Gift of the Panama CanalMus


77-/-


3l-ii4


PANAMA
i =~-"


CANAL,


Vol 6, No. 1 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, AUGUST 5, 1955 5 cents


BIDS


FOR


CONVERTING


ATLANTIC


SIDE


EQUIPMENT


TO


60


CYCLES


WILL


BE


ADVERTISED


DURING


AUGUST


Most


Younger


Zonians


Look


'Who'


Here!


Will Have Salk Shots
Before Polio Season
More than three-quarters of Canal Zone
children from 5 to 9 years old will be
immunized against polio by two Salk
vaccine inoculations by the time the
"polio season" normally begins on the
Isthmus, according to the estimates of the
Health Bureau.


It is min this age group that paralytic
polio strikes hardest and nearly 30 percent
of all cases occur in children of this age.
The U. S. Public Health Service will
limit vaccination to this age group until
the production of vaccine and testing
under the strict new standards make addi-
tional vaccine available, according to Col.
C. O. Bruce, Health Director.
The estimates on the percentage of
children vaccinated during the past few
weeks were prepared following the free
inoculation program for first and second
grade pupils on July 26-28. Health
officials expected the same percentage of
participation among children in the pay
program which was held this week.
Salk vaccine for the first and second


grade pupils was donated by the National
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The
program was administered by the Health
Bureau free of charge as a public health
service. Orders for the purchase of vac-
cine were placed by the Canal administra-
tion soon after the announcement that
Salk vaccine had been found to be effective


Contract
Among
Of


Will


The Largest


Power


Project


Specifications are now being prepared
for one of the key contracts in the power
conversion project-the conversion of all
domestic, commercial and industrial
equipment on the Atlantic side from 25-
cycle to 60-cycle frequency.
While exact schedules are not com-
pleted, it is expected that the work will be
advertised for bids the latter part of this
month, for about 60 days, and bids then
opened. This phase of the project
will be divided into two parts, one
covering Company-Government indus-
trial units and the other covering domestic
equipment and Company-Government
service units.


The specifications will provide
four areas will be available for the
tractor or contractors after Januar
and all the remaining areas after
May 15. It is presently expected
the first actual use of 60 cycle by do
tic users will not be until late this


a; t~~~eL~I~P~I -~


that
con-
y 2,
next
that
mes-
fiscal


year.
The first areas to be made available to
the contractor for conversion will be
Margarita townsite, Coco Solo Hospital,
Mindi Dairy, and the Industrial Division.
Locks, Mount Hope Separate
The contract for the conversion of
Canal equipment will cover all frequency
sensitive units on the Atlantic side with
the exception of those at Gatun Locks


kLaPLBI




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW
I *


August 5, 1955


Employee
Lowest Si


turnover, Separation Rate


nce


Start


Of


World


NEW


War


Separations from the service and turnover rates among full time U. S.-rate employ-
ees of the Company-Government were the lowest during the past fiscal year of any
since the beginning of World War II.
Figures compiled by the Personnel Bureau for the fiscal year ended June 30, showed
that the number of voluntary and involuntary separations from the service and the
percentages in both categories were well below comparable statistics since 1950.
The turnover rate was high throughout the war years and immediately afterwards
because of the great expansion and later reduction in force necessitated by abnormal
conditions.
The following tabulation shows the turnover rates for the past five fiscal years:


Fiscal Years


FORCE
SEPARATIONS:
Voluntary .
Involuntary
Total
TURNOVER RATE:
Voluntary..
Involuntary
Total


I951 1952 1953 1954 1955
4,287 4,261 4,233 3,867 3,803


805o
239
1,o44
18.78
5.57
24.35


466
238
704


The lowering of the turnover rate during the past two years is attributed princi-
pally to a stabilization of the force with relatively few force reductions; wage increases
for various groups; free home leave travel; group insurance; and other fringe benefits
which have been provided within the past two years.
The highest turnover rates in the Canal organization for the past five years were
shown in the fiscal years 1951 and 1953. In 1951 the rate was high because of the
large number of voluntary separations from the service which came after income tax
was applied to Government employees in the Canal Zone. Other conditions which
influenced the rate that year included the extensive reorganization. The rate of
involuntary separations that year was the lowest of any in the 1950-55 period with
the exception of last year.
Both the voluntary and involuntary rates were high in the fiscal year 1953. The
voluntary rate was influenced by the threat to the 25 percent differential, increased
rents, and other unsettling conditions. The rate of involuntary separations was


Comptroller


Leaves


This


Month


('OL. CHARLES O.. BRUCE, new Health Director,
took over his duties early last month. He was
photographed at his desk, but he has spent much of
the past four weeks on field trips to the various units
of the Health Bureau. His present post is his first
in 'the C('anal Zone. iHe visited the Isthmus last
January as a member of the group which accom-
panied Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens.


abnormally high b


because


of substantial


force reductions made in some units.
rate of voluntary separations front
Canal service has been increased d
the past 15 years by the employme
married women who leave the s(
when their husbands resign, retire.


assigned elsewhere.
paratively large num
personnel have been
close of the war and
other voluntary sep
resign because of t
their husbands.


n the
luring
nt of
service
r are


c? , , o -
The wives of a com-
ber of Armed Forces
employed since the
these are listed with
arations when they
he reassignment of


Push-Butto
To Be


in Traffic
Installed


Light
In Balboa


- tI 4


The Canal Zone's first push-button
type traffic light, or "pedestrian actuated
19 Ut * f . * . - -* *


HEALTH


OFFICER





August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


Intensive Cam

Number,


paign Ur

Quality


ider

Of


Way To

Employee


Increase

Suggestions


NEW


STOCKHOLDER


The opening move in an intensified
campaign to increase the number and
quality of employee suggestions will be
made next week when U. S.-rate em-
ployees receive, with their paychecks,
invitations to take a greater part in the
Incentive Award Program. Employees
on the local-rate rolls will receive similar
invitations with their paychecks the
following week.
The invitations are in the form of


cartoon-illust
They show a
her own ide
change that
a better way.
The payche
innovations
Program. O0
selection of


rated, red-lettered ca
young woman tripping
as and saying: "Can
condition? There mus
Send in your suggest
eck inserts are one of sev
in the Incentive A
their changes include
75 employees, strategic


located in operating units, as
Awards representatives and a n
ardized form which will henc


Incer
ew st


on."
reral
ward
the
ally
itive
and-


eforth be


used by all employees making suggestions.
"A suggestion proposes an improve-
ment in our operations by locating a
problem and recommending a solution,"
according to a member of the Incentive
Awards Committee. "It may change
the way things are done and propose a
new method or a new application of an
old idea. Merely pointing out a difficulty
or shortcoming, without providing an
answer, is not a suggestion. Neither is
a proposal min routine maintenance or
everyday functions, such as repairing
linoleum, keeping aisles clear, cleaning
lights, ordering supplies, etc., unless it
proposes a change in the operations or
the physical facilities."
What To Suggest
The Canal organization, he said, is
especially interested in suggestions for:
Combining materials, methods, opera-
tions, procedures, records, reports;
Devising new applications of old ideas,
new equipment, new machines, new
methods, new processes, new tools;
Eliminating breakage, duplication, fire,
health or accident hazards, operations,
waste, unnecessary work;
Improving employee morale, methods,
procedures, quality of product, safety,
tools and machines, working conditions;
and


sentatives. They will be kept informed
of any new developments in the awards
plan by means of news-letters, which they
will receive at least once a month from
the committee.
How To Do it
The new standardized form will make
submission of suggestions a much easier
process than it has been in the past and
also make the task of reviewing and
studying the suggestions considerably
simpler.
Merely by checking printed squares, an
employee can indicate whether his idea
would simplify work, save material or


time, improve methods or safety or
otherwise better existing conditions.
The new form is perforated; one portion
of it will be torn off and returned to the
suggester promptly as an acknowledg-
ment that his suggestion has been received
and started on the rounds of those who
will study it. Any employee can ask, in
a space set aside for this purpose, that
his name not appear during the review
period, and that the suggestion be num-
bered until a decision is made as to
whether it will be accepted or rejected.


If a Canal


employee's


suggestion is


one


which could be used by other Federal
agencies, it will be sent to the Civil
Service Commission. A Canal employee
may receive from $10 to $5,000 locally
and additional amounts from any other
Federal agency which adopts his idea.
The chance for a good-sized monetary
return, therefore, is much greater than it
has been in the past.
Started In 1946


Employee


Suggestion


Program,


today known as an Incentive Award
Program, has been used by the Canal
organization since 1946. Since the enact-
ment of the new overall Federal Program
last year, there has been a gradual in-
crease in the number of worthwhile
employee suggestions and the intensified
program, now getting under way, should
result in a much larger number of sug-
gestions submitted and approved.
Between last November and June 30,
72 Canal employees had ideas which they
considered good enough to pass on.
Sixteen of these were approved and the
mpn and wnmpn hnhind thn idnan ctivpn


A CHANGE in the top command of the Panama
Canal Company and Canal Zone Government came
late last month when Wilber M.Brucker took office as
Secretary of the Army succeeding Robert T. Stevens.
A native of Saginaw, Mich., and a former Governor
of his home state, Secretary Brucker had been serv-
ing as General Counsel of the Department of Defense.
He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law
School and has been prominent in legal work and
politics for many years. He served with the Michigan
National Guard on the Mexican Border and later as
an Artillery Lieutenant with the Rainbow Division
in France during the first World War.
approved, from those making $3,800 or
less a year; 11 suggestions were received,
and four approved, from those in the
$3,800-$7,000 wage bracket; and four
suggestions were received, and one
approved, from employees who earned
over $7,000.
The suggestions varied as widely as
the employees who suggested them.
They included, among other things; an
idea for having house plans available in
the commissaries where rugs and furni-
ture were sold; new safety devices for the
locks; a new form for time slips in the
Commissary Division; mechanical im-
provements such as a guard on saws and
the invention of a tool to remove lead
sheath from cables.
Committee In Charge
The Canal's Incentive Awards Program
is in charge of a committee headed by
Henry L. Donovan, Civil Affairs Direc-
tor. Other members are John Hollen,
Chipf nf thn Eveniitivx Plannina Rxiff.





THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


BETTER


LEARN


LEFT!


THE SE


STOP!


Most Younger Zopians
Will Have Salk Shots

(Contnueftfror page i) communities by
personnel of the Health Bureau, while
the Army, Navy, and Air Force handled
the vaccinations of their dependents.
Most Children Inoculated
Approximately 1,000 vaccinations were
administered in the free vaccination
program which was limited to children
between 5 and 9 years of age who were in
the first or second grades prior to June
30. The Canal Zone school census dur-
ing the past term shows 2,587 first and
second grade pupils.
In addition to those inoculated on
July 26-28, more than 2,000 had been


vaccinated during the summer vacation
period since all children in this age group
going to the States on vacation were
eligible for inoculations.
The percentage for the eligible children
in the pay group was expected to be
about the same as in the free program.
The number of eligibles in the second
group had been estimated at 2,100 prior
to the inoculations this week.
Those children eligible for Salk vaccine


injections who
during the tim
their injections
of Gorgas and
the dispensaries
upon application
eligibility will
no charge will


to be vaccinated


ies scheduled may receive
at the Outpatient Clinics
Coco Solo Hospitals, or at
ks of the Armed Services,
ion. The same rules of
be required for them and
be made for those eligible


for free vaccinations.


U ~ > - -~...


Gatun Locks
To Begin.


a,


Overhaul

January 9


Continue Five Months


A plan adopted about two years ago
for increasing the Canal capacity during
lock-overhaul periods will be used for the
first time during the coming dry season
when work begins on the five-month
overhaul of Gatun Locks.
Following a plan adopted by the Board
of Directors in March 1953, alterations
have been made in the locks so that the
wall culverts and cylindrical valves can
now be overhauled without emptying
either of the lock chambers.
This will permit double culvert oper-
ations when one set of lock chambers is
unwatered and will speed up the time for
filling and emptying the lock chambers
which are in use.
Materials are already on order and the
first employees have been recruited for
the overhaul, which will begin soon after
the first of the year. The tentative start-
ing date is January 9. The overhaul period
will last until about the middle of May.
* __ -- ---------1.... 1 1 . P1 '1 ji-


RIGHT!


I


w





August 5,


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


Check


Totaling


Canal Em


$8,588


ployees


Sent


Uniform


619

Allowances


Police


Chief Retires


A total of $8,588 was paid last month
by the Panama Canal Company-Canal
Zone Government organization in uniform
allowances to cover the first quarter of


the present fiscal year.


In all, 619 em-


and who wear white uniforms are allowed
$30 annually as a uniform allowance.
Guards who are on duty at the Com-
missary Division's Mount Hope plant and
who wear khaki uniforms with sun helmets


ployees who are required to wear uni-
forms in the course of their official duties
received the allowances.
Payment of the uniform allowance was


in accordance with the


so-called Fringe


Benefits Act passed by the United States
Congress last May.
As uniform allowances are to be paid


at the


beginning of each


quarter,


estimated cost to the Canal organization
of these benefits will total somewhat over


$30,000.


Similar


quarterly


payments


will be made min October, January, and
April.
Panama Line Maximum
The largest uniform allowance, on an
annual basis, is that paid to officers on


the Panama Line ships.


They are the


receive $26 a year


as a uniform allowance.


Customs guards and railroad conduc-
tors are allowed $9 a year-their distinc-


tive uniforms are caps -and


terminals


guards have a $7 annual allowance.


Temporary


or substitute


employees


are also entitled to uniform allowances; in
their cases the allowances for each quar-
ter will be paid immediately after the
first day of each quarter in which they
occupy a position for which a uniform
allowance is authorized.
The amounts of the allowances in each
case listed above are based on the esti-
mated annual uniform requirements and
the current price of the uniform required.


Paraiso


MAJ. GEORGE HERMAN,


Chief of the Police


Division, retired the end of July after 42 years with
the Zone force. A large number of his friends
honored him last Saturday night at a farewell party


at the Army-Navy Club.


He and Mrs. Herman are


sailing August 13 on the Panama Line.


visit their daughter in


San Antonio, Tex.,


They will
but have


not yet decided where they will make their home.


only group required to have uniforms for


seasons;


their annual allowance is


$100 a year, the maximum permissible.
Next highest amount is the $65 allowed
annually for the ladies in white-nurses,


dieticians,


and physical


therapists em-


played by the Health Bureau.
Policemen, motorcycle officers and other
officers of the Police Division, together
with the guards at the Gamboa penitent-
iary are close behind the nurses in the
amount of their annual uniform allow-


ances.


They will receive $62 a year. Lock


guards, with their distinctive khaki uni-


forms,


with the black stripe down the


trouser leg, receive $61 a year.
Guards at the Canal Zone police sta-
tions and jails are allowed $48 a year


as a uniform allowance.


Their female


counterparts, the matrons at the Canal
Zone Prison for Women and Juveniles,
will receive $30 for their khakis.
Based on Current Price
Firemen and firemen driver operators
have been allowed $35 a year; the officers


rrrr$


Safety Field Day


' **


*


ll





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August 5,1955


FOR YOUR INTEREST AND GUIDANCE
-- -- as, I ,


IDENT


PREVENTION


SAFETY FIELD DAY


dry season the
S('ommittee s


Balboa Store-


uggeste


d that


they would like to put on a safety
demonstration at the La Boca Ball Park
and invite all other safety committees
from other divisions to participate.


However


at that time they had just


appointed new committeemen which
delayed things somewhat until the begin-
ning of the rainy season put a damper on
proceedings.
Such was the situation when Cleveland
B. Stevens, safety committee chairman
of the Paraiso Civic Council, called the
Safety Branch and asked if it would be
possible to get some safety films to show
at one of their meetings. The next time
we had a talk the idea had grown into
showing some safe-driving films and put-
ting on a safe-driving demonstration for
the people living in Paraiso. It was only
a step to get these two ideas of the Balboa
Storehouse safety committee and the
Paraiso Civic Council together. The


HONOR ROLL
Bureau Award For
BEST RECORD
JUNE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU
HEALTH BUREAU
AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR
Supply ...-------------------------
Community Services ..------------
Engineering and Construction . .
Health ....-------------------------
Civil Affairs------------------------
Transportation and Terminals ....
Marine .--------------------------

Division Award For
NO DISABLING INJURIES
JUNE
LOCKS DIVISION
HOSPITALIZATION AND CLINICS
MAINTENANCE DIVISION
SERVICEE CENTER DIVISION


Paraiso Civic Council then came up with
the idea that they would sponsor a big
safety field day at Paraiso to be held on
July 23, at Paraiso Ball Park. Thus
good things are born.
Elsewhere in this issue you will find
pictures of the grand event which, if one
overlooked the weather usual at this time
of the year, proved to be a great success.
A number of dignitaries were present and
the program contained many items and
exhibits of unusual interest to people both
in and out of the Canal Zone Govern-
ment-Panama Canal Company.
Since out of the 355 disabling injuries
experienced by the Canal Zone Govern-
ment-Panama Canal Company during
1954, approximately 70 percent were to
local-rate employees; it is very gratifying
to the safety people to find these em-
ployees taking such a personal interest
in their welfare and, what's more, doing
something about it like their "Safety
Field Day." There is no question that
with such safety consciousness and active
interest as was displayed on Saturday,
July 23, the frequency rate for 1955 is
going to be a lot less than it was in 1954.


Many people, in addition to those
safety committees from various divisions,
are thanked for helping the Paraiso Civic
Council and giving their active support
in making this Safety Field Day a suc-
cess. Difficulties always arise in trying
3 to get the proper people lined up to put
2 on a program. Such a difficulty arose
2 when the Safety Field Day Committee
2
l found that it could not get a school band
1 or a local fife-and-drum corps. Someone
0 suggested that the Army might help if
asked. They were, and the 23d Infantry
Division Band put on an impressive flag
raising ceremony, and, of course, no
parade would ever be a success without


JUNE 1955


I I I


a band. The Armed Forces Radio Sta-
tion at Fort Clayton did a splendid job
of putting on a 15-minute interview with
Harold W. Williams and Mrs. Ellis
Fawcett telling all about the program.
Of course the International Boy Scouts
and Girl Scouts were present selling soft
drinks, taking part in the Bicycle Safety
Demonstration, and doing other jobs to
help put it over. Charles Bradley was
good enough to let the Aids to Navigation
have his snakes as a background for their
"first aid for snake bite" demonstration.
Since the day as a whole proved to be
such a success, it is hoped the Paraiso
Civic Council can see their way to have
another "Safety Field Day" next year.


HIGHWAY ZOO


The JACKASS
This is the showoff who risks his
own neck and everybody elseos by
speeding and weaving. Or he may
turn up as the stupid oaf who just
doesn't savvy modern driving. In ici
he is most any driver on thv highway
except you and me!
NATIONAL SAFETY co'Ncj


Disabling Injuries per 1,000,000 Man-Hours Worked
(Frequency Rate)


Early
Iu I
use S


ho





August 5,


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


Official
Panama Canal Company Publication
Published Monthly at
BALBOA HEIGHTS. CANAL ZONE


Shirtsleeve


Conference


Printed by the


Printing Plant


Mount Hope, Canal Zone


S. SEYBOLD, Governor-President


H. W. SCHULL, JR.
Lieutenant-Governor


WILLIAM


G. AREY, JR.


Public Information Officer


J. RUFUS HARDY, Editor
ELEANOR H. MclLHENNY
Assistant Editor


SUBSCRIPTION-$1.00 a


year


SINGLE COPIES-5 cents each


Service


ters, Commissaries, and Hotels for 10 days
after publication date.

SINGLE COPIES BY MAIL-10 cents each


BACK COPIES-10


cents each


On sale when available, from the Vault
Clerk, Third Floor, Administration Building,
Balboa Heights.


REPRESENTATIVES of the Local Rate Civic Councils meet regularly with Governor Seybold in tie
Board Room of the Administration Building to discuss community problems. At a recent meeting the
Council representatives were introduced to the new Lieutenant Governor, Col. H. W. Schull, Jr.
Left to right around the table are: Beresford Gittens, Rainbow City General Committee; J. J.
Joseph, Rainbow City; H. A. Josephs, Rainbow City; C. D. Atherly, Paraiso; Eric Oakley, Paraiso Gen-
eral Committee; E. L. Fawcett, Paraiso; Edward A. Doolan, Personnel Director; Governor Seybold;
Leo B. Harrington, stenotypist; Lieutenant Governor Schull; Norman Johnson, Employee and Labor
Relations Officer; G. L. A. Davis, Rupert Wilson, and Cleveland Roberts, La Boca.


Also attending this meeting


and Rexford Inn


of Santa


but not shown in the photograph were Leon Headley and R. T. Burns
is of the Santa Cruz General Committee.


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.


APPOINTED


COROZAL


> HEAD
HOSPITAL


A. B. Hendricks,


a Rates Analyst in the


Office of the Comptroller, returned to the
Canal Zone last month after five months of
advance training in Washington, D. C.,
as one of three local participants in the
Fourth Senior Management Intern Program.
During this period, he studied methods
used by the General Accounting Office and
worked out a project with the National
Park Service. He also studied public


administration


and Federal


Government


accounting problems in night classes at the
American University, and worked with the
District of Columbia on personnel problems.
In addition he took part in weekly
seminars held by prominent Government
officials on such subjects as management,
organization and method, human factors
and employees, training problems, person-
nel practices and management accounting
systems. ______
The first U. S.-rate salary checks pre-
pared with the new machinery which makes
payroll procedures and bookkeeping largely


No
August


revocations will be accepted after
31, the Commission emphasized.


After that date normal regulations will
again be in effect. These provide that an
employee who waives the insurance must
wait one year before he can request cover-
age. At that time he must be under 50
years of age and pass a physical examination.
Occupants of Canal Zone quarters were
advised last month that all quarters under
the custody of the Housing Division will
henceforth be serviced by preventive main-
tenance teams. Teams of this sort have
been working in Diablo Heights and Mar-
garita for some time; the plan is now being
extended to all quarters.
Teams will inspect the interior and
exterior of each quarters unit at least twice
each year. The inspection will be per-
formed by a U. S.-rate employee of the
Maintenance Division. Necessary repairs
will be made without the necessity of a
request from the quarters occupant.
In a memorandum to residents of Canal


OF CURRENT INTEREST


On sale at all Panama Canal


~Lfr,


.
. . .. .
.
-
. .. .




THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


cea


ving


The


Services


Zone?

Make


Packing

Moving


And


Almost


]rating

Painless


Crooks had been
lining the provisi
and he knew bef
Rinker that he
pounds of househi
take only such
needed for a hou
had four dozen
they didn't, the


packed
and th


or s
at


hipped
shipmi


given a pamphlet out-
ons of Public Law 600
ore he talked with Mr.
was limited to 8,750
old goods, that he could
possessions as were
sehold-had the Crooks
rocking chairs, which
chairs would not be
I at Company expense-
ent of his automobile


would be his own responsibility.
Packing Parley
Because a REVIEW reporter was tag-
ging along to get this story, Mr. Rinker
combined two sessions with the Crooks
into one and met them at their house to


discuss


ping
Mr. a
come
Divisi
office
which
Along
clipbo


of
nc


he packing and crating and ship-
their possessions. Ordinarily
SMrs. Crooks would first have


to his o
on shop
is hung
Zonians
another


ice in the Maintenance
irea. One wall of the
ith copies of the papers
ho are leaving will need.
wall hangs a series of
Containing the papers


PLANS for packing and moving are discussed by Joseph N. Rinker, Packing and Crating Foreman, with
Mr. and Mrs. Michael I. Crooks of Balboa. The Crooks are leaving the Canal Zone this month.


Death and taxes, they


table. In
and Cratin
Canal's U.
Sooner c
every Can
when he <
stances dec


are mevi-


.e Canal Zone, add Packing
for about 99 percent of the
.-rate employees.
later in the life of almost
employee comes the time
cides, or age and circum-
e for him, to go back to the


United States to live. That this up-
rooting is as painless as it is is due largely
to the efforts of Joseph N. Rinker and the
Packing and Crating Shop of the Main-
tenance Division.


Until Public Law
in August 1946 and
ing up a departing


600 became effective
until the job of pack-
Zonian's belongings


was taken over by the Packing and
Crating Shop soon thereafter, an em-
ployee who was leaving had to scurry
around and make his own arrangements.
He had to scrounge boxes and crates,
borrow a china packer from the nearest
large commissary, arrange for a customs
inspector to came to his quarters while
the packing was going on, fill out the


the end of this month after over 33
years in the Canal Zone. He and Mrs.
Crooks already own a three-bedroom
ranch-type home in Whittier, Calif. They
do not plan to leave here until August
20, the day after Mr. Crooks' last work-
ing day, but they want their furniture
shipped ahead of them so they will be
ready to settle down when they reach
California early next month.
After Mr. Crooks discussed retirement
details with Robert J. Kelley, in the
Personnel Bureau, and transportation
arrangements with James M. Thompson,
in the Transportation Section of the
Administrative Branch, hie was ready to
talk with Mr. Rinker, whose official title
is Foreman Crater and Packer and who
lives, eats, and breathes packing and
crating.
In the Transportation Section, Mr.


of some States-bound Zonian, his pack-
ing and departure dates and his destina-
tion. The other day these clipboards
showed that shipments were in the works
for such widely separated States as


Virginia, Michig
ington.
Surrounded b
Rinker would h
what he and his
packing, would
and would ansv


had.
Croo
boa.
estim
would
and
would


an,


Texas,


and Wash-


y these exhibits Mr.
ave explained to them
crew would do about the
make a "packing date,"
ier any questions they


Later he would have gone to the
ks' quarters on Akee Street in Bal-
There he would make a rough
iate as to whether their belongings
d be within their weight allowance
see if they had any furniture which
d be a special packing problem.


Instead, for THE REVIEW'S benefit, he
sat down with them at home and went
over the procedure with them there. At
the same time he estimated the number
of crates and barrels his men would need
nd decided on a packing date, which in
their case would be August 1.


One-day Process
on +tI+t riyr tim flrnnlo 1


ixmo ra + rl


-




August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


with household goods, if she cared to.
Pillows and blankets are satisfactory
items for this interior packing but sheets
and linens are too much dead weight, he
said, for the light construction of the
ordinary drawer. Mrs. Crooks was to
keep an itemized list of what went into
each drawer and these would later be
checked by one of the two inspectors,
Frank Turman or James Van Dyke.
No Pre-packing Needed
Actually though, Mr. Rinker said,
there was nothing which Mrs. Crooks
needed to do ahead of packing time. The
packers, like Gabriel Cordoba and And-
res Diaz, whose specialty is packing
china and glassware, work more easily
if such items are left in cupboards or on
shelves. They look the situation over
before they begin, see how much and
what is to be packed, and begin with the
larger and heavier items which go into
one barrel; the lighter and more fragile
things such as crystal and figurines are
packed together in other barrels. Other
packers, like Kenneth Harris and Ashton
Russell, know from years of experience
how many towels, pillow cases, or bed-
spreads fit into standard cartons.
All of the breakable things, Mr. Rinker
said, would be wrapped in newspapers
and packed in shredded paper in the
barrels. Each barrel would be itemized
as to its contents and a copy of the
listing would be given to the Crooks.
Nonbreakable items would be packed in
cardboard cartons which would each
have its separate itemized list. Moth-


balls, brought by the packe
sprinkled into each carton.


rs, would be
These car-


tons would later be packed inside big
wooden vans.
Safe Handling
None of the furniture and the larger
pieces such as lamps and radios would
be packed at the Crooks' house, they
learned. Such furniture would be tag-
ged in duplicate, swaddled in blankets,
and taken to the Packing and Crating
shop. Each item would be listed, to-
gether with a value given by either Mr.
or Mrs. Crooks.
Mrs. Crooks was concerned over the
safe handling of several large oil paintings
but Mr. Rinker assured her that he and
his men were equally concerned that they


CHINA and glassware are wrapped in newspaper and packed into metal barrels, with shredded paper as
wadding. Gabriel Cordoba and Andres Diaz, who have been packers for seven years, are doing the pack-
ing while Joseph N.Rinker, Packing and Crating foreman, looks over some of the things still to be wrapped.


made their long journey in good condi-
tion. Special celotex boxes are available
at the shop for paintings, he said; the
boxed pictures would then be packed into
the large vans.
As each piece of furniture was taken
from the truck at the shop, Mr. Rinker
explained, it would be checked off by one
of the inspectors who would remove, and
put aside, one of the duplicate tags for
further listing on the shipping manifest
and the itemized list, a copy of which
would later accompany the Crooks to
their new home. After all of the Crooks'
household belongings had been assembled
in the shop, Mr. Rinker said, the actual
packing for shipment would begin.
After he left the Akee Street house, Mr.


Rinker,


REVIEW


along, returned to
long building at ti
Maintenance's Div
ure. There the sho
turning salvaged
crates-vans, they
in which household


reporter still tagging
the shop in an airy
he very back of the
ision's fenced enclos-
p gang had been busy
materials into the
are officially called-
goods are eventually


-. a - -


packed. Vans like these would be used
later for the Crooks' household goods.


In days gone
an eye to later
used to have th


mahogany bo
crating people
housewives.
departing fur
are made fro
had encased
which electric


ards
e a
Th(
nitu


by some Zonians, with
do-it-yourself projects,
eir furniture crated in
. Today's packing and
re as thrifty as Dutch
e vans into which most
re is eventually packed


m lumber which originally
incoming goods; crates in
ranges had been shipped to


the Canal Zone have been remodeled into
vans and other cases, for instance.
No Termites
Termite-eaten old lumber from demol-
ished quarters is never used in the Pack-
ing and Crating Shop. Special plywood,
made in Panama for the Canal Company,
makes sides for the vans. The shredded
paper with which the barrels and boxes
are packed is cut into ribbons by the
Shop's own shredding machine. The paper
is old newspapers and magazines or clean
waste paper; reams of it comes from the
Administration Building. The metal
drums into which the dishes and glassware
are packed were originally filled with
alcohol or turpentine. They are cleaned.
fitted with new wooden tops and lined
with now nnnmar




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


Stars


And


Stripes


Fly


From


112


Staffs


When


Canal


Zone


Celebrates


Holiday


Whenever a presidential proclamation
or an order from the Governor directs
that flags be displayed, or on national
holidays like the Fourth of July, 112
United States flags flutter from poles on
Canal buildings or fly from the staffs on
the Canal's tugs and launches and dredges
and barges.
There are other United States flags in


the Canal
posts and
and court
which fly
buildings (
Tropical
and heavy


the day it is first raised to the top of its
staff. Flags are half-staffed from 7 a. m.
to noon on Memorial Day, May 30; at
noon they are raised to the top of their
standards where they remain until the
end of the day.
Flags in the Canal Zone are flown at
half-staff whenever the President or the
Governor directs; the periods during


Zone, of course-on military
naval stations, and in churches
rooms-but the 112 are those
over Company-Government
nr from marine equipment.


weather
rain taki


with its
s its toll


the average life of one here


nine months when it
and considerably les
marine equipment.
sion of Storehouses
flags from the Gener
tration, the U. S. A
Depot in Philadelpi
manufacturer.


is flown
s than
Each ye
orders


brilliant sun
of the flags;
is not over
from a staff
that on the
ar the Divi-
about 900


al Services Adminis-
rmy Quartermaster
hia or from a flag


$3,000 A Year
They range in size from those which
are a little over a foot long and are used


on the launches to t
fly from most of the
cost of U. S. flags for
something over $3,0I
Most of the flags i
made of cotton bun
flags are a mixture
which lasts longer


;he five-footers which
flagstaffs. The total
local use amounts to
)0 a year.
,n the Canal Zone are
ting, but the smaller
of nylon and wool
here and retains its


colors better than the bunting.
Not all of the 112 flags fly every day.
Generally, most Canal Zone buildings
fly their flags on workdays, school days,
holidays, or special days required by law
or designated by the President or the
Governor. The flag at the Governor's
residence is flown only when he is present
on the Isthmus.
Wherever a flag is attended by a police-
man or a caretaker, as at the Administra-
tion Building, it is flown daily. Hours for
displaying the flag are 7 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Regardless of the day, the flag of the
United States is always flown on the
Canal's marine equipment whenever the
launches and tugs etc. are underway in
Canal waters.


CANAL ZONE POLICEMEN raise and lower the
flags at the Administration Building and in other
public spots like the Balboa circle where this photo-
graph of Policeman Stewart Jaddis was taken.


display they are destroyed privately, as
is done elsewhere. The usual method is
by burning; each agency handles th&
disposal of its own outworn flags.
When the flags in the Canal Zone are to
be half-staffed-a term in flag parlance
preferred to half-masting-or are to be
displayed on some special occasion, the
Chief of the Administrative Branch noti-
fies each Bureau of the Canal organiza-
tion. A Bureau representative in turn
passes on the word to the units which fly
flags. The Marine Bureau, with its
floating equipment, has the largest num-


ber of flags, 49,
Bureau, which
schools, police an
flags. The flags
Building and in
Balboa clubhouse
-1 fl. . ** fl *


and the Civil Affairs
includes post offices,
d fire stations, has 28
at the Administration
the circle opposite the
are under the control of
*m * **


which
scribe
1954
Pres
flag
Vice
Chief


h flags are
ed in a Pres
, When a
ident of the
is half-staff
President,
f Justice, oi


Shalf-staffed were pre-
;idential Proclamation in
President or Former
United States dies, the
ed for 30 days. For a
Chief Justice, retired
SSpeaker of the House,


the period of half-staffing is 10 days.
Lesser periods are in order for other
officials.
Half-Staff For Zonians
In the Canal Zone flags have been
flown at half-staff when local officials have
died. Among those so honored were
Roy R. Watson, then Chief Quarter-
master, A. W. Goulet, General Manager
of the Commissary Division, and George
W. Green, Municipal Engineer.
In December 1947, Canal Zone flags
were half-staffed between 7:30 and 10
a. m. when the bodies of 15 servicemen
who had been buried here during World
War II were placed aboard ship for return
to their homelands.
The United States flag flew for the
first time over an Isthmian Canal Com-
mission building in May 1904, when the
United States took over the rights and
properties of the French Canal Company.
The building was the ICC headquarters
in Panama City now the Panama
Central Post Office.
When the Canal Zone was delineated
United States flags were supplied to the
alcaldes of the little towns in the Zone.
One early letter, dated June 30, 1904,
instructed the Alcaldes of Gatun and
Gorgona to fly the flag "over the Alcaldia
of your district during office hours of
each day except in bad or storm weather."
Flags for the school building would be
furnished them later, the letter said.
On Holidays Only
Early Zonians apparently were not as
careful of their flags as their present day
successors. In February 1907. Chief


l




August 5, 1955

Visiting


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Oldtimer


Unfamiliar


Af t


Fin
?r L


ids Zo
2ong I


rode on the Panama
first time since 1906 a
thr; ugh the Canpl wh
be-ond the planning s
saw it.
As an engineer with t
Commission from 19
Kenly helped build t
Reservoir which supp
Atlantic side commune
reanent reservoir and
constructed.
During the time he
of the streets were unp
thrs were left over
construction period. I
and the only road from
district ran around t
Hill. Like most oldti


ne

Absence

Railroad for the
nd made a transit
ich was not much
tage when he last
he Isthmian Canal
04 to 1906, Mr.
;he Brazos Brook
lied water to the
cities until the per-
water system was
worked here, most
aved and the quar-
from the French
Balboa was a marsh
Sthe Ancon-Balboa
he side of Ancon
ners, however, Mr.


CANAL ZONE CLERGY
The Rev. Carl D. Christensen has
spent a quarter of a century in missionary
work, the last five and a half years of it
on the Isthmus of Panama.
As president of the Panama Conference
of Seventh Day Adventist Churches, he
is in charge of the work of the approxi-
mately 40 Adventist congregations in the
Canal Zone and Panama. His headquar-
ters, recently moved from Cristobal, are
v �.
on Gavilan Road in Balboa, near the
office of the All-America Cables Company.
Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he at-
tended college in Minnesota and holds a
Master's Degree in School Administra-


GEORGE T. KENLY; after 50 years, he came back.


After an absence o:
George T. Kenly, who
the Canal's oldest "old
little to remind him of
he visited the Canal
month.


f nearly 50 years,
at 87 is probably
timer," found very
the old days when
Zone briefly last


Accompanied by Edwin Green, a
sprightly youth of 73, he visited the
Hotel Washington, which was new to him,
and the Tivoli Guest House, which was
one old landmark he remembered. He

Packing And Crating Services
Make Moving Almost Painless


(Continued from page 9)
For the average C
packers use four of th
four metal drums; if
some other large obj
vans or their size
Fortunately, Mr. Rin
for nine-foot couches
the Canal Zone.


all-into one van.
anal household the
.e vans and three or
there is a piano or
ect the number of
may be increased.
ker says, the vogue
has not yet reached


As soon as the packers have finished
with each van, Eric George takes over
the banding and stenciling. Then Cecil


Ken 1 recalled that the early days were
rugged but that most people had lots of
fun when they weren't busy building the
Panama Canal. The only real problem
in those days, h" said, was what to do
with all that dirt.
A native of West Virginia, Mr. Kenly
worked with the United States govern-
ment for many years before coming to
the Isthmus in 1904 to help with the
Panama Canal. After leaving here in
1906 he went to California and arrived in
San Francisco just four days before the
historic earthquake and fire which des-
troyed the city and put an end to his
business plans.
He returned to the East Coast and up
to the time of his retirement several years
ago, he was connected with a private
engineering firm in Baltimore, where he
now makes his home.


"satisfied customers" and by the small
amount paid annually in claims for
breakage or damage.
In one 12-month period, for instance,
the belongings of 466 Canal Zonians were
packed and crated by the Maintenance
Division; these household goods were
valued at $1,166,044.95. Only 25 claims,
all of them small, were made during this
period with a total dollar-wise claim of
$522 or .045 percent of the total value.


Until recently Pacd
had two shops, one i
other in Cristobal. N
ration for shipment


king and Crating
n Balboa and the
)w all of the prepa-


and the


shipment


THE REV. CARL D. CHRISTENSEN
tion from the University of Nebraska
He has been in church work almost all o,
his adult life.
He is thoroughly familiar with the
problems of the Latin-American world
and equally at home in English or Span-
ish; the problems and the language he
learned in the 20 years he spent as a
missionary in Argentine, Chile, and Peru.
About 10 years ago he returned to the
United States and for four years, just
before his assignment to the Isthmus, he
taught in an Adventist college in Walla
Walla, Wash.
The Panama Conference is one of the
364 local Conferences and missions of the
Adventist Church. Its president, cur-
rntliv Mr. Christensen. is elected by the




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August5, 1955


o1


The historic
und ground.


Historic
s Sudden


Rio


Grande


Act


Rio (irande has
his Rio Grande


the shallow river bordering the southern
part uf Texas; it is the Rio Grande
explored 400 years ago by the Spanish in
their search for an overland communica-
tion between Atlantic and Pacific across
the Isthmus of Panama.
The disappearance of the Isthmian Rio
Grande is connected with the work on
Contractors Hill, only a short distance
from the old Rio Grande reservoir which
once supplied water for the entire Pacific
side district between Culebra and Panama
City.


During the Contractors Hill project
the main stream of the river, which drops
precipitously from the old dam to the
spillway near the Cucaracha Signal Sta-


tion, has been partially filled with rock
from Contractors Hill. The river fill is
designed to stabilize the slopes of adja-
cent fills behind Contractors Hill, and has
raised the grade of the river 20 feet or
more for a distance of several hundred feet.
The Rio Grande, however, has not
taken calmly to this man-made innova-
tion and appears to prefer its original bed.
Instead of flowing quietly along in its
new raised channel, it follows the winding
course of its old channel for a few feet out
onto the new fill, then disappears com-
pletely. It goes into no large hole or
cavern but simply disappears into the
ground to re-emerge at the bottom of the
fill through innumerable small crevices in
the rocks.
The Rio Grande of the Isthmus has
been tied in closely with local progress
since the beginning of recorded history.
If the Spaniards had found it more suit-
able for water-borne traffic when they
explored its course in 1527, it would
undoubtedly have been the link between
the Chagres and the Pacific coast, rather
than the Cruces trail.
Three hundred and twenty years later,
surveyors of the Panama Railroad be-
came convinced that construction of a
railroad was possible when they found the
Rio Grande valley stretching from the
. ..1'* .t .1


QUIET POOL in a wooded glade? Not at all. This
is the spot where the Rio Grande disappears under-
ground beneath a newly-constructed rock fill.


engineers
country
river, es


is not unusual


in limestone


but a man-made disappearing
oeciallv one created uninten-


tionally, isn't commonplace.


Increases


Enrollment in the Canal Zone's Latin
American schools, which was lower by 54
students at the beginning of the present
school year than on the first day of school
a year ago, took a sharp swing upward as
the month progressed.
On July 15, 11 days after the present
school session began, a total of 4,006
students were enrolled in the Latin Amer-
ican schools, in the grades from kinder-
garten through high school. This figure
was an increase of 72 in the ten-day
period and brought the total enrollment
higher by 60 students than the enrollment
in the schools on the similar day of the
preceding school term.
The two largest of the Latin American
elementary schools are Rainbow City and
Paraiso; the former has over 975 students
. ..* 1 . * I -C-�


Conversion Project Engineer

Gets Full Colonel's Eagles


Edward B. Jennings, Project
or the Power Conversion Proje
pair of silver eagles these days,
little opportunity to wear the
other military men on duty
Canal organization, he spends 9!
of his time in civilian clothes.


Engineer
ct, has a
and very
m. Like
with the


9 percent


*
Consequently, the eagles to which he
became entitled on his promotion July 15
to full colonel in the U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers stay in their box.
Born in Westport, Conn., Colonel
Jennings is a graduate of Carson- org
Institute in Pennsylvania, Syracuse Uni-
versity and the Command and General
Staff School. He holds his master's degree
from the State University of Iowa.
DIuring World War II he served as an
engineer battalion commander in the
New Hebrides, Okinawa and Japan. He
came to the Canal Zone in June 1954,
from Nashville, Tenn., where he was
Assistant District Engineer of the Nash-
ville Engineer District. His first Canal
appointment was as Project Engineer for
the work on Contractors Hill. He was
named Project Engineer for the Power
Conversion Project last April.


Classes


Start


Of


Rainbow City Junior High School has
the largest enrollment of the junior high
schools but La Boca is the larger of the
two Latin American high schools.
According to officials of the schools,
students in the upper grades are adapting
easily to the new system of all-Spanish
instruction. All classes in the Latin
American schools are being taught in
Spanish this year for the first time; Span-
ish-language instruction last year ex-
tended only through grade six. English
is taught as a separate subject. Walter
H. Oliver is in charge of the conversion
into all-Spanish instruction.)
New courses in Spanish language are
being constructed for the school curricu-
lum under the supervision of Alfred E.
Osborne for the elementary schools and
Russell H. Johns for the secondary


e'Cs
Doe


Disappearing


Latin American School Enrollment


After


]


>




August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Gigantic

On Co


n


Stairsteps

tractors Hill


Now


Nearly


Finished


The finishing touches are being given
to the gigantic stairsteps which have
been carved into Contractors Hill during
the past year. During that time the face
of the hill has completely changed appear-
ance and the danger of a rock fall into
the Canal channel has been removed.
Shovels, trucks, and bulldozers are
presently working on 150-foot level, low-
est of the berms or steps which is just 65
feet above the Canal water lvel. Under
the working schedule, the last of the hard
rock formation will be drilled, blasted,
and removed before the end of this
month.
The work remaining after the last of
the rock is removed will include the
removal of the shale access road down
the slope of Project 13, and the break-up
and removal of a relatively small amount
of rock along the Canal banks which fell
during the blasting operations. This work
is expected to take only a few days for
completion.
Cascadas At Work
While the Tecon Corporation is com-
pleting the work under its contract, the
Dredging Division's dipper dredge Cas-


cadas will be busy removing the last of
Cucaracha formation in Project 13 im-
mediately north of Contractors Hill.
Approximately 250,000 cubic yards of this
project was removed by dry excavation
by the Tecon Corporation under a supple-
mental agreement.
The removal of the knuckle which juts
into the Canal channel at that point will
increase the channel width by 150 feet
and will greatly improve navigation con-
ditions through Gaillard Cut The chan-
nel turns sharply as it passes Gold and
Contractors Hill and much of the useful-
ness of work already done on Project 13
has been nullified by the remaining tip of
Cucaracha formation which juts into
the channel.
Project 13 has been in progress on a
low priority basis by the Dredging Divi-
sion for many years. It provides for the
widening of the entire channel section
known as Culebra Reach to 500 feet.
Approximately one and a half miles of the
i i � *i I *1 l 1 ii


WITH school days just around the corner, the
younger fry are learning already that it will be
smart to be smart when taking a geography
lesson from their well groomed teacher. These
two young men, with an eye to durability as
well as style, have chosen genuine Levis from
fthe regular commissary stock. Their shirts are
two of the smart new sports styles being placed
on sale this month.
The young ladies are wearing Cinderella
frocks which are as washable as they are
pretty. Any school girl's wardrobe should
contain several of these as they will be on sale
for about $3.50. The boys are wearing
brown leather loafers made by Roberts, John-
son and Rand, and the girls have on one-strap
slippers made by Trimfoot. Teacher, not to be
outdone by her pupils, is wearing a dress
chosen from the large stock of misses' styles
now carried by the Commissary stores.
Left to right, Sandy Halliday, Gwyneth
Richard, Mrs. M. W. Foscue, Glenn Rhyne,
and Roger Hutchinson.


HIGH marks in fashion will be given these
two teenagers when they wear clothes chosen
from the back-to-school collection being
placed on sale this month by the Commissary
Division. The junior miss has a pastel cotton
dress with a crisp white collar and a Fitted
midriff. It buttons up the back and has a
full skirt.
The high school student on the left chose a
bright yellow short-sleeved sport shirt made
by Campus Sport Shirts; it is one of a number
of handsome styles being stocked by the
Conmmisscry Division for high school and col-
lege students. His trousers are navy gar-
bcrdine which has been specially treated for
spot and crease resistance. He also wears
a pair of brown leather loofeis which have
become so popular with students in all the
grades from one to twelve. The models are:
Barry Davison and Jean Chambers.


S. a n_______________ ---. a n'




.** * **


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


Employ
ferrcd tIet
listed below
not li sted.


PROMOTIONS


ees \

*\.
etc- V%
xx CCIIot
XXV


viho
Ju
\\Witl


were promoted c
ne 15 andt July


hin


}r trans-
15 are


-grade promotions are


ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH
Louis C. Caldwell, Tabulating Equipment
Operation Supervisor, from Division of
Storehouses to Statistical Tabulating Sec-
tionl.
Alfredo Lombana, Mrs. Helen M. Cicero,
from Tabulating Machine Operator, Pay-
roll Branch to Tabulating Equipment
Operator, Statistical Tabulating Section.
Mrs. Mercedes A. Borrell, from Tabu-
lating Machine Operator. Division of Store-
houses, to Tabulating Equipment Operator,
Statistical Tabulating Section.
George A. Black, Jr., from Tabulation
Planner, Dlivision of Storehouses, to Tabu-
lation Project Planner, Statistical Planning


Section.


Preston G. Gau, from
chine Operation Superviso
to Tabulating Equipment
visor, Statistical Tabulati
Jacob Plicet, Jr., from
chine Operator Supervisci
to Tabulating Equipment
tical Tabulating Section.


Tabulating Ma-
r, Payroll Branch,
Operation Super-
ng Section.
Tabulating Ma-
, Payroll Branch,
Operator, Statis-


CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU
Paul F. Karst, Jr., from Recreation
Supervisor to Physical Education Teacher,.
Division of Schools.
Mrs. Thelma N. Scott, from Clerk-Typist
to Recreation Assistant, Division of Schools.
Mrs. Marcella G. Green, from Clerk-
Stenographer to Clerical Assistant, Division
of Schools.
Thomas L. Sellers, from Relief Postmaster
to Postmaster, Margarita.
Lealand A. Larrison, from Postmaster,
Margarita, to Relief Postmaster. '
Earl F. Unruh, from Chief, Postal Divi-
sion, to Director of Posts.,
COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU


Mrs. Susan H. Boles,
to Clerk (Typing), Servi
Paul J. Laing, from
Center Division, to Su
trative Assistant, Tivoli


from Clerk-Typist
ce Center Division.


Steward,


Service


pervisory Adr
Guest House.


linis-


OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
Norbert A. Jones, from Supervisory
Accounting Clerk, Methods and Relief
Assignment Staff, to Transportation Rate
Auditing Clerk, Agents Accounts Branch.
Stephen A. Bissell, from Transportation
Rate Auditing Clerk, Agents Accounts
Branch, to Supervisory Accounting Clerk,
Methods and Relief Assignment Staff.
Mrs. Florence M. Pierson, from Account-
mn Clerk to Sunervisorv Accounting Clerk,


in*�- � -^ .^-**- *-- -~ - - -I - - _ ~
Accounting Division.
Helen N. Minor, from Time, Leave, and
Payroll Clerk, to Time, Leave, and Payroll
Supervisor, Payroll Branch.
* . -^ w .. rf .... yr' _. - .


AND


Clerk (Typing),
Electrical Divisio


Communications


Branch'


HEALTH BUREAU
Mrs. Lorna M. Shore, Staff Nurse, from
Gorgas Hospital to Coco Solo Hospital.
Nellie T. Morgan, Clerk-Typist, from
Gorgas Hospital to Board of Health Labor-
atory.
Dr. Roy B. Stewart, Dr. Robert B. White,
from Intern to Resident, Gorgas Hospital.
Dr. Richard S. Ostenso, Dr. Luis A.
Picard-Ami, from Intern, Gorgas Hospital,
to Medical Officer, Pacific Medical Clinics.
Dr. Wallace M. Snyder, from Intern,
Gorgas Hospital, to Medical Officer, Coco
Solo Hospital.
Mrs. Ida M. McDade, from Staff Nurse
to Communicable Disease Nurse, Atlantic
Medical Clinics.
Mrs. May B. Dodson, from Staff Nurse
to Head Nurse, Coco Solo Hospital.
Dr. John W. Gales, from Medical Officer
(Pediatrics) to Medical Officer (Gynecology
and Obstetrics), Coco Solo Hospital.
Dr. William E. Prier, from Medical
Officer to Hospital Resident, Gorgas Hos-
pital.
Mrs. Katherine H. Hall, Staff Nurse from
Coco Solo Hospial to Gorgas Hospital.
Mrs. Dora J. Coleman, from Medical
Technician (General) to Medical Technician
(General-Supervisory), Coco Solo Hospital.
MARINE BUREAU
Charles A. Parks, Emerson A. Cottrell,
from Guard, Atlantic Locks, to Towing
Locomotive Operator, Locks Division (Locks
Overhaul).
Carl H. Schmidt, from Towing Locomo-
tive Operator, Pacific Locks, to Guard,
Locks Security Branch (Atlantic).
SUPPLY BUREAU


Charles P.


Shay, from Assistant to Chief,


Retail Stores to Commissary Supervisor
(Assistant to Chief, Retail Stores Branch),
Commissary Division.
Roy F. Burr, from Clerical Assistant
(Typist), Colon Health Office, to Account-
ing Clerk, Commissary Division,.
Thomas G. Relihan, from Supply Officer
(Drygoods), to Superintendent, General
Products Branch, Commissary Division.
Vincent J. Huber, from Assistant Supply
Officer to Supply Officer (Drygoods), Com-
missary Division.
Robert L. Ranlkin, from Commissary


Supervisor to Assista
(Drygoods). Comnmissar
Elizabeth A. Allen,
Clerk to Clerk-Typist,


nt Supply
y Division.


Officer


from Accounting
Commissary Divi-


s1on.
TRANSPORTATION AND TERMINALS
BUREAU
Richard M. Conover, from Supervisory
Traffic Clerk to Supervisory Freight Traffic
Clerk (General), Terminals Division.
John W. Manush, Jr., from Supervisory
D-f..nnn.4. r -nr A^ C.1i ni.,i~1 ('ion 1*n1. 4* non ,;c�^ t 'ri'TI?


TRANSFERS


years, 2 n
cided.


months,


26 days;


Address unde-


Thomas McNeill, Ireland; Car
Foreman, Pacific Locks; 15 years, 3 m
6 days; Pittsford, Vt.
Ralph N. Stewart, Illinois; Supe
Accounting Clerk, Commissary Di
29 years, 1 month, 27 days; Florida.
Agnes E. Sugrue, Connecticut;:


Health
years,


Nurse, Cola


4 months,


Health Offi
s; Brooklyn,


penter
months,

rvisory
vision;

Public
ce; 25
N.Y.


ANNIVERSARIES


When Emmett Zemer went to work for
the Canal organization on July 10, 1913, he
had no more idea than most men of that
period that he would still be a Canal Zonian
42 years later. He is one of three employ-
ees whose continuous service predates 1914
and one of 13 still working who had con-
struction-day service.
He is now Real Property Assistant in the
office of the Director of the Community
Services Bureau. He began his" Canal


service at the Gorgona


Commissary and


later worked in a number of the retail
commissary stores. He had hotel experi-
ence at the Washington and the Tivoli, but
his longest assignment was the 26 years he
spent in what used to be known as the
District Quartermaster's Office in Balboa.
He has been at Balboa Heights since 1953.
With 42 years of continuous Canal
service he heads this month's list of anni-
versaries.
35 YEARS
Two Canal employees share honors for
35 years of government service completed
last month, although in both cases their
Canal service is not that long. They are
' . *� rt ** fl fl '-in. -r


June 15 through July 15


w


j


JULY RETIREMENTS

Retirement certificates were presented
the end of July to the following employees
who are listed alphabetically, together with
their birthplaces, titles, length of Canal
service and future addresses:
Lester F. Bailey, Maine; Governmental
Accountant, Industrial Division; 29 years,
10 months, 6 days; Schnectady, N. Y.
Hallie Beavers, North Carolina; Teacher,
Balboa High School; 23 years, 10 months;
North Carolina.
Samuel S. Blackburn, Tennessee; Police-
man, Cristobal District; 35 years, 1 month,
17 days; St. Petersburg, Fla.
Charles H. Fairn-brother, North Dakota;
Layerout Machinist, Industrial Division;
36 years, 10 months, 17 days; Panama,
R.P.
Roger H. Greene, Washington, D. C.;
Claims Examiner, Fiscal Division; 28 years,
8 months, 7 days; Alexandria, Va.
George Herman, Illinois; Chief, Police
Division; 40 years, 2 months, 23 days;
Address uncertain.
Ludwig A. Maurer, New York; Control
House Operator, Pedro Miguel Locks; 28


I
1
[


I





August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Kuhrt; Washington, D. C., Kurt F. Menzel
and Will R. Price; Michigan, Jerome F.
Evans; Ohio, Philip S. Thornton; Wiscon-
sin, Herbert F. Paddock.
These nine completed 30 years of Govern-
service in July. All but two, Mr. Armistead
and Mr. Thornton, have continuous Canal
service.
Mr. Evans-Jerry to almost everyone-
is manager of the Balboa Commissary; Mr.
Gregory is Chief Foreman of the Dredg-
ing Division's shops; Captain Kuhrt and
Captain Rowe are two of the Atlantic side's
senior pilots; Mr. Menzel is General
Supervisory Medical Technican at the
Board of Health Laboratory; Mr. Paddock
is Chief Dispatcher and also Chief of the
Miraflores Diesel Generation Station; Mr.
Price is head of the bindery section at the
Printing Plant at Mount Hope-his crew
worked on this issue of THE PANAMA


CANAL


REVIEW.


EXECUTIVE REGULATION 19


EDITOR S


NOTE:


VI. Travel and Transportation Expenses of Em-
ployees and Their Immediate Families in
Connection With Leave For Returning to


I Place


A revision of Executive


Regulation No. 19, covering travel and
transportation was issued at Balboa Heights
recently. It will be published in install-
ments with the index and first installment


carried


who desire
nation.


in this issue for the benefit of those


to clip and save the entire


CANAL ZONE
PANAMA CAl


OFFICE


Revision


regu-


SEC. 6.6
S-c. 6.7


GOVERNMENT
NAL COMPANY


OF THE GOVERNOR-PRESIDENT

BALBOA HEIGHTS, C. Z.
Jun.- 24, 1055.


Executive Regulation No. 19


TRAVEL


AND TRANSPORTATION OF EM-


PLOYEES, THEIR FAMILIES, HOUSEHOLD


Mr. Armistead is Leader Molder and
Maintenance Mechanic with the Industrial
Division and Mr. Thornton, who held his
first Canal job when he was a schoolboy,
is General Manager of the Service Center
Division.
25 YEARS
Five of the eight employees who cornm-


pleted
service
record


quarter-century c
July have had


)f Government


an un


with the Canal organization.


broken
They


are:


Richard Conley, a native Zonian, Loco-
motive Engineer with the Railroad Division;
James A. Fraser, Dredging Supervisor with
the Dredging Division; Stephen C. Les-
sard, Accounting Clerk with the Industrial
Division; C. B. McIlvaine, Senior Conductor
with the Railroad Division; and Ellen
Tiernan, a Staff Nurse at Gorgas Hospital.
Other 25-year employees are: Woodford
M. Babbitt, a Rotary Drill Operator with
the Dredging Division-he was born in


Alaska but grew up in


the Canal Zone;


William H. Hele a Contraband Control
Inspector; and Elmer B. Orr, Accounting
Supervisor with the Agents Accounts
Branch. Mr. Hele and Mr. Orr were born
in the Canal Zone.
20 YEARS
The employees who completed 20 years
of Government service in July are split,
half and half, between those with continu-
ous Canal service and those whose service
was broken. Those with unbroken service
are:
John C. Dansby, Carpenter Foreman,
Maintenance Division; George C. Dunlap,
Assistant Project Engineer for the Power
Conversion Project; Herman Hessell, Fire-
man with the Balboa District; Irvin E.
Krapfl, Assistant Relief Marine Bunkering
Foreman with the Terminals Division;
R. H. Masters, Sanitation Inspector, De-
partment of Zone Sanitation; Floyd A.
Robinson. Policeman at the Cristobal


Station; Samuel Roe, Jr., also a police
officer in the Balboa District; Luther B.
Sartain, Jr., Chief of the Electrical-Mechan-
ical Branch of the Engineering Division;
and Herbert H. Tabert, Floating Crane
Master with the Dredging Division.
Those 20-year employees whose Canal


GOODS


AND PERSONAL


EFFECTS


CONTENTS
I. General
c. 1.1 Scope.
c. 1.2 Definitions.
c. 1.3 Travel expense of employees.
c. 1.4 Transportation expenses of employees and
their families.
c. 1.5 Time limits.
c. 1.6 Employees not affected-.
c. 1.7 Determination of transportation lighlits.
II. Transportation of Household Goods and
Personal Effects


Maximum allowance fo
Allowances for packing.


r transportation.


crating,


unpacking


and uncrating.
Allowance for drayage.
Items not allowable and items allowable,
Temporary storage.
Means of shipment.
Origin and destination of shipment.
Use of Government bill of lading.
Use of lift vans.
Preparation of vouchers-
Valuation.
Shipment by American vessels.
Itemization of charges.
Procedure for obtaining shipment of goods
and effects.


Customs inspection on the
Certification of weights.
ments and contents.


disposition


SEC. 2.17 Preparation and
of lading.


Isthmlius.
cubic measure-


ocean bills


Routing and consignment of shipments.
Customs fees.
Reimbursement of expenses not authorized
Billing for expenses.


III. Transfers


Between


Official


Stations


Payment of expenses-
Responsibility for costs.
Designation of official station.


IV. Travel and Transportation Expenses of New
Appointees
SEC. 4.1 Payment of expenses.
SEC. 4.2 Agreement to remain in service-
SEC. 4.3 New appointees; restored veterans not
included.
SEC. 4.4 New appointees; for employees not included
under certain conditions.


SEC. 4.5


New appointees; local employment not
included


SEC. 4.6 Exceptions to general policy.


V. Trav


el and Transportation on Termination
of Employment


Employees and ex-employees


entitled to


travel and transportation allowances.
SEC. 5.2 Employees not entitled to travel and
transportation.
SEC. 5.3 Famtilies, household goods and personal
effects, transportation of.
SEc. 5.4 Prior return of immediate family and of
household goods and personal effects.
SEc. 5.5 Creditable service with other United States
Government agencies for travel and
transportation allowances.


of Residence Bet
Eligibility.
Service period for
Travel allowance.
Limitations.


:ween Tours


of Duty


teachers.


Creditable service with other
Government agencies for
benefits.


Route and mode of
Departure of imm


United States
leave travel


travel.
ediate family


subsequent to departure of employee.
Liability of employee.
Use of Government Transportation R
quests.


Submission
Liability of


compliance


of voucher.


employee


in instances


with terms of new


I non-
agree-


mnent.
VII. Prior Regulations Revoked
SEc. 7.1 Prior regulations revoked.
I. GENERAL
I.1 Scope. The following regulations are pre-
scribed to govern travel of employees and the trans-
portation of their families, household gods and
personal effects on appointment, change of social
station, termination, and leave. In addition to
implementing administrative regulations, these regu-
lations incorporate certain pertinent provisions of the
Administrative Expenses Act of August 2, 1946, 60


Stat. 806 ("Public Law 600"), as amended; Executive
orders promulgated under such Act; regulations of
the Bureau of the Budget issued under authority
delegated by Executive Order 10530, of May 10,
1954, 19 F. R. 2709; and Executive Order 1888 of
February 2, 1914, as amended.
CROSS REFERENCE
For regulations governing the transport
tion of the Remains. Families, and Effects of
Deceased Employees, see Executive Regula-
tion No. 18 of August 18. 1951.


1.2 Definitions.


As used in these regulations:


(a) "Place of actual residence means, in the
case of appointments made in the United States,
the place at which such appointee physically
resided at time of appointment. In the case of
employees who were appointed while on tihe
Isthmus, actual place of residence shall be
deemed to be such appointee's legal residence in


the United States at the time of appointment.
In the case of an appointee who was born on the
Isthmus or who came to the Canal Zone as a
minor, place of actual residence, in the absence


of subsequent acquisition of a legal residence in
the United States, shall be deemed to be the
legal residence of his father in the United States.
(Based on Comptroller General's Decision B/62267
of January 15. 1947. 26 Cornp. Gen. 488)
(b) "Employee" means a full-time employee
of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone
Government,
(c) "Immediate family" means any of the
following named members of the employee's
household: Spouse, children, including step-
children and adopted children, unmarried and
under twenty-one years of age or physically or
mentally incapable of supporting themselves
regardless of age, or dependent parents of the


employee
(From section
(d) 0"O
within thi
as define


(but not of the spouse).
1 (d) of Executive Order 9805)


official station
e district in
d in section


from which the emDoI


in" includes any point
which he normally works.
3.3 of these regulations.
vee commutes daily to his


official post of duty.
(From section 8 of Executive Order 9805,
by Executive Order 10196)
(e) "Temporary storage" means


as amended
storage at


point of departure, destination, or way station
for nor more than 61 days. except that not more
than 90 days may ba allowed where an employee
pursuant to section 6.3 of these regulations,
returns for leave prior to serving a new period
of service outside the continental United States
at a different post of duty.
(Based on section 1 (c) of Executive Order 9805. as
amended by Bureau of the Budget Circular A-4
of May 2, 1955)
(f) "United States" means the continental
United States, its territories and possessions,
other than the Canal Zone.
1.3 Travel expenses of employees. Travel expenses
of the employees shall be allowed in accordance with
the Travel Expense Act of 1949 (63 Stat. 166), the
Standardized Government Travel Regulations; and
Psnanam Cannl Conmnanv rpmnilations tinnlementarv


� I


are:





16 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


Executive Regulation 19
((. n , /I om page 1; )


Makes


First


Canal


Transit


; . t e pLu ofi mpluynenrt ( Caal Zone l or
I h n to cmp-e * a~ctuid residence in the
I Rites ssr 10m;o" other tocatotli within
ihr ! mntf' , tu 1 'i>iy oIr | TSA i(ln in wiclI
-i i i>1 , wi u l resil'nce is located; pro-
d{ Kl'i th< Sr<;vri d 1 U[ 11-p t 1rli~tLi expen lse.-
tI� . ShIA ll not exceed those allowed over a
i-i ,itlkl irloute between the post of duty
a ito ih< Wuit or . fliterent pust of duty outside
th cit inentaI rieed States.
;Ha� d 1 i -^ (t: 27 (bI o iExecutive Order 9S305, as
vidld by HIrem oUt nthe Budget ('ircuhlair A-4 of
May 2, 1i55
id) (hd ~ riy, expenses incurred prior to the
ip iant' t a travl'I order ;are not reimbursable.
\ A i >d ordkr i' I'ce s;ry for transportatlonl of
t, frai uily anl ious1hold goods regardless of
wtilh-tr r r not the e npl sye was issued a travel
old I ifor tiii self.
ia) The tr vel ofi terminuated employees allows
able uindh these leg IIltions shall be only such
travel as i< mncidenItal to the termination of tih?
.'ripl)loyilent, an I shlii ll commence within a
t CisiI abl2 11li', inot t )exce2,l six months, after
-uch termint itimn. I an e nployee for voluntary
p>r1 m il t<'onsS doe( nt t ike advantage of th?
re pati rtion travel allowable under these regula-
timons within such time limit, then none of the
expclnst of the return of the employee (except
as the proviSiios of Section 5.6 of these regula-
tions may apply), his family, or his household
goods or personal effects, sh ill be payable under
tlihe se regui.tl ai'ns.
(b) All employment, transfer or termination
travel and transportation of an employee's fam-
ily, h ouisehliold go:)d and personal effects, allow-
able under tihes regulations, shall begin within
two yeirs from thie effective date of the em-
ployee's appointment or transfer, or from the
time of a terminated employee s repatriation, as
thie case may be. exclusive of the time spent on
furlough granted: for the duration of active
military, naval, or Coast Guard duty, and, in
snu ar as concerns travel and transportation i
outside the United State.s, exclusive of any
period which shipping restrictions make the
travel and transportation impossible.
(Based on section 5 of Executive Order 9805 and
Comptroller Generals Decision B 79912 of Novem-
her 3, 1948, 28 Comp. Gen. 285)
I.O Emplycet no.t affecti. These regulations shirll
not apply to persons whose pay and allowances are
est iblished by thie Career Compensation Act of 1949)
(63 Stit. S02).
(From section 11 of Executive Order 9805, as amended
by Executive Order 10196)
1 7 Dlcrmination of transpfriatiwn rights. The
members of an employees imnnmed ate family and tlhe
household goods and personal effects to be trans-
ported at Government expense shall be determined
as of the effective date of the transfer or leave travel
order authorizing such transportation or, in case ot
terminal tion, as of the effective date of the termination.

EXECUTIVEREGULATION 51

CANAL ZONE GOVERNMENT
PANAMA CANAL COMPANY
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-PRESIDENT
BALBOA HEIGHTS, C. Z.
June 30, 1955.
Executive Regulation No. 51
REGULATION OF SALE AND USE OF
FIREWORKS
By virtue of tire authority contained in Section
52t of Title 2, of thle Canal Zone Code, as added by
the Act of June 28, s1955 (Public Law 105, 84th
Congress. 1st Session), thie following regulations are
prescribed for the sale and use of fireworks in the
Canal Zone: .
"Sec. 1. The s5le of fireworks in tihe Canal Zone is
prohibited. ,
"Sec. 2. The use or firing of fireworks in the Canal!
Zonw is prohibited, except as hereinafter provided.
"zSec. 3. The term "fireworks" shall mean and
inchlide any comnbustibhl or explosive composition,
.. .. ,. + n rttnfc Ar emnhirat imn (if salystanc'll.- or


THREE Panama Canal pilots were aboard the 28,790-ton SS Orsova when she made her maiden transit
of the Panama Canal last month. The Orsova is 723 feet overall and has a beam of 90.65 feet; this gave
her a clearance of less than 10 feet on each side in the lock chambers. Ten towing locomotives took her
through the locks. The Orsova was en route from Sydney, Australia, to London with 992 passengers.


Adantic Side Equipment Conversion
Contract Among Largest Of Power Projects

(Contitnue from page 1) ventilating fans,
450 pieces of hobby-shop equipment, and


260 pieces o
The cast
will be met
funds. In
ment, the o
individual p
to 60-cycle


f miscellaneous equipment.


of
by
the
wn
>iec
fre


accept a cash


tr
fo
po
BE
pa
is
us


actor equal t
r converting 1
licy, which h
)ard of Dire
ny, will gove
in op3ratino
ed regularly 1


converting all equipment
Power Conversion Project
case of household equip-
er may choose to have an
e of equipment converted
iquency or at his option
settlement from the Con-
Lo the contract bid-price
the unit in question. This


Las
cta
rn

by


been approved by the
ors of the Canal Corn-
on all equipment which
condition and is being
the owner.


No technical difficulties are foreseen by
Canal engineers planning the project
although a maze of intricate work sched-


New


Division


Chief


1 v.v, V T~


ules must be developed and coordinated
to prevent undue delays. These sched-
ules will be set up by the contractor with


the concurrence of
Engineering and
The conversion
simplified by the i
mission facilities
areas in the Canal
cases, duplicate e


Col. Hugh M. Arnold,
Construction Director.
work will be greatly
fact that double trans-
are available to most
Zone. And, in many
equipment is available


for Company-Government service units.
This equipment can be converted for
60-cycle use in advance and can be
placed in operation when 60-cycle cur-
rent is available.
Domestic Conversion
In the case of domestic equipment, the
conversion will proceed in small groups
of quarters fed by the same transformer.
The householder will be notified in
advance of the date when the change will
be made from 25-cycle to 60-cycle current
and all frequency sensitive equipment will
be disconnected just prior to the switch-
over. Conversion of such essential equip-
ment as refrigerators will be completed
g rn.nidlv na nnsiqihln n-owivr an.rp


"' " """ "~r��:; -��~RP"I" ~, i ri"rfx~"~




August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


COMMERCIAL

TOTAL T


SHIPPING


RANSITS


SETS


BELOW


RECORD


FOR


PREVIOUS


CANAL;


YEARS'


FIGURES


Commercial shipping lacked only three
transit of reaching the 8,000-mark for
ocean-going vessels during the past fiscal


year, a new record in the Can
ating history for this class of tra


Most


Frequent


User


all's oper-
ffic.


of


Canal


Traffic last year by U. S. Government
shipping through the Canal was far below
that of the previous years, with the result
that transits by ships of all categories fell
below the totals of either the two pre-
vious years. Transits last year totaled
9,760 for vessels of all classes, while the
totals for each of the fiscal years 1953
and 1954 exceeded 10,000.
There were 296 transits by ocean-going
Government ships last year, as compared
with 800 the previous year. The 7,997
transits by ocean-going commercial ves-
sels was over 200 above in the previous
fiscal year, which also was a record.
Cargo tonnage last year was at an
all-time high with 40,646,301 tons, approx-
imately 550,000 tons more than the total
for the fiscal year 1954 when a new
record was established.
Tolls for the past fiscal year amounted
to $35,136,529 of which $1,217,536 was
for the Government ships in transit. The
tolls declined from the record of $37,191,-
106 in the previous fiscal year, even
though tolls on commercial shipping were
slightly higher in 1955 than in 1954.
The decline in the amount of Govern-
ment shipping began soon after the cessa-
tion of hostilities in Korea and continued
throughout the past fiscal year.
New Monthly Record


The amount


of commercial


traffic


through the Canal remained high through-
out the year, there being only two months
when there were less than 640 transits by
ocean-going vessels. A new monthly
record in number of ocean-going transits
was set last March with 709 transits. A
monthly record in amount of tolls was
set in May with $3,072,000, this being
the only time in the Canal's 46 years of
onnratinu history that tolls on commer-


MOST FREQUENT Canal visitor during the fiscal year which ended June 30 was the 3,946-ton refrig-
erated ship above, the Brazilian Reefer. She made 55 Canal transits in the 12-month period on her run
between the United States East Coast and banana ports in Ecuador, carrying between 1,000 and 1,500
tons of bananas on each northbound trip. She is of Danish registry; her master for most of the year has
been Captain H. J. Moeller. Continental Shipping Company is her agents.
Second most frequent Canal visitor was another banana carrier, the 1,250-ton Honduran ship Vanda.
She made 48 Canal transits in fiscal year 1955, carrying an average of 350 tons of fruit on each northbound
trip. The Vanda's master is Captain Harold Rasmussen; her agents, W. Andrews & Co.
MONTHLY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND TOLLS
Vessels of 300 tons net or over
By fiscal years


Month


July -
August .-
September
\ _. . L .-


Transits


640
652
660
A02


638
640
612
.C1


1938
457
505
444
i.Ai


(In thot
1955
$2.646
2,752
2,756
) Qa l


Tolls
sands of doll


1954
$2,817
2,778
2,591
I re


STATISTICS ON CANAL TRAFFIC
For the purpose of comparison between pre-war and post-war traffic through the Panama Canal, statistics for
the fiscal year 1938 are used in this section, as being more nearly normal for peace time than those for 1939.


1938
$2,030
2,195
1,936
1 OC1


I


I


,




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


August 5, 1955


Italian


Line


Ship


Visits


To


Isthmus


Predated


Construction


Of


Panama


Canal


The Italian Line which has had offices
in the Canal Zone since 1916 for its
passenger-freight trade between the Med-
iterranean and the west coast of South
and North America makes current use of
the Panama Canal with three passenger
ships and five freighters which make
some 53 transits a year.


The three


America-Pacific
famous Italian
men whose met
chosen to hone
traveled in the
dimare, who ex
and Amerigo
probably the b
since his name
world and he
voyages in the


* ..

' tl


passenger ships on the South


run bear the names of


navigators.


no
)r
0
pl
Ve
est


The three


ry the Italian Line has
are Marco Polo, who
rient, Antoniotto Uso-
ored the African Area,
spucci. The latter is
t known to Americans


oN
WI/:n-^ /-._,_


f was given to the new
made several exploration
Western Hemisphere a


few years after Columbus.
The three ships belong to a series of


six buil
Societa
world t
Panam;
opened
They
design,
swimmi
Although
luxury
Line or
routes,
lar amo


t by the Italian Line ("ITALIA"
di Navigazione, Cenca) for its
rade, much of which has used the
a Canal since the time it was
to traffic in 1914.


n
h
1
t
)n


are
with
gpo
i no
mnern
the
hey


attractive ships of n
comfortable state
ols, bars, and movie lo
t comparable with t
s operated by the
North- and South-A
are nevertheless very


modern
rooms,
)unges.
he big
Italian
tlantic
popu-


ig travelers on the west coast of


South America.


Pre-War Days


During the years before
II, the Italian Line was
tomer of the Panama C,
which grew steadily from
brought from 40 to 60
freight ships through th
year from Mediterranean


e World War
a steady cus-
anal. A trade
1921 to 1939
passenger and
e Canal each
ports en route


to the west coast of South America and
the Pacific coast of the United States and
Canada. In addition there were a num-
ber of cruise vessels which visited Canal
waters but did not transit, and several
other Italian flag ships which were repre-
sented here by the Italian Line. In
fiscal year 1939 for instance, 59 Italian
ships used the Canal, and carried 179,468
tons of cargo. That year alone. Italian


DR. R. C. PERNIGOTTI, Manager of the Italian
Line in Cristobal, came to the Isthmus in 1926,


routes but both having Colon


as their


terminal points.
Therefore present services of the com-
pany from the Mediterranean to Carib-
bean area up to and beyond the Panama
Canal go back many years.
When the Panama Canal opened for
business, the Italian Line began service
to the west coast of South America with
three passenger ships. In 1915 the
line obtained a lot on the water front in
Cristobal for the construction of a two-
story office building which would also
serve as quarters for the manager. The
building was constructed in 1916. The
first manager to move into the building
was Manfredo Pincherli, a well-known
resident of Panama who had lived on the
Isthmus during the construction days.
His assistant was the late O. Heilbron,


equally
When
manage:
Italian
Canal.
in THE


well known.
SMr. Pincherli took
r of the new office, v
ships were using the
According to statistics
PANAMA CANAL RECORD,


over as
ery few
Panama
shown
only 40


Italian ships made the Canal transit
between 1915 and 1921.
From that time on, however, business
increased and by the end of 1921 two
Italian shipping companies had estab-
lished regular service between Genoa and
Valparaiso. They were the Navigazione
Italiara a Vapore (La Veloce), and the
Navigazione Generale Italiana.
La Veloce Line started its service with


a steamer sailing about
This was an extension th:
of the service which had
for a number of years
and Caribbean ports by w
Barcelona, and Teneriff
line put a freight ship


every


45 days


every 60 days.
rough the Canal
been operating
between Italian
ay of Marseilles,
e. The second
over this trade
and started a


passenger service.
Italian ships began operating from
Europe to the west coast of the United
States and Canada in 1925 with the
SS Piave of the Navigazione Libera
Triestina. This company put new 10,-


000-ton
among
which
shipping
The
the we;
20's an


motor ships
them the MS Le
became well-k
g circles.
South American
st coast service
d 30's with the


on this service,
me and MS Fella,
nown min Canal


service as well as
grew in the late
addition of the


MS Orazio and the MS Virgilio, two pas-
senger freight vessels of 11,700 tons


which traveled regularly
Canal to Valparaiso up to


through
941.


Pacific Coast Service


In 19
senger 1
freighter
coast sei
Cunard
tioned
Californi
largest
between
coast up
In 19
and the
into onl


30
rin
*s
"viS
'VI(
lin
an
.a,


and 1931 several large
rs were added to the
ready on the Pacific
e. They included the to
r Albania which was rect
a renamed California.
a 12,000-ton ship, was


vessel to be placed in service
Europe and the Pacific west
to that time.
32 the South America service
west coast service were merged
i one company (See page 19)


, --- .


I5


i ,,.




August 5, 1955


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


SHIPS AND SHIPPING
Transits by Ocean-Going Vessels
In June
1955 1954
Commercial. 653 660
U. S. Government.. 31 40
Total ...... 684 700
Tolls*
Commercial. .... $2,811,652 $2,769,789
U. S. Government.. 149,631 144,608
Total ..-... $2,961,283 $2,914,397
*Includes tolls on all vessels, ocean-going and small.
Tuna boats, long a familiar sight in
Balboa Harbor, have become regular
transit customers of the Canal during
recent months following the opening of a
new tuna cannery at Ponce on the south
coast of Puerto Rico. About 2,500 tons
of tuna have been shipped through the
Canal to the new cannery since the first
of this year. Most of the sleek, white
fishing craft formerly made the long haul
to California with their catch. The run
to Puerto Rico is made in about half the
time required for the trip to California.

Italian Line Ship Visits To Isthmus
Predated Construction Of Panama Canal
(Continued from page 18) called the Societa
Italia Flotte Riunite.
Almost all the fine fleet of ships was
lost during World War II. The Italian
Line offices in Cristobal were closed and
regular shipping business was not resumed
until 1947 when the MS Sebastiana Caboto
arrived from Genoa en route to Valparaiso
with passengers and freight.
At present only one of the pre-war
ships, the SS Conte Biancamano, is in the
Caribbean service. This vessel is well-
known locally since it was held in Cris-
tobal harbor for several months at the
beginning of the war and was later taken
over as a troop transport by the U. S.
Government. At present it operates
between Genoa and La Guayra, Vene-
zuela, during part of the year, and from
Genoa to New York the rest of the time.
Three Volcanoes


In
the S
other
Canal
nean
They
Tritot
Th


addition to the three new ships on
south American run, there are five
Italian Line ships which transit the
I on regular runs from Mediterra-
ports to the Pacific west coast.
are the Vesuvio, Etna, Stromboli,
te, and Nereide.
e Andrea Doria, one of a group of


new Italian Line ships built since the
war for the New York trade, visited
Cristobal last year on a cruise.


CANAL TRANSITS
__COMMERCIAL AND U. S. GOVERNMENT

IFiscal Year


Commercial vessels:
Ocean-going --..............
*Small..-......-..

Total commercial .-........
**U. S. Government vessels, ocean-
going--------.--------..
*Small - -.. . . . --

Total commercial and U. S.
Government


Atlantic
to
Pacific

4,002
575
4,577

168
89

4,834


Pacific
to
Atlantic

3,995
574
4,569

128
229

4.926


Total


7,997
1,149
9,146

296
318

9.760


*Vessels under 300 net tons or 500 displacement tons.
**Vessels on which tolls are credited. Prior to July 1, 1951, Government-operated
ships transited free.
TRAFFIC MOVEMENT OVER MAIN TRADE ROUTES
The following table shows the cargo shipments in thousands of long tons segregated
into eight main trade routes:


1954

Total


7,784
1,222

S9,006

800
339

10.145


1938

Total


5,524
931
6,455

441



6,896


United States Intercoastal .................
East Coast of U. S. and South America .
West Indies and West Coast 1V. S./Canada...
East Coast of U. S./Canada and Far East... -
U. S./Canada East Coast and Australasia- -.-
Europe and West Coast of U. S./Canada----
Europe and South America-- .. ...- -.�.. ...
Europe and Australasia .----------- .- . ...-----.....
All other routes--. . .. - -. . . . . .. ... ....
Total Traffic - -... ... .


I Fiscal Year


1955
5,978
5,971

1,186
8,393
1,274
5,094
2,527
2,328
7,895
40.646


1954
5,017

6,673
501

8,975
1,306

4,379
2,037

2,303

7,904
39,095


1938
6,395
2,652
669
4,912
992
4,237
2,974

1,251
3,304
27,386


Canal commercial traffic by nationality of vessels


Fiscal Years
1954


Nationality


Argentine --
Belgian ....
Brazilian .......
British_
Chilean ..._ ..
Chinese . ..
Colombian ...
Costa Rican - -.
Cuban---------
Danish _ - ---.
Ecuadorean .
Estonian .


Finnish _
French_.. -


1955
Num- T
ber of Tons
transits of cargo

15 8,908
10 35,191
1,145 6,897,789
60 323,734
38 289,543
198 261,249
31 212,055


)9
132


014.334
79,164


44,750
585.123


Num-
ber of
transit
1
10


275
106

2
136


Tons
of cargo
7,555
12,733

7,726,640
429,245
130,112
240,640
259,137


14,828
582,989


1938
Num-
ber of Tons
transits of cargo


1,281
9
2

2
223


I * � .


5


SVI *U


~


I


,


,




c: * : ' I " * p -. *


Shipment

Reach

In Pi


A1 -TiI


ast


Fii


Cargo

mne High

scal Yea


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


lr


The amount of cargo shipped through
the Panama Canal during the fiscal year
1955, ended June 30, exceeded by more
than one-and-a-half million tons the
record set in the previous year.
Heavy shipments of oil through the
Canal from the Pacific accounted for the
increase since fluctuations in the amount
of other commodities were generally of
a minor nature. The amount of mineral
oil shipped from the Atlantic to the
Pacific last year was slightly under the
previous year's figures, but oil shipped
from the Pacific to the Atlantic increased
by approximately 1,650,000 tons.
The major increase in the tanker trade
from the Pacific to the Atlantic was
attributed to heavy shipments of fuel and
diesel oil on the United States Intercoastal
route and from United States ports to the
West Indies. These amounted to 1,250,-
000 tons.
Coal and coke being moved through
the Canal to Japan continued at a high
level during the past year, although ship-
ments were 500,000 tons under the pre-
vious year's figures. This trade has been
one of the significant factors in Canal
traffic since the close of the war.


Pacific-Atlantic Up
The increase in commodity shipments
last year was entirely in the Pacific-to-
Atlantic movement. The amount of
commodities shipped from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, totaling 18,419,000 tons,
was slightly under the total of the
previous year. The comparative figures
min the Pacific to Atlantic trade were
20,892,000 in 1954, and 22,227,000 tons
last year.
In addition to the big increase in oil
shipments, gains were shown in the
Pacific-to-Atlantic trade in lumber, ni-


trate,
pulp,
comm
than
ments
produ
coffee


bananas, metals, barley, wood
and copra. Among the principal
odities, however, these were more
overbalanced by decreased ship-
of ore, wheat, sugar, canned food
cts, refrigerated food products,
, and raw cotton, although none of


August 5, 1955


Port Captains-Arriving and Departing


a -
*-

O--

S-
Io



%I -
Cab -
a


CAPT. ANTHONY ROESSLER (pronounced Ressler), new Balboa Port Captain, started the orientation
tour of his new domain in the Marine Traffic Comptroller's Office at Balboa where a magnetic map board
shows the location of all transiting ships. Capt. Horatio Lincoln, outgoing Port Captain, is explaining that
the numbered, white tag shows that the ship which was No. 4 on the day's northbound schedule was
then in Miraflores Lake.
Captain Roessler arrived July 13 from command of the fleet oil tanker Ashtabula. In addition to his
duties at Captain of the Port of Balboa he is a member of the Board of Local Inspectors and a member of the
Board of Admeasurement.


Principal commodities shipped through the Canal
(All figures in thousands of long tons)
ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC
Fiscal Year
Commodity
1955 1954 1938

Mineral oils . .. . . ... . 4,305 4,486 907
Coal and coke.. ... . .... 3,274 3,374 137
Manufactures of iron and steel- ----- 1,792 1,843 1,859
Phosphates ..-----..- -----------1,043 813 328
Soybeans and products ---.... --- ------- 557 577 3
Sugar .. ..... .... ......- ---520 497 57
Sulphur -- ----- -------- 463 417 297
Paper and paper products-- ..---.. .. 377 368 423
Cement- . - --- ----- --------------- 300 283 154
Ammonium compounds .. .. 295 184 71
Machinery . .... .... 285 289 168
Automobiles and parts 268 242 208
Chemicals, unclassified ..... ------ 233 192 109
Raw cotton . .... ..... .... 226 255 142
Wheat --.-.....-...----------.....--. -216 138 10
All others.. .-.. . . .... ... .. .......... ... - 4.265 3;820 3,653
Total ........ ... .- 18,419 18,458 9- - - 676
'Total 18,419 18,458 9,676


j