new supervisory
rates and promotional requirements,
all supervisors who have completed 26
weeks in their supervisory rating, have;
been placed in the third step and for
promotion to the fourth, or merit step,
supervisors will have had to complete
a minimum of 78 weeks in their present"
supervisory rating and by recommend-
ation by the bureau director as having
demonstrated superiority in their work.
The pay adjustments became effec-
tive November 9.


OF CURRENT INTEREST





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


Determination


Reason


Of


For


Amateur


Miraflores


Astronomers


Observatory


The Canal Zone has a Miraflores Ob-
servatory for astronomical observations
because James A. Hess was an amateur
astronomer and a very determined man.
He wangled the telescope that started
it all, then, with other equally earnest
amateurs, endowed the Observatory into
which it grew with a unique public service
tradition.
The Observatory will be open to the
public on Friday and Sunday nights
during the dry season, starting about
January 1 and continuing to the first
of May.
Those who take advantage of the lec-
tures and equipment to learn about the
heavens can thank their stars and dedi-
cated local astronomers for the celestial
sights and information they receive.
The telescope through which visitors
look was maneuvered from the Navy
with the sometimes unknowing and prob-
ably surprised assistance of former
Governor Burgess.
The building and equipment and
periodic repairs come to present day
visitors courtesy of ordinarily reluctant
Canal units from which they were
formerly wangled.
Dailey And True
The astronomical information visitors
now receive is provided by Earl O. Dailey,
Supervisory Construction Electrical En-
ineer, or Clarence H. True, Valuation
Engineer of the Plant Inventory and
Appraisal Staff.


Although the lecturers now receive a
nominal sum as fee teachers for the
Junior College, their work in keeping the
Observatory open is primarily a labor of
love, performed in the public service tra-
dition established by the Observatory's
early backers.


The former anomalous status of Mira-
flores Observatory as a privately pro-
moted public institution has now given
place to a more secure position as a unit
within the Schools Division, but it re-
mains a monument to the tenacity and
purpose of earnest local astronomers.
The telescope was acquired in a single-
handed coup maneuvered by Mr. Hess,
who retired in 1938 as a towing locomotive
operator at Pedro Miguel Locks and now
lives in Callao, Va.
Oliver Bullock made all the calcula-
tions for the proper orientation of the
telescope. He retired in 1946 as Elec-
trical Supervisor at Pacific Locks and
now lives in San Diego, Calif.


Studies Led To Maps
Mr. Bullock also drew a series of star
maps for this hemisphere that eventually
were incorporated, as a result of many
requests, into a booklet, "Panama Even-
ing Skies." Copies of his maps have been
used for most astronomical observations
made on the Isthmus.
Mr. Dailey and Mr. True worked with
Mr. Hess and Mr. Bullock from 1934
until the latter retired and left the Isth-
mus and since that time have taken


Nex
Hess,
ington
quest


- - 4' 4~-


:t in the files is a cable from Mr.
apparently on vacation in Wash-
, asking Governor Burgess to re-
the Naval Observatory there to


weekly turns to keep the Observatory
open to the public. They were all moving
spirits in the former Canal Zone Astro-
nomical Society which flourished from
1929, when it was founded by Mr. Hess,
to the beginning of World War II in
December 1941.
Mr. True's knowledge of astronomy
grew from an original interest in naviga-
tion, a unique theory of which he ex-
pounded in a book, Navigation and
Astronomic Data, published in 1943.
Mr. Dailey became interested in as-
tronomy through the activities of the
former astronomical society and went on
from there to study for himself to gain his
present knowledge of the subject.
Worries Of Wartime
A bright spot that continued to appear
in the sky within range of observers at a
wartime United States base in Costa Rica
caused enough worry that Mr. Bullock,
Mr. Dailey and Mr. True were called on
to help explain the phenomenon. The
uneasiness about the strange object had
increased considerably when someone
thought he saw a basket hanging from it.
The local astronomers went to Costa
Rica-a nice junket as they describe it-
and identified immediately the cause of
alarm as the harmless planet Venus,
which shows up in the daytime as well as
at night as a bright spot in the sky.
The acquisition of the equipment and
building that is now Miraflores Observa-
tory is a sly little tale as it unfolds in
official correspondence in yellowing Pan-
ama Canal files.
It started in March 1928 with an un-
recorded conversation between Mr. Hess
and former Governor Burgess, to which
the Governor referred in a letter of some
urgency sent to Mr. Hess at shipside.
The Governor pronounced an official
blessing on the establishment of a local
astronomical society and said "such
assistance as may be practicable" would
be rendered the organization.
Telescope Wanted


l





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


A. fliH.. W ''* .
. 3"KI*.t'. -*.


MIRAFLORES OBSERVATORY, overlooking Miraflores Locks, is up a hill from the Miraflores
Filtration Plant. The Observatory building shown here was completed in 1930.


wh.re he obtained a letter from the Super-
intendent advising that "it would be
agreeable" to state in any loan request
that "it was understood" that there was
available for loan to the Canal Zone
Government a five-inch equatorial. . .
Mr. Hess had also told the Chief of
Office that he understood the Governor
was willing to make such a request. So
the Chief of" Office had written, for the
Governor's signature, a letter asking the
Secretary of the Navy for the loan of
the telescope.
The Secretary of the Navy granted the
Governor's request for the equatorial and
directed the Naval Observatory to turn
the telescope over to Mr. Hess, who then
authored more cables directed to the
Governor requesting free transportation
for the acquisition.
The telescope was first set up at Mr.


Hess's home at Pedro Miguel where it
remained while officials pondered the
question of a suitable "shelter."
It was finally decided that the necessary
$1,000 for a building to house the tele-
scope should come from Clubs and Play-
grounds funds since it would provide
employees entertainment-a solution that
apparently pleased everyone except Clubs
and Playgrounds officials.
Observatory Built
The masonry building that houses the
telescope, was completed in June 1930. It
is located on a hill overlooking Miraflores
Locks at latitude 9 degrees and 15 seconds
North and longitude 79 degrees, 35
minutes, and 51 seconds West. It is a
circular building, 14 feet in diameter,
equipped with a mobile dome that travels
on a circular track for observations of


all points of the compass.
The hard-come-by telescope is a re-
fractor type on an equatorial mounting
which gives local hour angle readings to
the nearest second and declination read-
ings to the nearest tenth of a minute. The
objective lens is five inches in diameter
and the magnifying power is about 150,
depending on the diameter of the eye-
piece used.
Seating Forthcoming
A paragraph concerning the desir-
ability of seating for the Observatory's
growing public later was tacked on at the
bottom of one of Mr. Hess's periodic
reports to the Governor concerning
educational activities at the Observatory.
The words had their effect and the seats
were forthcoming from a not-too-enthu-
siastic Canal unit. So it went with most
of the things-usually small ones, to be
sure-needed by Miraflores Observatory.
The public enthusiasm shown for the
Observatory throughout its 22 years of
existence has amply justified the tenacity
and purpose of those who begged aid


borrowed
In 193
estimated
ance has
Students,


it into existence.
7 the number of visitors was
at about 12,000 and attend-
remained high to the present.


fr


primary


grades to


junior college level, have always formed
one of the largest groups of Observatory
visitors.
Public attendance on the nights the
Observatory is open during the dry season
is usually large and can easily overtax the
available accommodations.
Lecturers discourage too much adver-
tisement of the Observatory's attractions
because of its popularity. They recall a
time that a small newspaper notice
brought out a crowd of about 300, entirely
too many for hearing or seating or a look
through the telescope.


Forty


Years


Ago


November


NEW


VALUATION


ENGINEER


Panama Canal hero Theodore Roose-
velt won in the Canal Zone but lost in the
United States in November elections. In
the real United States elections his Pro-
gressive Party split the potential Repub-
lican vote between him and William
Howard Taft and elevated the Demo-
cratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, to the
Presidency.
In the Canal Zone, the mock elections
in Isthmian Canal Commission club-
hnni aQ warn nvnlainna Alv ThA PanamT


cargo carrying merchant vessels, $1.20 per
net vessel ton-each 100 cubic feet-of
actual earning capacity; (2) Vessels in bal-
last without passengers or cargo, 40 percent
less than the rate for passenger or cargo
carrying vessels; (3) Naval vessels, other
than transports, colliers, hospital ships, and
supply ships, 50 cents per displacement
ton; and (4) Army and Navy transports,
colliers, hospital ships and supply ships,
$1.20 per net ton. The Secretary of War
would vrevare and prescribe the rules of





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


Square


Dancers


Do


Their


Dosey-Does


In


Five


Canal


Zone


Dance


Groups


FOLK AND SQUARE dancing music and calls aren't paced for


sissies-as


proven by these Canal Zone dancers pictured at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Balboa


Folks within hollering distance-a good
loud holler-of the Ancon Playshed on
Friday nights or the Margarita Gymna-
sium on Thursday nights know that local
square dancers, their pianists, and callers
all go at it like thunder.
The Promenade Club on the Pacific side,
which meets at the Ancon Playshed, the
Dosey-Doe-ers, Atlantic side group which
dances at Margarita, and the Star
and Circle Club, composed of advanced
dancers from both groups and both sides
of the Isthmus, keep themselves and
their dance places jumping with lively
folk, square, and figure dancing.
The "ladies go gee" and "gents go
haw" and they "swing their maw and


they swing their paw-and don't forget
to swing grandmaw" and "Dosey-doe"


up in a state dancing contest and had
taught dancing in Denver in recreation
organizations and classes.
The original square dancers on the
Isthmus formed the Promenade Club in
1941 although dances had been held at
individual homes several months before.
Promenade Club members, dispersed to
the Atlantic side in the transfer of the
Mechanical Division, formed in 1950 the
group that calls themselves the "Dosey-
Doe-ers."
Both groups are as friendly and demo-
cratic as the Old West in which their


dancing developed. Any newcomer who
wants to join their weekly dancing ses-
sions is taught or pulled through in a
friendly fashion as many dances as he
chooses to take part in.


work,


follow


them


through


the dance


formations.
Several young men and women who
came to the Friday night dancing sessions
as newcomers and strangers have since
become man and wife.
As teacher, Mr. Graham was also caller
when Canal Zone dance gatherings were
started. Then other callers learned the
business, memorizing the patter that tells
the dancers what to do and keeps them
all together.
Callers-Young And Older
Wesley H. Townsend, Surveying and
Cartographic Engineer Supervisor in the
Surveys Branch of the Engineering Divi-
sion, was the second regular caller for the
Friday night dances of the Promenade





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Lower Fire Insurance Rates Are
Announced At November Meeting


cotinut from page s) their members
were generally min favor of requiring li-
ability insurance, to which the Governor
said that it was a question which has
aroused much debate in the United States.
He expressed the belief that the various
organizations represented should take the
initiative and determine if the general
public desires compulsory insurance.
S. J. Garriel, of Plumbers' Local 606,
requested information on the Canal's
policy on furloughs and whether some of
the quarters construction work could not
be done by force account to avoid fur-
loughs or force reductions. The Governor
said it is planned to do as much of the
house building work as possible by con-
tract. He said he did not approve, gen-
erally speaking, of requiring the system
of furloughs. Mr. Garriel said that his
organization preferred reductions in force
rather than furloughs.
Subsistence Rates Increased
In reporting on previous questions
which have been under discussions the
employee representatives were informed
that subsistence rates have been raised,
and E. A. Doolan, Personnel Director,
provided all representatives with copies
of the recent regulations on allowances for
local travel or temporary assignment.
Reports by the Governor on actions
taken on other problems brought to his
attention at previous conferences included
the following: The bus shelter adjacent
to Balboa Commissary has been author-
ized and will be built soon; a report on
parking arrangements at Gatun Commis-
sary has been received and a further study
has been requested; the resurfacing of the
middle strip of certain streets in Gamboa
is not presently warranted; the derma-
tologist at Gorgas Hospital has returned
from leave and will again pay monthly
visits to Colon Hospital; Clubhouse
Managers will cash checks upon proper
identification when they have sufficient
funds; a sidewalk from Mount Hope to
Margarita is not a high priority project;
efforts are continuing to employ an Eye,
Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist for
Colon Hospital; and the consolidation of
bus systems on the Atlantic side will be


Purchases


Canal


From Panama Suppliers

Reach New High Level

Purchases by the Panama Canal in the
Republic of Panama climbed to a new
high level during the first three months of
the 1953 fiscal year, exceeding by about
$324,000 purchases in the same period of
the previous year.
Dollar volume of supplies purchased
during the past July, August, and Septem-
ber amounted to $728,614 compared with
$404,744 for the opening quarter of the
previous fiscal year.
Purchases of all types of products
showed marked increases except for lum-
ber products which showed a drop from
the first quarter of the 1952 fiscal year
when heavy local purchases were being
made for the Canal building program.
Canal purchases in the Republic have
exceeded $1,500,000 for the past three
years, reaching a record volume of more
than $2,000,000 in the 1952 fiscal year.
The following table shows the amount
of purchases in Panama for the first quar-
ter of the 1953 and 1952 fiscal years.
First First


quarter
1953
fiscal year


Meat products ..-----
Agricultural products (fruit,


vegetables, sugar, ali
Other agricultural prod
Other food products-
Beverages.--- --..-. .
Forest products_
Industrial products -
Miscellaneous
Total-------


quarter
1952
fiscal year


$273,742 $128,695


cohol) .
ucts-. ..


$728,614 $404,744


studied as soon as all problems of the
recent consolidation of such services on
the Pacific side have been settled.
Those attending the Governor-Em-
ployee conference last month and the
groups they represent include the follow-
ing: The Governor, Mr. Doolan, and
F. G. Dunsmoor, Administrative Assist-
ant to the Governor, and the following
employee representatives:
Mr. Wagner, John J. Tobin, Owen J.
Corrigan, and H. R. Chenevert, Central


W. G. Dolan Named

Civil Defense Chief


Lt. William G. Dolan of the Fire Di-
vision at Cristobal has been named Chief
of Civil Defense and assumed his new
duties December 1.
The appointment marks one of the first
steps in the initiation of a practical civil
defense program for the Panama Canal
population, for which limited funds have
been made available.
Civil defense activities to be organized
under Lieutenant Dolan's direction have
been transferred from the Safety Section
to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Civil defense
headquarters will be located in the office
formerly occupied by the Immigration
Station Control Section in the Civil
Affairs Building in Ancon.


Labor Union; Mr. Lovelady and Herschel
Gandy, A.F.G.E.; Mrs. Margaret Rennie,
Pacific Civic Council; Rev. R. H.
Havener, Cristobal-Margarita Civic Coun-
cil; William H. Ward, Gamboa Civic
Council; Chester Luhr, Panama Canal
Lock Employees Association; Andrew
Lieberman, Marine Engineers' Beneficial
Association; S. J. Garriel, Plumbers'
Local 606; William S. McKee, Interna-
tional Association of Machinists; and
and F. H. Hodges, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers.


(Continued from preceding page) the Atlantic side


to be organized are the Columbus and


ers is Videl Anthony, known to all






THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


THIS MONTH'S CALENDAR

DECEMBER 21st-CLU-MTC, Balboa Lodge Hall,
8:30 a. in.
6th-Track Foreman No. 2741, Balboa 22d-Machinists No. 699, K. of C. Hall,
B & B Shops. Margarita 7:30 p. r.
7thVF Post No. 385, Cristobal Margarita, 7:30 p. in.
7th-VFW Post No. 3857, Cnstobal VFW Auxiliary, Post No. 3822 Home,
Veterans Club, 9 a. nm. 7:30 p. m.
8th-Machinists No. 699, K. of C. Hall, 23d-Marine Engineers No. 96, Jewish
Margarita, 7:30 p.m. . Welfare Board, USO.
American Legion Post No. 1, Legion Governor - Employee Conference,
Home, 7:30 p. m. Board Room, Administration Building,
9th-Pipefitters, Margarita Clubhouse, 2 p. m.
7:30 p.m. . Operating Engineers No. 595, Lodge
Electrical Workers No. 397, Wirz Hall, Balboa, 7 p. m.
MemoNal, 7:30 p. m. VFW Post No. 100, Old Boy Scout
VFW Post No. 100, Old Boy Scout Building, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m.
Building, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Post No. 7, Fort
American Legion Post No. 7, Fort Clayton, 7:30 p. m.
Clayton, 7:30 p. m. 24th-AFGE No. 88, Margarita Club-
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1, house 7-30 p. ma
Balboa Legion Home, 7:30 p.m. American Legion Auxiliary, Legion
10th-Carpenters and Joiners No. 913, Home, Old Cristobal, 7:30 p m.
Balboa Lodge Hall, 7:30 p. m. 25th-Christmas.
Pacific Civic Council, Board Room, JANUARY
Administration Building, 7:30 p. m. JANUARY
American Legion Post No. 2, Legion 1st-New Year's Day.
Home, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. Carpenters and Joiners No. 667,
12th-Blacksmiths No. 400, Boiler- Margarita Clubhouse, 7:30 p. m.
makers Nos. 463 and 471, K. of C. 2d-American Legion Post No. 6,
Hall, Margarita, 7:30 p. m. Gamboa Legion Home, 7:30 p. m.
14th-Sheetmetal Workers No. 157,
Balboa Clubhouse, 9:30 a. m. D c mr Salin
Plumbers No. 606, Balboa Lodge Hall, December Sailings
9:30 a. m.
15th-Electrical Workers No. 677, Ma- From Cristobal
sonic Temple, Gatun, 7:30 p. m.
Truckdrivers, Balboa Lodge Hall, 7:30 Ancon -.. -...December 12
p. m. Panama -.----. 'December 19
16th-Operating Engineers No. 595, Cristobal_ ----December26
K. of C. Hall, Margarita, 7 p. m. Ano Janr
Machinists No. 811, Balboa Lodge non-- ----- january 2
Hall, 7:30 p. m. From New York
17th--AFGE No. 14, Balboa Clubhouse, Panama----__December 10
7:30 p.m. io.. .Db
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 3, Cristobal ..-.... December 17
Legion Hall, Gatun, 7:30 p.m. Ancon ..... December 24
18th-American Legion Auxiliary Unit Panama . December 31
6, Gamboa Legion Hall, 7:30 p. m.________________


PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS


October 15


Through


The following list contains the names of
those U. S.-rate employees who were trans-
ferred from one division to another (unless
the change is administrative) or from one
type of work to another. It does not
contain within-grade promotions or regrad-
ings.
CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU
Louis F. Dedeaux, from Postal Clerk,
Postal Service, to Recreation Supervisor,
Division of Schools.
Mrs. Ethel P. McDermitt, from Sub-
stitute Teacher to Elementary School
Teacher, Schools Division.
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION


November 15


Richard L. Wright from Medical
X-Ray Technician (Photofluorography),
Division of Preventive Medicine, to Medi-
cal X-Ray Technician (General), Gorgas
H-ospital.
INDUSTRIAL BUREAU
Henry J. Patten from Locomotive
Machinist, Railroad and Terminals Bureau,
to Machinist, Industrial Bureau.
Robert W. Fuller from Shipwright to
Shipwright Hand Pattern Maker, Industrial
Bureau.
Jack B. Tinnett from Boilermaker.


Locomnotive a
r'virl I Th> i t'


* a
nd Special Boilermaker, Rail-
i t ln rii ei t- -. I . ,, 1it'-,,i


ANNIVERSARIES

Employees who observed important anni-
versaries during the month of November are
listed alphabetically below. The number
of years includes all Government service
with the Canal or other agencies. Those
with continuous service with the Canal are
indicated with (*).
35 years
Miguel Corco, Government Accountant,
Finance Bureau.


30 years
Bert J. Benoit, Crane O
Machinist, Industrial Bureau.
Joseph A. Parent, Guard
Locks Division.
William C. Smith, Control
ator, Locks Division.
25 years
Harry J. Ailant. Tire Rebi


operator and
Supervisor,
House Oper-


Transportation Division.
*Louis H. Hack, Designing En


Engineering Division.
*Fred D. Hunsicker, Sup
tor Transportation Division.
Louis Pincus, Signalman,
Division.


Motor

gineer,


ervisor, Mo-

Navigation


20 years /
Mahlon D. Davis, Accountant,
ureau.


Finance


15 years
Lea K. Dugan, Clerk, Gorgas Hospital.
John Kozar, Policeman, Police Division.
Elsie D. Naughton, Elementary School
Teacher, Schools Division.
Carroll S. Sanders, Pumpman, Main-
tenance Division.
Richard B. Simpson, Fireman, Fire
Division.
William E. Thompson, Panama Canal


Pilot.
Anthony J. Zablocki, Towboat
Dredging Division.


Master


Employees who retired at the end of
November, their birthplaces, titles, length
of service at retirement and their future
addresses are:
Burt W. Hall, Washington; Power Dis-
patcher, Electrical Division; 33 years and
four months; St. Petersburg, Fla.
David H. Hinds, Louisiana; Steward,
Corozal Hospital; 34 years; Panama City.
George F. Miller, New York; Filtration
Plant Operator, Maintenance Division; 28
years, six months and 17 days; Charleston, Ill.
Walter W. White, New York; Records
Analyst, Administrative Branch; 39 years;
Balboa.
Eleanore A. Widsteen, Ontario, Canada;
Office Appliance Operator, Finance Bureau;
19 years and 12 days; Canal Zone.


Storekeep
.v T. .


tr


checker , Terminals
* a _ r


Division.
S * .


RETIREMENTS IN

NOVEMBER


ilder.





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


OUR OUT-OF-DOORS

We don't have the crisp cold air to
remind us that Christmas is just around
the corner but we do have its counter-
part, the glorious red poinsettias coming
into bloom. The poinsettias are just as
much a part of Christmas in the tropics as
holly or mistletoe in temperate climates.
The original poinsettias (Euphorbia
puleherrima) came from Mexico but are
now grown in almost every tropical and
semi-tropical region in the world. Many
of our choicest hybrid poinsettias have
been developed by gardeners in California
and thousands of potted plants are sold
through florisst each year.
There are very few plants easier to
propagate than the poinsettias. Cuttings
placed in the soil in May should, with a
little care, produce stocky plants bearing
six or more blooms by the following
December. Single blooming stock may be
had from cuttings placed as late as August.
Shock Branches Often
The secret for growing bushy plants


POINSETTIAS are part of Christmas in the tropics


with numerous blooms is to keep the
plants growing vigorously and to keep
picking off the tip of each new branch
when it is from four to six inches long. The
more times the branches are "shocked"
by picking before September first, the
more dormant buds will be forced into
growth for Christmas flowering.
It is important that the plants be


In view of the prevailing Christmas spirit
and preoccupation with holiday gifts, Com-
missary Talk, like most December talk,
deals with things Santa Claus could bring
someone.
This Christmas Commissary shoppers'
guide consists of suggestions from people
in the wholesale sections of the Commissary
Division at Mount Hope, who know the
most about the goods ordered for the retail
stores for Canal Zone Christmas presents.
Look down the list to see what you might
buy and about how much it will cost.
From about $1.00: Ties, including new


For the Masculine
Set, 'Teen Age
and Up


ones that are narrower
in width, 85 cents to
$2.25; jewelry, Hickok
and Swank, including
new screw-on small tie


clasps like Grandfather used to wear, other
types tie clasps, chains, studs, cuff links,
single and in sets from $1.25 to $6; hand-
kerchiefs, cotton, linen, boxes, initialed, all
under $1; toiletries, Morning Canter after-
shave lotion by the fine French perfumer,
Pinaud, Old Spice and other sets from about
$1.50; wallets, Burton and Hickok, from
$2.50 to the finest: belts, pigskin, cowhide,
with non-rusting buckles, from about $1;
house slippers.
From about $5: Pajamas, including new
TV lounging sets with plaid tops and solid
color trousers, cotton, about $4; other types
of pajamas, regular cottons, fancy rayons,
acetate and nylon, about $4 or $5; travel
cases, fine leather, fitted and unfitted, from
about $5 to $20; cigars, from the United
States and Jamaica, from about $4.50 to $7
a box.
From about $10 on up: Shaeffer and
Parker, pens and pencils, gift boxed; and
in handsome desk sets up to about $30;
Black & Decker home utility drill, / inch,
AC-DC, $22.75; accessories to go with the
drill include buffing and polishing kit, $3.50,
horizontal stand, $3.40, and abrasive kits,
$4.50; Sunbeam Shavemasters, $23.65;


golf bags, nylon,
hood, $23.50.


From about $1.00:
w
For the Feminine o
Side for t
Personal Gifts e
b
perfume sticks; new


zippered,


with travel


Hose, 60 gauge, some
nith fancy heels, black
r dark seams, some
he fancy pleated vari-
ty, about $1.50; apple
blossom or lavender
cinch belts, several


colors and styles, from less than $1 to about
$2; coral jewelry, single pieces and sets;
Italian mosaic jewelry, pretty and inexpen-
sive; Old Spice and many other Cosmetics,
single and in sets; perfumes, Chanel, Len-
theric, Houbigant, D'Orsay, Worth, single
bottles and sets starting at about $2;
powder boxes, some musical, from $2.50;
jewel boxes, simulated leather, some with


of stainless steel kitchen tools with riveted
rosewood handles, sets of five and seven;
gaily colored towels for bath and kitchen,
rolled and ribboned in decorator boxes,
starting at about $1; tablecloths, including
some hand painted with metallic scroll, in
decorator colors, from about $3; luncheon
sets and place mats.
From about $8: New charcoal barbecue
grills, two models, one deluxe, table high
with windshield, recessed casserole with
cover and shelf for added working surface,
the other a portable model with large broil-
ing surface and shelf.
From about $10: Electric mixers, Ham-
ilton Beach and Sunbeam, starting at about
$15; automatic electric toasters, Sunbeam
and Toastmaster, about $20; Sunbeam
waffle irons; Waring blender; Dormeyer
automatic electric fryer, in the $25 class;
General Electric cooker with removable
aluminum grids; General Electric steam
iron; Westinghouse vacuum cleaner, tank
model, also Hoovers, in the $60 class; auto-
matic roasters, $38; Westinghouse and Sun-
beam coffee makers, automatic, in the $30
class; China, many types, sets of service
for 12 from about $20 to $60; silver, sterling
and plate; electric sander and polisher, in
the $30 class. Refrigerators, Westinghouse,
completely automatic, frost free, $367 cash;
Ironrite electric ironer and cover; motor
operated; washing machines, including the
non-automatic General Electric $143.50,
automatic Inglis $298 and Westinghouse
Laundromat $343.25; Westinghouse electric
clothes drier, $275; home portable electric
sewing machine, $110.
Toys, toys, toys, arid toys, also: From
about 50 cents: Records,
For Children Little Golden, 22, 69, and
95 cents, and others from
the Child Record Guild which cost 95 cents;
boys' ties, 45 cents.
From about $7: Children's furniture, in-
cluding non-musical and musical rockers,
about $7 and $10.
Silver feeding spoons, bib holders, rat-
F th Bab ties, some tarnish- wear-
For the B~abv * .
F resistant, single and min sets,
sterling and plate, from $1.50; silver cups
from about $4.
From about 50 cents: Cocktail glasses of
many varieties from
For Almost Anybody eight cents to $2.50
each; Grove Crest
rum and brandy fruit cakes; plum puddings,
English, in one-pound basins; sterling silver
photo frames, $2.65; Cari-ette, portable ice
box, new outing accessory about $4.
From about $5: Foam rubber pillows,
dust and allergy free, moth and mildew
proof, $8.50; travel irons, AC-DC, $4.75;
martini, cordial, liquer, and zombie glass
sets. S5 to $7.50: Sinhon bottles. Soarklet.





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 1952


New Coded Track Circuit Developed
By Railroad Supervisor Of Signals
(Continued from page 6) original system re-
quired the use of approximately 250,000
feet of cable. Since the present cost of
cable is more than one dollar a foot, this
represents an investment of more than a
quarter million dollars in cable alone.
Cable Use Curtailed
It is estimated that coded track circuits
can be economically installed in enough
of the 25 railroad blocks to eliminate the
need for over 160,000 feet of this cable.
The use of the coded track equipment is
not economical for short sections, such as
in railroad yards and it is not expected
that it will replace cable control in such
sections.
Much of the equipment used in the five
sets of relays to be installed on the Frijoles
Monte Lirio track section was already on
hand when Mr. Wood started his job of
tying them together to get the coordinated
set of signals.
He estimates that the cost of the five
sets of relays about $3,000, not counting
the time he spent on the work. If all of
the material had been ordered new, he
estimates that the total cost would have
been $8,000 for relays, batteries, and
rectifiers. Based on experience gained in
the use of code control already in use this
cost would be about 10 percent of the
cost of line wire control when installed
new.
Value Of Cable Saved
In the case of the two coded-track sec-
tions already in use, the value of cable
released from the two sections was about
five times the cost of the coding equip-
ment. Cable released in those two sec-
tions was used for replacement when
serviceable and sold for scrap when
unserviceable.
The equipment was recently inspected
by Governor Seybold and A. C. Medinger,
Railroad and Terminals Director. During
their visit, Mr. Wood gave them a de-
tailed explanation of the coding equip-
ment and how it operates.


Mr.V
The "invei
practically a n,
came to the I
11 months old.
C. Wood, was
of the constru


Vood
ntor"
active
sthm
His
empl
action


Is Zone Boy
of the system is
of the Canal Zone. He
us when he was only
father, the late Joseph
oyed throughout most
period and for many


Hotel


Washington Attracts
Most Guests In Dry


Season


PALMS around the Hotel Washington seldom have a respite from the steady winds blowing off the Caribbean


Dry-season winds that bend the palms
that circle the Hotel Washington bring
the Atlantic side hotel the year's largest
numbers of guests.
The annual upswing in visitors that
marks the months of the trade winds is
traditional and is not expected to change
during the coming dry season, which will


be the hotel's fortieth
for Isthmians and tol
The numbers of bo
increase considerably
son but the proportion
half local guests and
pared to 75 percent


as a stopping place
purists.
th groups of guests
during the dry sea-
ns change to about
half tourists, corn-
local guests during


the rainy season.
The tourist visitors debark from the
ships on regular runs and the cruise ships
which visit in greatest number during the
dry season, the majority of which, if they
stop on the Isthmus, dock on the Atlantic
side.
Isthmians, who become more outing-
minded when the rains have stopped,
often stay at the Washington in the course
of their rambles around their own Isth-
mian back yard.
For many of them the charms of a
trade-wind-conditioned room, with inner-
spring mattress, balcony, and maybe even
breakfast in bed, outweigh the attractions
nf anho, woQrr, nfC ,' mvnrn Aamon m.r lch-


Herbert Thompson, the chef, whose spe-
cialty is plank steak.
The present hotel building was author-
ized by former President William Howard
Taft after he visited the Isthmus in 1910
and noted the absence of suitable com-
mercial hotel accommodations on the
Atlantic side of the Isthmus.
Early planners visualized that the
Hotel's park-like grounds would be one
of its main attractions-a belief that has
proved to be very well founded and is
most apparent during the dry season
when the many flowering trees and shrubs
in the deep lawns are at their best.
But the sight and the sound of the
Caribbean beating against the sea wall
around the hotel is probably the charm
that endears the place most to most of the
Washington's visitors, who take their
comfort with their ringside view of Man-


zanillo Bay and
leaving the Canal.


entering


Study Resumed On Plans For Converting
Electrical System To 60-Cycle Current
(Continued from page 2) electrical equip-
ment using 25-cycle frequency, and the
fact that many of the Canal's power gen-
erators must be replaced in the near future.
Tba, fal 1 no a n nnnr Qnhnii .ho nnhr





December 5, 1952


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Serious Operating Problems Are Faced
With Locks Overhaul And High Traffic
(Coimed from page I) month of October,
when new traffic records were established,
the average number of lockages at Mira-
flares was 24 a day, or three above the
normal capacity.
Although Canal authorities are making
plans to handle traffic in the most expedi-
tious manner possible, it is recognized
that delays to shipping will occur during
the overhaul period unless a major drop
in the traffic level occurs.
Because of the wide variation in the
traffic pattern, delays to ships of as much
as 24 hours are not infrequent during lock
overhaul periods. During the 1950 over-
haul of Gatun Locks some ships were
delayed longer than 24 hours in some cases.
The number of ocean-going commercial
transits during the first five months of
1950, while the Pacific Locks were being
overhauled, averaged 474 a month. The
volume of commercial traffic has shown a
steady increase since then and during the
first five months of this year there were
2,865 commercial transits, or an average
of 573 a month. The number of large
Government-owned ships using the Canal
also has greatly increased during the past
two-year period.
Delays Are Expected
Because of the fluctuations in Canal
traffic from day-to-day and from month-
to-month, it is impossible to predict
traffic conditions, but it is expected that
delays to ships will be far more frequent
during the coming overhaul period than
ever before.


Canal authorities have advise
ping interests of plans for the
overhaul and have announced
plan during the overhaul of Pedrn
Locks. This plan is based on the
tion that traffic will be equally


e


d ship-
coming


THE U. S. S. IOWA is shown tightly fitted into
the lower Miraflores Locks chamber during its
transit November 17. The Navy's mighty battle-
ship was on its way home to Norfolk, Va. from
Korean waters. Because of its size, the Iowa and other
ships of its class, as well as the larger carriers,


between
vessels.


northbound


and southbound


Under this plan, ships will be dispatch-
ed from Balboa from 3:15 o'clock in the
morning until 1:15 o'clock in the after-
noon. Southbound vessels will be dis-
patched from Cristobal from 7:15 in the
morning until 8:35 o'clock at night.
In the announcement to shipping com-
panies, it was stated that this traffic pat-
tern will be usable only when traffic is
evenly divided. Actually, each day's
traffic will represent an individual prob-


a traffic lem and will be handled accordingly.
) Miguel Both Pedro Miguel and Miraflores
assump- Locks will be operated 24 hours a day
divided throughout the overhaul period. Other


require special care in transit through the Canal.
Any transits by ships of this class during the
coming overhaul of the Pacific Locks will disrupt
normal schedules since they require about twice as
much time for a lockage as smaller ships.
Canal operations on the Pacific side per-
taining to the transit of vessels will also
be on a 24-hour schedule, with boarding
parties available at all hours for customs,
immigration, quarantine and admeasure-
ment duties.
No change is planned in the hours of
operation at Gatun Locks although the
dispatching of ships from Cristobal will
be scheduled to permit expeditious han-
dling of traffic generally.
The overhaul of Pedro Miguel Locks
is presently scheduled to start January 3.
It is expected that the work there will be
completed about the end of March and
that at Miraflores Locks will be finished
by about the end of May.





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 5, 195


Cai


nal Zone

Extensive


Lunar

Study


Bird

Of


Watc

Night


hers Aid

Migration


the viewer and the direction in which it
flies, computed by a method outlined by
Louisiana State, are also recorded.
The observer also attempts to estimate
the size of the bird, in terms of its rela-
tionship to Tycho, a prominent crater on
the bright part of the moon. Thus, a
large bird may be described as being
"2 T's" or two Tychos long, and a tiny
bird may be only a "'4 T" or a quarter of
a Tycho.
Bats And Bugs Too
If the observer can tell by the shape of
an image what species of bird the object
is, he reports that, too, to his recorder.
But the images generally are so distorted
that it is difficult to identify much except
herons and birds of that general ilk. Bats


mC
-
e-
toft
a --
-t
fl -f

-
�^S


PRACTICING FOR A SESSION of lunar bird
watching are Kathryn Ann Colclasure of the Field-
Biology class of the Canal Zone Junior College and
Craig Smyser, a special student at the College. Miss
Colelasure is acting as recorder for the team. If they
A handful of Zonians with scientific
trends of mind have been eyeing the face
of the full moon recently. What they are
doing is called "lunar bird watching," and
what they learn may add another bit to
the fascinating-to biologists at least-
puzzle of bird migration.
Ornithologists have long wondered
whether or not bird migration is affected
by weather. They have puzzled over the
effect of the moon on migration. They
want to know if migrating birds follow
rivers, as some scientists believe, if birds
cross large bodies of water while mi-
grating or stay along a shore line.
Some of these questions may be
answered when data to be compiled by
the Louisiana State University's Museum
of Zoology is completed. The local group
of lunar bird watchers is just one unit of
many which are scattered all over the


were really at work she would have a flashlight
to illuminate her notebook. An hour is about
the longest a team can work at one stretch,
counting and reporting birds as they fly across the
face of the full moon.
drance. Mr. Lee and a small group even
went to Cerro Pifia, near El Valle, but
had no clearer skies there than in the
Canal Zone.
Back Yard Is Good Post
The group has tried Miraflores and
Sosa Hills as observation points, but
finally has settled on the Lee back yard on
Tavernilla Street in Balboa as good a
location as they are going to find.
The back yard has further advantages,
too. Mrs. Lee can always be counted on
to help out when one of the observers
becomes tired, and two junior neighbors,
Frankie Townsend and Teddy Webb,
with their fathers, Wesley Townsend and
Winton Webb, have become interested
participants.
To watch nocturnal migration the ob-
servers need a good, full moon, a tele-
.ennP nr a nnir nf at, lmast iS-nnwer


and insects are also recorded as such if
they can be identified.
In six nights of observation the local
lunar watchers recorded over 1,000 birds.
From this figure the Louisiana State
scientists will be able to work out the
density of the migratory movement.
The birds observed from the Canal
Zone watching post have been consistent
in their movements.
"In the hours we watch, we get birds
nearly all the time," Mr. Lee says.
The peak of the movement comes mi
the hour before midnight. After mid-
night, the 1948 observations showed, the
migration drops sharply, levels off from
two to three o'clock and drops to a "base-
line" between four and five a. m.


Night Migration Is High
Scientists now believe that it is difficult
to get accurate observations on daytime
migration and think it likely that many
supposedly favored migration routes rep-
resent attractive lingering spots where
migrants congregate to feed during the
day.
Unlike daytime migration, the orni-
thologists think, nearly all night migra-
tion must take place at a comparatively
high altitude. Few migrating birds can
see well in the dark and must stay high
to avoid close-to-the-ground obstructions.
There are only a few species of nocturnal
birds and few of these fly high to feed.
Consequently when a large number of
birds are moving at high elevations at
- - .- _ . *.9.


2
x wx xx


I


I