PANM


MEkL V m L- VV
Vol. 8, No. 2 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, SEPTEMBER 6, 1957 5 cents


Gf of the Peaame Canal M


*, s





Won't You Walk In The Park?


Visitors feel as if they were really in the jungle when they walk down this shady path at Summit Park.


.4umnmit Garden isn't Summit Garden
any more. It's Summit Park now.
At\ \- an intur...-tAini place to visit, the
2-'"-ar.r area on a slope of the Conti-
nental DIIh. j is being transformed into
a real recreation center. There Zonians
and their visitors can rest and relax and,
while relaxing, learn painlessly about
local flora and fauna.
Transformation of the 34-year-old
Experiment Garden into a tropical park
is in the green-thumbed hands of the
Housing and Grounds Division. Even
before a special recreation survey com-
mittee decided that the Garden had all
sorts of piciihilitiri. Housing and
Grounds forces were busy at work at
Summit, taking advantage of those
same possibilities.
T,.dl;y, visitors to Summit can spot a
marked --h.imL'. from the Garden of the
past and by the time the dry season ar-
rives an even greater difference should be
evident.
The entrance to the park has been
brightened up with gay red-and-white

J. C. Randall and Dudley Jones study
future plans for the new park at Summit.



14t 1,


posts and soon a handsome new sign will
announce that here is Summit Park. The
grass plot in front of the main iffi, .. build-
ing has been surrounded by a low, spark-
:ig-\\hite picket fence, and the one-time
carport, which used to shelter several
official vehicles, now houses a small zoo.
Already showing off for park visitors
are John, a spider monkey who thinks he's
people; four white-faced monkeys who
live in apparent harmony with several
tiny marmosets; a three-toed sloth which,
.-lthi--. does :inthini much; an agouti;
an owl which eats dog biscuit; and '21
parakeets of assorted shades and colors,
who have been fitted out with a breeding
cage, just in case. And there are, -till,
the three brilliantly hued macaws which
have been l,htugr,.ihir .-ul.j t- fir many
a visitor in the past.
Across the road, in a Ip.tting shed, Ol.,-
containers hold a few snakes and some
fantastically-colored frogs. The park also
has on hand, soon to be put on display, a
beautiful collection of local shells.
Some of the most eye-catching of the
changes at the park are the new serpen-
tine walks which branch off the main
road not far from the entrance. The
paths are only about a thousand feet
long, which isn't too far to meander
under a tropical sun nor too far to run
if a sudden shower comes up.
When the Il.intitin which will border
the walks is finished, visitors will have the
illusion that they are %.ill inc through a
tunnel of tropical fli.:c.- Each walkway
will be so screened by hushes and shrubs
that the road, only a few feet away in
some places, cannot be seen.
One path, which winds past the orchid
house, some clumps of bamboo and a h.IrJ
mango tree, will be bordered with bright
tIli- ring shrubs and low lH ..r...iin'L
plants. (Crotn, brilliantly leafed caladi-
um, and ..,r i;..i.I I hibiscus will serve as
a 1I..i1 I L' ,i,, l
Another ur' ii!l path, to be named
Tropical Walk, will lead visitor: through
a typical jungle -, .1, Its entrance is be-
tween two .-, ..i heaps of rock which will
S.. I,,.,llv be covered by philodendron
and other creepers. Palms, ferns, and


various sp*,ri.q- of heliconia and other
junl1, plants will border this path. Mid-
way along the Tropical Walk will be
a grotto where a small stream will be
trained to bubble over moss-covered
stones.
The old bamboo walk and the mango-
steen walk have been cleaned up, new
b'rid'lcr built, and benches placed at con-
venient spots. Benches are already in
place, or soon will be, along the other
paths as well.
The present 32 picnic tables in the
park will be supplemented by 30 more,
and several new barbecue pits are to be
built. One of these will be at the end
of a new path to the upper lily pond,
where the old bohio is also to be rebuilt.
The lily ponds have been cleaned
ready for the next batch of youngsters
to fall into and the Summit alligator
is on hand to excite picture-takers.
On the hillside above the upper lily
pond, lur.r.iil:. illba: bushes are already
gettingg .I -t:irt. Sit\lral varieties have
been planted and in a few years the slope
will be a blaze of beauty in the dry season.
At present, Summit Park is open from
7 a. m. to i: iI p. m. on % k4.d;i\ .ani
from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. on SurindI, \\ h.ni
its renovation is finished, the park will
have lilf, rint 1n ii.'t r hours, and guides
will be provided to escort visitors around.
Credit for the park's renovation goes t.;
J. C(. Randall, Chief of the llu-i., and
Grounds Division and his trio of advisors,
Roy Sharp, \.lt. i R. Lindsay, and A. 1.
Bauman. Ilh. have an apt on-the-spot
foreman in I)u.ll. % George Jones, the
least desk-hound clerk .mIrl\n. ever saw.
ieI has been at Summit for ihl I, -I 26
years. lie joined the I;.I n -1 iff not
1. 'i after it was established to introduce
plants from all over the world and s; e
what could he done with them hcr>.
lie and IMr. Randall tramp around the
park several times every week and c :mr
up with new ideas every time. One of the
latest involved an illustrated brochure to,
be i' n to visitors, and several !i. stand-
ing maps, to tell visitors where they arn
in r-lation to the rest of the park.


2 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


September 6, 1957






AN After the lowest incidence in Canal history, malaria
again flares up. Preventive measures increased. It's

ALL-OUT
FIGHT WAR ON MOSQUITOES

FIGHT


The most extensive malaria control
program conducted in the Canal Zone in
more th;n ten years has been initidtid to
check a sudden rise in the malaria inci-
dence rate which began in June and was
continuing through last month.
The program includes control measures
designed to give immediate results as well
as basic steps for the elimination of ma-
laria-bearing mosquitoes and their breed-
ing places. The sanitation forces of the
Health Bureau are being increased and
additional equipment is being bought.
The overall plan was developed after a
comprehensive sur vey by the Health Bu-
reau of cnnditiunn which induced the in-
crease of malaria and the preventive
measures necessary. Governor Potter
has taken a personal and active interest
in the program.
It was initiated early in August after
the Governor and Colonel Charles O.
Bruce, Health Director, made an inspec-
tion trip on horseback over several
known mosquito breeding areas on the
Atlantic side. The aerial spraying of
several thousand acres of swampy land
was begun early in the month with the
cooperation of the Army and since then
three complete spray cycles have been
completed by the Army planes. In
addition, fogging operations were in-
creased in all towns, while public build-
ings and installations used at night are
being sprayed.
The control measures were greatly ex-
panded during the last week in August
when a sanitation team of 20, headed by
an experienced sanitation inspector, was
employed and began work on the Atlantic
side and the sanitation forces on the Pa-
cific side were increased by ten additional
men. These men will be used principally
in the larvaciding and other mosquito
control work and preventive measures.
One of the most important of the basic
control measure planned is the restoration
of proper drainage in several loiw-lvin;
areas on the Atlantic side. The Engineer-
ing and Construction Bureau has been
authorized to do the necessary field work
and to complete engineering studies for
the drainage of Telfers Island, the East
Diversion, and the Mindi Dairy area.
All units of the Canal organization have
been alerted to give their full cooperation
by preventing or eliminating standing
water in areas under their control. The
Mindi Dairy management has already
joined this effort by the withdrawal of its
cattle from pasturage in swampy areas
during the rainy season.
Several new pieces of equipment have
been ordered. This includes two fog-
ging machines, four aluminum row-
boats and two outboard motors, and
two power dusters. When these are re-
ceived, it will be possible to conduct
nightly fogging in all towns, if consid-


Gov. Potter and Col. C. O. Bruce, Health Director, took to horseback last month to
examine areas on the Atlantic side where malaria mosquitoes might be breeding.


ered necessary, and to carry on an effec-
tive larvicide and mosquito control pro-
gram in river and lake areas where mos-
quito breeding in stagnant waters and
among aquatic plants is a problem.
The recent rise in the malaria incidence
rate was a strong reminder that the di-
sease is an ever present menace in the
tropics and requires constant watchful-
ness to prevent explosive outbreaks. The
incidence rate in the Canal Zone had been
exceptionally low for the past ten years
and dropped to a record low last year
with a rate of only 0.6 per thousand
among Canal employees.
The rate showed an abnormal rise in
June when 47 cases were reported to the
Health Bureau; of these, six were employ-
ees of the Company-Government. The
number dropped to 29 in July but rose
again in August. During the first 25 days
of August, 37 cases had been reported,
11 of them among employees. This was
the highest number of employees con-
tracting the disease in the month of Au-
gust for the past ten years.
The malaria rate among employees
was very high all during the Canal con-
struction period and did not fall below
the level of 100 per thousand employees
until 1913. It was cut to below 50 in
1916 and from then until 1947 annual
rates ranged from 11 to 31 per thousand.
New insecticides and an intensive mos-
quito control program conducted just
after the close of World War II, when an
outbreak of yellow fever occurred on the
Isthmus, helped to cut the rate to five
per thousand in 1948 and it has con-
tinued well below that figure since.
The incidence rate up through July of
this year was reported as 2.3 per thousand


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


and will be even higher when August fig-
ures are compiled. The rate in the Janu-
ary through July period of last year was
0.5, and that for 1955 was 1.3 per thou-
sand employees.
Health authorities have long recognized
that there are good and bad years foi
malaria. A recent example of this was in
1954 when the Canal Zone rate was higher
than either the preceding or succeeding
year for no explainable reason.


"Review" Stands


Mildred Henry, of Balboa Commissary,
likes the new "Review" display stands.
The Supply Division has built 31 of them
for retail sales outlets and for the Mira-
flares and Gatun Locks entrance gates.


3


September 6, 1957























..,- .... .. ., ... -. ...




La Boca, Once Largest C. Z. Town

Will Soon Become Just A Memory


La Boca, one of the oldest and for many
years one of the most populous towns of
the Canal Zone, is to join a long list of
former towns at the end of this year.
The cinmunitt is now down to two
lonely rows of frame building,, a popula-
tion of less than a fifth its former size, a
scant half dozen public ,uilline., and a
hi:. plavirn fi-l.l .whvr'. 40.k ar.',L ,., .ri,.kl t
matches lasted out an entire Sunday.
At his town meeting with Latin Ameri-
can Civic Council representatives late
last month, Governor Potter announced
that all quarters there are to be vacated
by the 1b'.innrin of the coming year.
The announcement came as a sort of a
period to a long sentence. Plans for the
abandonment of La Boca as a townsite
have been stretched out now for several
years since the extensive quarters con-
struction program in Paraiso.
Nearly half of the La Boca families
will be assigned quarters at Pedro Mi-
guel in the 12-famil. apartment build-
ings which have been occupied by Air
Force personnel since other areas of
Pedro Miguel were vacated.
There are quarters for 84 families
there and it is expected that 30 or more
can be accommodated at Paraiso or
Santa Cruz in quarters to be vacated by
employees who retire or are separated
from the service before the end of this
year.
It is presently expected that 51i or more
f.Unili. will move to Panama at the end
of the year, the exact number being de-
rpendent on the number of separations
from service by personnel I.... liin
Canal quarters.
''In t of the 125 bachelors now i'. inll
in La Boca will be required to seek quar-
ters outside of the Zone. There art
presently only 13 quarters available for
bachelor niil..'. i at Santa Cruz but
this numb' r '. ill I, increased by ri'l,.' -
ecs leaving tha scr vice before next January.
It is planned to demolish th' remaining
frame quarters which make up the town
of La Boca after they have been vacated.
Some of the oldst I1lillirniL in use there
wrerrect ed in i1910 and were rebuilt in
1914. Mostofthc ith rs were .nili in I ',i
No definite plans have been made for
the permanent use of the area or of the
public '.nibllil which will remain after
-I. town i1 depopulated. La Boca Com-


missary, housed in the town's only ma-
sonry building, will be closed at the end
of the year as will the Service Center
which was once the largest of any Latin
American town of the Canal Zone. The
Service Center was greatly expanded
during, World War II when a large num-
ber of contract laborers were housed in
La Boca. During that period the town's
population swelled to over 6,000, then
the largest community in the Zone.
La Boca has had an interesting history
and little is recorded of its early days.
It was near the present townsite where
the famous symbolic beginning of the
construction of the Panama Canal took
place just 77 years before the scheduled
abandonment of the town. This oc-
curred near the mouth of the Rio
Grande in the afternoon of January 1,
1880 when Count Ferdinand de Lesseps
took a party out on the tug Taboguilla
to inaugurate the Canal project.
La Boca had the distinction of becom-
ing the first deep water port in the 2,11111
miles of Pacific sea coast between Salina
Cruz, Mexico, and Callao, Peru, near the
turn of the century when the Panama
Railroad built a deep water pier there
which, in part, is still standing.
The townsite was used during the
Frrn h Canal construction work and
later as a town and a r.ilrad yard by the
Americans from 1904 until near the end
of the construction period. Its existence
as a permanent Canal Zone townsite dates
back to A.4il-t '11ll when it was dh::ii-
nated l'\ Col. George W. Goethals as a
site to house \\' Indian mriiilhv,. and
it was ji.,'n its official name on Augu-t
13 of that year.

ON THE COVER
No wonder young Charlie Myers
looks bemused. Wouldn't you, if you
knew you'd have to read your way
thrluiiil all these books in the next
12 years? Chlrlie. whose dad is with
Balboa Customs, entered first grade
this week. Before he graduates from
high school he'll have used every
volume in these heaps, if he is going
to take a college preparatory course.


Over $5,000,000 Spent

In Republic Last Year

By Canal Organization
Expenditures of $3,244.1111n were made
during the past fiscal year by the Pana-
ma Canal Company-Canal Zone Govern-
ment in direct purchases of consumer
goods from the Republic of Panama, for
services performed by Panama firms and
individual., and for construction and other
contract work in the Canal Zone.
This total represents one of the highest
marks in the Canal's hi-tury, despite a
substantial decline in the direct purchases
of consumer goods during the past six
months resulting from the curtailment of
Commissary and Service Center sales re-
quired by provisions of the 1.155 Treaty.
Direct purchases of consumer goods
from Panama sources during the past
fiscal year amounted in value to $2,290.-
000. A total of $2b0,000 w as paid out for
services, consisting principally of such
work as typewriter and machine repairs
and servicing.
The annual report of the Contract and
Inspection Division showed that the value
of work and maintenance contracts awarded last
year amounted to $1,290,000. In addi-
tion, work was completed on 50 other
contracts carried over from the pr-i ,lin'.
year and amounting to $41'.ii 11)i.
These figures do not include any work
performed by contract on the Power Con-
version project, for which contracts
amnunting to several million dollars were
awarded or were in process of completion
last year.
The contracts and amounts of money
listed by the Contract and Inspection Di-
vision were: 60 painting c,,ntr:v-t.-. $297-
000; 61 for general construction and main-
tenance, $908,500; eight for Ilulnliiv n.
$79,600; and three electrical contracts,
$ .lI I I.
A total of $615,135 was il.id out in
salaries to Panamanian cmp,1,1..\r- for
work involved in th,-.- contracts.
The purchases of consumer goods from
Panama suppliers last year were approxi-
rm.,t"tly $ifi i.llliln under those of the pre-
vious fiscal year. This was the ir. l time
in several years when a noticeable decline
in such Canal purchases has been rep. 'rtI-t.
The drop in consumer goods purchases
was accounted for principally by major
decreases in such major items as Panama
beef, -ugar, ci.'if.-, and ,lr.-r.i,',- required
1y the Commissary l M- l.n since the
curtailment of its sales at the ti -t of this
calendar year.
Thle f.illl ing comparative figures on
the purchases of consumer goods by quar-
ters in the past two fiscal years directly
reflect this loss in Commissary sales since
th, first of this year:
1956 1957
First quarter $.'9,.n00 $610,000
Second quarter 624,000 768,000
Third quarter i,i..000 1fn.s.of0
Fourth quarter, 4Q1.000 507,000
It was irivinr.lh estimated h.at com-
missary sales would be cut by approxi-
mately $1.2.11 1.01 )II yearly which would
become ;ia.Ail:ilr. to Panama merchants
after the Treaty provisions on the curtail-
ment of Commissary sales (s.c ispg )


4 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


September 6, 1957






HAPPY BIRTHDAY


I__JI~IIII. ~ _~. _._.~___~


Thn
womai
second
fitting]
bers of
their f
will m
begin
Beh
solid v
many


Members of the Cristobal Woman's Club were among this group which

ee weeks from tonight the oldest members hope, another 50 years of p:
n's club in the Canal Zone begins its ress and philanthropy.
Half century. The occasion will be One of the more tangible things th
ly celebrated by the 180-odd mem- Atlantic side women can look forw
f the Cristobal Woman's Club and to, in the fairly near future, is a
friends, who believe that the date clubhouse. It will be built on a hill
ark not the end of an era, but the where one of the Margarita Hosp
ing of a new one. wards stood not much more tha
ind the Club is 50 years packed decade ago. Homeless since the Gill
with achievements and good works, House (where they met for over 30 of
of them unique here. Ahead is, its club's 50 years) succumbed to old


A ree medical clinic was a Woman's Club project for more than 20 years


a


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


:h met at Empire almost 50 years ago.

rog- the Club has a landlease for its new site
and almost enough money in its build-
iese ing fund to start construction.
'ard To their new home they will move the
new magnificent grand piano which was Mrs.
top Frank Ullrich's gift to the club on its
ital twenty-fifth anniversary; a cocobolo
n a wood gave], dating back to French con-
bert struction days and salvaged from the
the attic of the old Panama Canal Adminis-
age, tration Building in Panama City many
years ago; the irreplaceable collection of
year books; the records, many of them in
fine, spidery handwriting, which trace the
club's history; and all of the relics any
organization accumulates in five decades.
Some of the members who will help on
that moving day are second generation
Woman's Clubbers-like the club's pres-
ident, Mrs. William Brooks of Margarita,
whose mother, Mrs. George Horine, was
president of the Cristobal club from 1948
to 1950 and Mrs. Edward J. Henriquez
who holds the same position, Chairman
of the Finance Committee, which her
mother-in-law, Mrs. J. J. Henriquez, oc-
cupied in the club's early days.
There are a number of other second-
generation Woman's Club members.
Mrs. Surse J. Taylor, Jr., who served as
the Club's president from 1940 to 1942, is
P the daughter of Mrs. George H. Boomer,
president from 1932 to 1934 and is an
Honorary Member of the Club.
Other related members are: Mrs. Mi-
chael F. Greene, daughter of Mrs. Robert
J. Neely; Mrs. Humberto Leignadier,
daughter-in-law of Mrs. Julia Leignadier;
Mrs. Arthur L. Livingston, daughter of
Mrs. W. W. Griffin, who was president
from 1927 to 1928; Miss Inga Prier,
daughter of Mrs. Vem Prier; Mrs. Floyd
L. Robinson, daughter, and Mrs. Roger
L. Deakins, daughter-in law of Mrs. F. B.
Deakins.
5 And, on hand to (See page 12)


I


F


September 6, 1957


~c~JI
--;- -~














Ever Alert Never Hurt


Accident Pr.-,r-nti.n is a way of living
and, i k.- all philosophies, has to be learned
and lived by in order to a,.t any good from
it. Thus we have safety A.-l an or advice
similar to other philosophical catch
phrases such as: Live for T' ..i4. Be Indus-
trious, Don't Worry, Take It Easy, Tinik,.
and Do It Now. To many individuals
Safety is a new and ilff.rirnt outlook on
life and foreign to their way of living.
Human nature being what it is, you do
not r.alilv adapt to .ugi';-tlVd changes
and such resistance to safety suggestions
may be the cause of \%,ur sudden death
or permanent disability. Therefore, the
problem of accident prevention becomes
primarily one of ch:an:in., human nature.
This may take a little time, maybe years,
and with some it may never occur.
\\hy do we go to so much trouble to
try to change an individual's outlook on
life and the way in which he lives it,
especially during his working hours? Why
don't we just put continuous pressure on
him from above and force him to change
his ways?
It would seem to be advantageous for
government and private industry to do it
this way since we all know accidents cost
time and money. However, successful
accident prevention can't be obtained by
police methods, it must he sold; its lasting
advantages to the worker made self evi-
dent and not forced. The Panama Canal
Company tries to influence you into safe
ways because it is interested in you and
your welfare. It wants you to keep fit
for your sake and your family's sake, too!
Someone once very impressively de-
fined safety as follows:
"S.if.-rv is not a -i: i.l light, a jail sen-
tence, a divided hiLh iL.,, or an enforce-
ment index. S i' i in my jil,-: i. nt.
is primarily a state of mind, under which
all p 1'l'. realizing the imminence and
the consequence of accidents, are willing
to accept those restraints necessary to
prevent them." To aid in this constant
endeavor here in the Zone, various per-
suasive methods are employed to keep
The Dredging Division sandwich man...


NEVER HURT


. and the scooter rider boost safety.

safety before our eyes and in our minds.
The pictures here show some of the
many means of reminding employees to
be ever alert and watch out for their own
safety as well as for unsafe conditions.
This unique type safety reminder is seen
'.y everyone in the Dredging Division
shops area these days. Their originality
is a credit to the workers and supervisors
alike and shows that they are thinking
about you and your wilIfare.

Retirement A man could retire nicely
in his old age if he could dispose of his
experience for what it cost him.

If you take a chance, your family may
have to take the consequences.


FREQUENCY RATE
I i


JULY 1957
BUREAU

Supply and Employee Service Bureau

llealth Bureau

Engineering and Consruction Bureau

C.Z. Got.-Panama Canal Co. (This Month)

Marine Bureau

Transportation and Terminals Bureau

Civil Affairs Bureau

Number of Disabling Injuries 1


LEGEND


HONOR ROLL
Bureau Award For
BEST RECORD
JULY
SUPPLY AND EMPLOYEE SERVICE
BUREAU
HEALTH BUREAU
AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR
Health... .....
Civil Affairs---....................
Engineering and Construction.----
Supply and Employee Service..--.
Marine -- ......... ...
Transportation and Terminals ---.
Division Award For
NO DIS\BI ING INJURIES
JULY
COMMISSARY AND SERVICE CENTER
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
MAINTENANCE DIVISION
HOUSING AND GROUNDS DIVISION
DREDGING DIVISION
INDUSTRIAL DIVISION
ELECTRICAL DIVISION
MOTOR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
STOREHOUSE DIVISION
FIRE DIVISION
AIDS TO NAVIGATION
SANITATION DIVISION
AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR
Aids to Navigation --... .........
Electrical ..-.... . . . .
Fire................... . ..." ... -
Housing and Grounds.--.....-.....
Sanitation --. ........ -..........-
Dredging -----------.. ... -......._
lHospitals and Clinics..............
Maintenance ...----- ......--..... i
Motor Transportation ------...... i
Storehouse .-----. .....- ....... i
Industrial . .. .............
Railroad ......-----.-.............
Police -..... ------- ...........-
Commissary and Service Center .
Locks --------------.... ........ -
Navigation.--.-- --.. .. ;
Terminals --..-....---


Disabling injuries per 1,000,000 employee-
hours worked.

5 10 15


1 Man Hours Worked


2.240.010


Frequency Rate this month
1:-:-':-:-:-.--::-3 Arrim ulaih. Frequency Rate this Calendar Year
S1954-1955-1956 Calendar Year Average


6 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


................................


September 6, 1957



















.1


Both waterways and highways carry heavy traffic, although of different kinds,
delegates to the recent Road Congress discovered during a visil to the Locks.


Two women physicians are joining the
staff of Gorgas Hospital this month. Not
the first women doctors ever to be on the
hospital staff, they are both firsts however,
in their particular fields.
Dr. Mary V. Graham, who was due this
week from Tulsa, Okla. is not only the first
woman pediatrician to join the Gorgas staff
but she is also the first woman staff member
to be a diplomat of the American Board of
Pediatrics. She is a native of Tulsa and was
in private practice in the United States
before coming to the Isthmus.
The second woman doctor due this month
is Dr. E. Allene Bledsoe, who will be the first
physician to take a fourth year residency in
pathuklpg at Gorgas Hospital. She is a
native of Pasadena, Calif.
Local Canal Zone mail service was revised
slightly when the new train schedules be-
came effective last month. In an effort to
give maximum service to both sides of the
Isthmus, the Canal Zone Postal service
announced, northbound mail would be
carried on trains leaving Panama at 7:10
a. m., 12:10 p. m. and 3:10 p. m. This
would bring all Pacific side mail to Cristobal
in time for delivery by 5 o'clock.
Southbound mail is being carried on the
trains leaving Colon at 9:45 a. m., 12 noon
and 5:io p. m. The later hour for mail
pickup on the Atlantic side was established
in order to give Atlantic siders a maximum
period for posting airmail.
Mail pickups at all terminal post offices





Official Panama Canal Company Publication
Published Monthly At Balboa Heights, C. Z.
Printed by the Printing Plant, Mount Hope, Canal Zone
W. E. POTTER, Governor-President
HUGH M. ARNOLD, Lieutenant Governor
W. G. AREY, JR., Public Information Officer
J. RuFus HARDY, Editor
ELEANOR MCILHENKY. Assistant Editor
EUNICE RICHARD, Editorial Assistant
On sale at all Panama Canal Service Centers,
Commissaries, and Hotels for 10 days after publica-
tion date at 5 cents each. Subscriptions, $1 a year;
mall and back copies, 10 cents each.
Postal money orders made payable to the Pan-
ama Canal Company should be mailed to Editor,
TaH PANAMA CANAL REVIEW. Balboa Heights, C. Z.


have been changed to approximately one
hour before train departure time. Those
who are interested in knowing the deadlines
fixed at the various post offices may call the
postmaster or supervisor.
Two new members have been added to
the military cadre on duty with the Junior
ROTC in the Canal Zone high schools.
They are Master Sergeant Gale S. Moore
and Master Sergeant Fred S. Lawrence.
Sgt. Moore has been detailed to Balboa
High School. He has had previous ROTC
experience as an instructor at the University
of Washington and before his present assign-
ment was with the 20th Infantry Regiment
at Fort Kobbe. He replaces Sgt. Jack E.
Wallace.
Sgt. Lawrence replaces Sgt. Robert Gard-
ner at Cristobal High School. He was pre-
viously assigned to the 20th Infantry Regi-
ment and to the 77th Special Troops at
Fort Campbell, Ky.
Establishment and administration of acci-
dent prevention programs aboard the SS
"Ancon" and the SS "Cristobal," as well
as safety programs for piers and New York
Office Operations, is now in the hands of
Charles G. Cordell, a comparatively new
employee of the Canal organization. He is
on the New York Operations staff, with his
office on the Panama Line pier.
A former Marine Corps captain, Mr.
Cordell has also had service in Navy ship-
yards in New York and the Philippines.
During his three-year tour of duty overseas,
from 1954 to March of this year, Mr. Cordell
was Manager of Personnel and Labor Re-
lations and later Administrative Officer at
the time a SI5o,ooo,ooo expansion program
was being carried out at Subic Bay.
Another new appointment in the New
York Operations is that of Paul Robbins as
Claims Examiner. Mr. Robbins, a native
New Yorker, is an attorney, with a Master
of Laws degree in taxation.
Before the last war, Mr. Robbins was
with the U. S. Railroad Retirement Board
as a claims examiner in unemployment and
sick benefit claims in Washington andCleve-
land. He served in the Army during World
War H and was overseas for about three
years. Since his separation from the service
he has been with the Veterans' Administra-
tion as an adjudicator in determination of
compensation and pension benefits.
John E. Bertone, a ho-pii.l ;,a.lirnir4ra-
tion student in Northweterr. Ilni,.eriri,. in
Chicago, is due to arrive here next week to


September 6, 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 7


Town
Margarita and
New Cristobal
Balboa
Rainbow City
Gamboa
Santa Cruz
Paraiso
Gatun
Diablo


Place
Service Center
Margarita
USO-JWB
School
Civic Center
Service Center
School
Service Center
Service Center


Hour
9 a. m.
9 a. m.
6:30 p. m.
8:30 a. m.
8p.m.
7:30 p. m.
9 a. m.
9:3o a. m.


The Federal Civil Defense Administra-
tion has approved the Canal Zone applica-
tion for the Main Control Center to be
constructed in the basement of the Admin-
istration Building, and the application
signed by Lt. Gov. H. M. Arnold has been
returned to Regional Headquarters in Thom-
asville, Ga.

The Canal Zone's application for a Sur-
vival Plan Study has been forwarded to
Washington for further study and a reply
is expected this month.



Promoted




~CII'


F. B. O'Brien, who has been with the
Canal organization since 1938, is the
new Superintendent of the Terminals
Division. He succeeds A. E. Beck.


spend approximately a year at Gorgas Hos-
pital as the hospital's first Administrative
resident.
A native of ('l,; ,,. Mr. Bertone is a
graduate of the I i..r.-ii y of Alabama and
spent several years in the rii and Air
Force as a Medical Service Corps ;llil' r
For the past two years, he has been contin-
uing his studies in the administrative field
at Northwestern. The o iln..ih .jA. training
he will receive at Gorgas I h. ,e rr. is one of
the final: re -lliremienti f..r hlii Master's de-
gree in Il.,Ilii I .\iilin ai r iri ..
The training program for hospital admin-
istration residents was started this year at
Gorgas. Canal Zone Health authorities
have announced that this will be a contin-
uing program and that another resident will
be accepted next year.


CIVIL DEFENSE
NEWS

SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER CORPS MEETINGS


7


September 6, 1957


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW












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from Panama City is expected to be ac-
complished by the end of next May.
The exact dates of transfer of the five
areas In Colon will depend upon final
arrangements and agreements for co-
ordinated use of such facilities as water
and sewer lines, street lighting, fire
alarm systems, and electric power now
serving the areas. Also, the erection of
a wire fence will be required in the
Fort De Lesseps area before that prop-
erty Is transferred.
It is estimated that all of the work in
connection with such municipal services
can be accomplished within a few days of
actual working time after agreements
have been made by the various Company
and Panama Government units directly
concerned.
Except for the single wage scale and
extension of Civil Service retirement to
Panamanian employees of the Company-
Government, only one other major pro-
Sision of the 1955 Treaty remains to be


implemented. This is the withdrawal by
the United States from the handling of
commercial cargo for transshipment.
This provision is contingent on the estab-
lishment of satisfactory port facilities in
Colon.
The funds appropriated for the bridge
will be used for preliminary architectural
and engineering design work. It is plan-
ned to have this work done by contract.
It is expected that contracts for foun-
dation work on the bridge can be made
in about 15 months. Contracts for the
superstructure can be awarded within
about two years, under a schedule which
has been prepared by the Engineering
and Construction Bureau.
The probable site of the high level
bridge is in the area of Thatcher Ferry,
although the entire area between Mira-
flores and La Boca will be investigated.
A clearance of over 200 feet will be
required above the Canal channel while
the span crossing the channel would have
a 1,000-foot clearance for ship traffic.


TREATY




PROVISIONS







Changes To Come


Full implementation of provisionsof the
1955 Treaty and Memorandum of Under-
standings between the United States and
the Republic of Panama which concern
Company-Government operations moved
toward completion in the closing days of
August with enactment of the property
transfer legislation and the appropriation
by Congress of $750,000 for engineering
and design work on the high level bridge
across the Canal.
The only remaining legislative action
required is that providing for adjust-
ment of conditions of employment in
agencies in the Canal Zone. The Sen-
ate has already approved legislation in
this field.
Five tracts of land in Colon covering a
total area of about 48% acres, together
with buildings and other improvements,
are scheduled for early transfer to the
Republic of Panama.
Some of this property has been occu-
pied and used by the Panama Canal
Company or its predecessor, the Panama
Railroad Company, for more than 100
years. Two of the areas, the Hotel Wash-
ington and Colon Hospital sites, are
among the most valuable of the land to
be transferred. All properties involved
have a total value of approximately
$25,00u,000.
A schedule for the transfer of all prop-
erties in accordance with terms of the
Treaty and Memurandum of Understand-
ings has been arranged by the Company-
Government, the Ministry of Foreign Re-
lations, and the U. S. Embdssy. The
Treaty terms allow time for the Com-
pany-Government to construct or estab-
lish such replacement facilities within the
Canal Zone as railroad terminal facilities,
quarters, and a high school.
In addition to the five Colon areas to
be transferred in the immediate future,
several properties on the Pacific side and
one in Colon will be transferred by the


State Department as soon as necessary
legal formalities are completed. These
are Paitilla Point; the J. N. Vialette and
Huerta de San Doval tracts in Panama
City; the Aspinwall tract and two mili-
tary reservations on Taboga Island; and
the lot in Colon formerly reserved for
consulate purposes. Of these, the Aspin-
wall, San Doeal, and Vialette tracts are
properties of the Canal Zone Govern-
ment.
One of the most valuable properties
of the Canal Company to be transferred
at an early date under the schedule
agreed upon is the Panama Railroad
Yard in Panama City which has served
the Pacific side of the Isthmus since the
railroad was completed 102 years ago.
This transfer will be made as soon as
new feigbt and passenger facilities have
been established in Ancon near the
boundary line. It is planned to convert
the former Tivoli Commissary into a
freight depot and construct a small pas-
senger station in the area adjacent to the
former Pacific Service Center.
The remaining properties, all of which
are in Colon and are owned by the Com-
pany-Government, will be transferred
after replacement facilities are provided.
These areas include the principal residen-
tial area in New Cristobal; the Cristobal
High School and Colon Beach residences;
the residential area of Fort De Lesseps;
and the Colon railroad station.
The withdrawal from the Colon rail-
road station and site will take place after
all other areas in Colon have been va-
cated.
While no exact dates have been estab-
lished under the transfer schedule it is
expected that legal formalities and pro-
visions for municipal services in the five
Colon areas can be arranged so that for-
mal transfer of these areas can be made
before the end of October. The transfer
of the Panama Railroad terminal facilities


The Panama Cily railroad yards and buildings will be transferred to Panama
as soon as freight and passenger facilities are established within the Zone.


8 September 6, 1957 September 6, 1957 9






Almost Three-Quarters

Of Force Now Enrolled

In Group Health Plan
Al.l.r,".im:ih lv 70 percent of the total
* liIIl.- .rP.ILLni: Canal force are now ac-
tive members of the i. Iup hospitalization
insurance planI. according to a report just
issued 1, thr Group Health Insurance
Board.
The plan has now been in operation for
six months and results thus far have been
highly L'rajt;f inc both from the standp: int
of employee participation janI th. .,.i, r il
operations. This was the -n'-i-i. .'f th.-
Board at a recent mii, titi- to review results
of the plan and to discuss other business.
The Board is composed of ex 4,rh 1..
members from the Civic Council and labor
organizations and elected representatives
of the employees. Robert Van \\.%t%.-i.
of the Maintenance Division, is president
of the Board.
According to the report received by
the Board at its meeting, there were
8,756 active members of the group plan
and applications are being received at
the rate of 10 to 12 a week.
Up to July :I. claims had numbered
1,11ll, although a rapid rise has been no-
ticed since that date, believed caused 1,.
the large number of cases of upper respira-
tory infections during August. All claims
have been processed with a minimum of
trouble for employees and Mr. Van W:I.-
ner reported to the Board that very few
complaints have been received.
In an announcement f.1ll1 m..i, the
mntinr employee members were urged
to notify the Bowlrd when changes in their
status takes place. Employees should
notify the Board of any h.irll in salary,
the birth of a baby, or when a dependent
child reaches the age of 19 years. . nltil, t;i..n, are important and may be
made to the president of the Group I I,..,lt h
Insurance Board at Box Q, Balboa
Heights, it was announced.
New employees joining the Canal or-
ganization may become members of the
group hospitalization plan on a non-
selective basis (without regard for past
medical history) if they file their appli-
cations within 30 days of their employ-
ment date.
lithrr .-ipl,.,\ .. -. who did not join the
group when the plan was 1., iti organized
rn.i, do so at any time. Such :1i'li i.
tions, however, are processed on a selec-
tive basis which means that Mutual of
Omaha, the in-wring firm, reserves the
right to exclude certain illnesses because
of past medical history.


COLLEGE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Got a son or daughter away at c'ii'gll"-
Then how about sending him or her a
special colligt subscription for the
"Panama (..inl Review?" These sub-
icri;ptirl., which cost only 50 cents
apiece, cover the months from October
through May, but the special rate ap-
plies to the "Review" when sent to
,illegk- students only.
ndl cash, or a money order, payable
to the TREASURER, Panama Canal
Company to:
Editor, "The Panama Canal
Re iew"
Balboa Heights
and we'll do the rest.


50 Years Ago
The first issue of '1 H CANAL RECORD,
which was to furnish accurate if some-
times dull information on the Panama
Canal and its activities for over ;11 years,
made its debut 50 years ago this month.
Its primary purpose, it announced "is the
publication of accurate information, based
upon .lft'-i.il records, concerning all
branches of work of Canal construction
. . In addition there will be lipuli-h,'l
such information in regard to the social
life of the Zone, its amusements, sports,
and other activities as is thought to be of
general interest." During its first month,
TI'll I t. ,Ii reported, m,.ini other items:
The commissaries were feeding, clothing,
and otherwise supplying over .' ;..i/i people.
This included the ICC hotels, hospitals,
messes, and private families. (In those ',.1.r
tenderloin sold for 22 cents a pound, fresh
o,, were ."' cents a dozen and butter ?i
cents a pound. New potatoes cost 4 cents
a pound and r.titulo..'p,, 10 cents apiece.)
The population of the Canal Zone was
estimated by the Sanitary Department
at 54,325; the Isthmian Canal Commis-
sion force totalled ;,I.i C, and that of the
Panama Railroad 6,238.
The work on the locks and dams had
taken such shape that it was possible to see
something of their form. At Gatun, four
steamshovels were lHri'i ount the site; two
shovels were i,. ,;,';,i the site for the

On September 10, l'iiT, a contract for
a single-track steel railroad bridge across
the Chagres at Gamboa was awarded to
the Penn Bhil,;. Company of Beaver
Falls, Pa. The price of $59,600 included
delivery at New York. Other contracts
included one for the purchase of 14 new
Il-t.a. steamshovels, to li,:in the ICC
total to 'i.
.i;,l fe-t of track on the main line of the
Panama Railroad, between Lion Hill and
Ahorca, sank lhi, int the ',,.ili,,i of Sep-
tember i;., that afternoon an additional 60
feet disappeared. A pile driver was moved
up from Colon to extend the existing trestle
300 feet the length of the sinkhole.
W. (G. Bierd, General M,i.tii i and
Assistant to the President of the Panama
Railroad, I -;ln, h.1 ause of ill h.' .lh.
ie sailed f-i tlih .t.il. September 20 and
later joined John F. St. ., on the New
York, New HI aven and Hartford Railroad.
Helen I'rick Boswell, of the Fed ration
of IWomren's t,,l. in the unitedd i,.atl ..
arrived in mid-September to ,.I.'.,ii.,
women of the (anal Zone to form i'. .in,,ii
ions to be affiliated with the Federation.
BHfore the month was reer, she had women's
clubs started (it ('ulera, (;orgona anld Cris-
tohal.
25 Years Ago
Thatcher lorry and I'h It. i High-
way, which lowered travel time to the
olinit i' r of Panana by at least an hour,
wr< *h.. i ill opened Septenmber 1, I'' ;-'
A (ch-ck ovTr the Ial:or )Day weekend
shotwel that : -"2. automobiles and 18,337


p'-.nriiL', r. had crossed the Canal on the
new ferry service.
Canal tIr,.fi, which had been going down
steadily, took an upswing in September,
1932. Th, transit 3 ;3 commercial ships
and the tolls were the highest since May,
I', i? but still the lowest September traffic
for It t4,'irs.
The Canal Zone's "white .h',oils"
opened September 22 with an enrollment
of 2,889. This was the first time the
school year had started before October.
l'h' coloredd schools," which had an en-
rollment of 4.'17- that year, operated on a
12-month basis.
Governor and .11. Harry Burgess sur-
prised their friends and his associates by
!,r inr the Canal Zone September 13, more
than a month ahead of the expiration of his
term. Col. Julian L. Schley became Acting
Governor. Also in September, 1932, Cud.
<'lii -,i' S. Rii, l arrived to take over his
duties as E,',lii,, r of Maintenance.
SlI.1'-- in the Cut plagued the Dr-.,ginlg
Division -'" years ago this month. Offi-
cially the slide, on the East Culebra Slide
Extension, was described as "tbri liningg
but orderly." Before September was over
two dIeli.l' were llrking around the
clock and three separate slide movements
had occurred. Althuc-h the slide came
close to the center of the Cut, tr.Ati. was
not interrupted
Organized Labor in ti'- Canal Zone cele-
brated Labor Day with the announcement
that local unions were ba-kin,, a five-day
week for Canal, 'li ,lp. a Labor leaders
also announced plans to ,!,'1ti:, a chapter
of the American Federation of Government
Employees here.
10 Years Ago
Negotiations continued thr.,uigh Sep-
tember, 1'iIt, on the question of U. S.
defense sites in Panama. Panama de-
livered a counter proposal Atr. -ilg four
important points: Jurisdiction, mainte-
nance, joint consultation, and the tem-
porary nature of the sites.
The move of commercial aviation from
the Canal Zone Air Terminal 'now, the
Civil .ffr.:- Building) to T,- .,noiiin Air-
port t,,,aiu September 4 when COPA, a
Panama-flay airline, transferred its opera-
tions to the new airport.
A special Canal-.\rl'.-N.' Board
completed a two-month study on the
cons lidation of Canal Zone hospitals.
The United Fruit 'i,,,a/'n.i/ "Liwon"
took the title of the Canal's most frequent
custonser; she had made !3 transit during
the fiscal year. Two other United Fruit
ships, the "Juniot" and the "CoIlez," tied
for sr cond place with 30 runs each.
A 12-yeat-old boy and his 17-year-old
brother were held for the murder of a
I'h, .. merchant li' in on the (Gamboa
Road. 'Th' boys later served sentences
in th (Canal Zone.
One Year Ago
4;. I.i insurance firms were invited to
submit proposalss on a broad hospital and
medical serxicer L'liI'U insurance plan to
cover Canal employees and their families.


10 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW Se0amber 6, 1957


10 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


September 6, 1957










AIR


CONDITIONING


It's Here
To Stay

The Canal Zone's getting cooler al-
though quite poi,.ibly you may not have
noticed it.
To be sur, the increased coolness is
restricted to indoors and to houses which
have been titt..d with ;ir-., nditiining
units. But, as conversion to 60-cycle cur-
rent moves south from Ciistobal, more
and more Zonians are relaxing in cool,
dehumidified air to the soothing hum of
one or more busy little machines. There
will be no more nature-provided steam
baths for these Zonians, and humidity
woes will disappear.
It would hardly be true to say that
the conversion of the Canal Zone's cur-
rent from the flickering out-moded 25-
cycle current, on which few modern home
appliances will operate, will lead to so
many sales that General Electric or \\'''-t-
inghouse can declare an extra dividend.
But it is quite true that the conversion
is bringing to the Canal Zone a variety
of electrical equipment to make life here
a lot more livable.
When the Atlantic area of the Canal
was served exclusively by 25-cycle cur-
rent there were only 18 air-conditioning
units on the entire Atlantic side.
Today, in Margarita alone, between 40
and 50 houses are air conditioned, en-
tirely or in part. Several householders
have fitted their dwellings with two units
and have the entire house air conditioned.
Others have limited themselves to air
conditioning their bedrooms.
In most cases, those who have installed
the cooling and drying units have done so
for sheer comfort. In at least one house-
hold, however, the air conditioning has
made the difference between sickness and
well-being for a small boy.
This is the family of John W. Huson,
an electronics mechanic for the Electrical
Division. The Husons have a small son,
John William Jr., who suffers from asthma
and who, before air conditioning, spent
almost as much time in an oxygen tent
in the hospital as he did at home.
Now their breezeway-type house is
cool and comfortable. Young Billy can
play as he wishes, breathing air which
has not only been cooled and dehumid-
ified but also electronically filtered to
screen out the irritants which, a year
ago, would have brought on a choking,
gasping attack.
This remarkable and welcome change
is due to two air conditioners, one a one-
ton (or one horsepower) unit and the
other a three-quarter ton unit. One cools
the living room; the other is installed in
a corner of the breezeway to cool that
room and the bedroom wing. The kitchen
opening off the living room has not been
air-conditioned and has been closed off
by an accordion door. All screening, has


been covered with translucent plastic.
In M3arLjrita, and in n.,i-hlhb.rine
Gatun, both masonry and frame quarters
have been air-conditioned. In general,
masonry houses are easier to insulate
provided one settles on a way to close off
large screened areas like breezeways. The
occupants of some of the older frame
houses have been dissatisfied with their
air-conditioning attempts, largely be-
cause the vibration from the units' mo-
tors even shakes the sealing from between
the tongue and groove-siding.
Not all of the air-conditioned houses
have been as elaborately modified as that
of the Husons, although the breezeway-
type house of Captain and Mrs. Kenneth
Roscoe has been fitted with exhaust fans
in the two bathrooms and the kitchen
and a circulating fan in the hallway of
the bedroom wing to supplement the two
air-conditioning units.
Both units in this house are of the
one-ton size and the Roscoes are con-
sidering the installation of an addi-
tional, smaller unit for the master bed-
room. They have used plastic screen
and beaverboard to seal off open spaces,
and, unlike the Husons, have included
the kitchen in the air-conditioned area.
This, however, is not satisfactory and
some change will have to be made
there, Mrs. Roscoe says.
Another air conditioned Margarita
home is that of Mr. and Mrs. S. A.
Hammond. Thy have a two bedroom
masonry cottage. One one-ton unit,
which can make about 600 square feet
of floor space completely comfortable, has
been installed and a second unit, this one
of the three-quarter ton type, will be in
place soon.
The trend toward air conditioning is
not restricted to Margarita. S veral of
the units have been installed in Gatun,
another area where conversion is complete.
Here again, both masonry and frame
quarters have been fitted with the units.
One of the latter is the duplex quar-


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


ters occupied by Edward C. Blount of
the Zone police force. The Blounts
find that a one-ton unit not only is
adequate for cooling two bedrooms and
bath, but that the sealing-off which
goes with air conditioning makes for
the quiet which a policeman on shift-
work needs.
While it will be less than a year before
the first Pacific area quarters are on 60-
cycle current, a number of Pacific siders
are not waiting for that happy day.
Several Pacific side quarters, including
those of Captain and Mrs. Jens Nilsen
of Diablo Heights, are equipped with air-
conditioning units which have been con-
verted to operate on 25-cycle current
and which will be reconverted, or re-
placed, when 60-cycle current comes.
Several months ago, some Pacific siders
discovered that they could buy 25-cycle,
Canadian-built three-quarter ton air con-
ditioners. Altogether, there are now
about a dozen and a half of these cooling
Pacific side homes, to be converted or
(-\, hnc,.ll later when 60-cycle current is
available, and a number of others have
been ordered.
Air conditioners are not being given
away, but a unit costs less than some TV
sets. The 25-cycle units from Canada sell
for about $330, delivered here under em-
ployee rates. The 60-cycle equipment,
in ,.,*-r J1l, is much less expensive. Three-
quarter ton units can be had from $207
to about $230, ordered through the Com-
missary Division, and one-ton units from
the same source range from $240 up to
about $275. Any make is available on
order and delivery time is about 60 days.
Prices for units ordered from mail order
houses and other dealers are about in
these brackets.
Householders who run two units con-
tinuously report that their electric bills
have about doubled since the units were
installed.
But, as Mrs. Huson, with her small
asthmatic son, and Mr. Blount, who
frequently sleeps daytimes, said,"They-
are worth every cent of it."


"Makes us really comfortable," S. A. Hammond of Margarita says.


September 6, 1957






Best Friends


Brownie is special assistant to R. A. Faunce at the Marine Electric Shop.

IF THE EMPLOYEES in the Cristobal Marine Electric Shop had their
way, a battle-scarred, middle-aged pooch known as "Brownie" would
be placed on the Panama Canal Company payroll, issued an identifi-
cation card, and be given retirement rights. He might even qualify
as a member of the Electricians' Union and certainly is in line for a
medal for bravery.
A lone wolf who leads a life of his own after working hours, Brownie
is no ordinary dog. He proved this one night about two years ago
when he cornered two thieves in the Industrial Division yard. His
barks attracted the attention of the night watchman who in turn
called the police. The men were apprehended.
Brownie, who has been an unofficial member of the Industrial
Division forces for the past five years, arrives promptly at the gate each
morning at 7 o'clock. He spends most of his working hours in the
Marine Electric Shop. There he is the special assistant to Ronald
Faunce, an Electrical Division employee, who sees to it that Brownie
gets his annual anti-rabies injection and registration tag, an occa-
sional meal, and a new collar now and then.
Friendly and willing at all times, Brownie likes to leave promptl'
at quitting time. He once knocked over one of his superiors in his
dash for the gate. He objects strenuously to baths, hates thunder
and lilhtninil and has turned down all offers of a permanent bed and
board. He reportedly likes the food at the Cristobal Yacht Club and
judging from his scars, is a great hand with the ladies.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY

(Conlinued from page i ) jrn.ri i ir:Jf.- the new
building when it becomes more than a
sketch on a drawing board, will be, the
Club hbI-, its two senior resident mem-
bers, M1 I lorothy M.1 I. ril,::, of Panama
City, who joined the Cristobal \\ 1n.m's
Club in 1'1i., and Mrs. R. J. Neely, of
M iri irit i, whose membership dates back
to 1'2- ;
According to "The Canal Record,"
the organization of the Cristobal Wo-
man's Club, on September 27, 1907,
was an occasion "of festive character."
Born in the early construction period,
it and the other women's clubs in the
Zone were offshoots of a social worker's
suggestion that the Zone's pioneer wo-
men would be more contented if they
had clubs here like those which were
springing up like mushrooms "back
home."'
THE lEr '<1:cr'.s story, which described


the first nm.. tini and the decoration of the
ml.--tinL rooms, was much less I"" ,ti,.
about the turnout. "A large number of
women" attended, the article says, and of
these "a large number IL'villi. i their in-
tention of becoming members."
Three days later, the Club met ;r- lii.
this time to organize committees and
embark on an ambitious :.,r,,-r iii, which,
'.ilrirw that first year, included lectures on
home u r- in g. a series of papers on Japan
and the Japanese, participation in a plan
for -t iId ir'li :in' ti .i'hiii' in the Canal
Zone schools, and a costume charity ball
which netted about $200 as a nucleus for
the Club's philanthropic projects.
Thlir.nr'liit the construction period,
the (ristobal Woman's Club prosperedl
and r. .' Its memltrs sponsoredn water-
I L' troughs for cab horses, pl1.\r r..i l..
for Cristobal and Colon children, and en-
gaged in a Ir..Ir.am of what were known
in those days as "cultural activities."
As the construction force dwindled,


however, so did the membership of the
Woman's Club and, in April 1913, there
was some doubt that it would continue.
But it, rcm:iniain handful of members was
p.r-lti-nt and held it together to the ex-
tent th.,t the speakers who addressed it
that next year were some of the most
prominent in the Club's life.
\Vithin the next decade the Cristobal
Woman's Clul started on its most ambi-
tious period and one in which the club
acquired international fame. The out-
break of World War I coincided with the
\\,,ni.i's Club move to Gilbert House
and the assumption by the Club of Red
Cross work on the Atlantic side. As a
contemporary newspaper account put it:
"Long before the United States un-
sheathed its mighty sword, the women
of the Atlantic Side were ministering,
as none but women can, to the needs of
the maimed and wounded soldiers of
Australia and New Zealand. This bright
oasis in the huge ocean desert was
indeed a thing of joy to the boys who
had been ffirhtino for the freedom of the
world."
In the summer of 1921, the Woman's
Club opened a medical clinic in the old
Colon freight house, financed by the
rental from Gilbert House rooms, revenue
from a Woman's E\chancir and a tea
room at Gilbert House, and, for a time,
from fines collected for violation of sani-
tary ordinances.
There, v. ith the aid of Atlantic side phy-
sicians who served n ith.,ut charge, the
Club .ff-rd'l th.. Inl free medical treat-
ment then available in Culin. Dur;in
its first four mrunth-. the clinic provided
:it t';il care for about .7,111ii destitute
men, women, and children.
The clinic, althnuL'h its pr: ratin- de-
creased over the years, remained open
until 1944 when it was absorbed into the
Colon I1,..ilth O(ic.,..
D riri.' their clinic operations, the club-
women found that many of those appear-
ini" for treatment were 'utf, rni from
malnutrition. This led to another major
Prj', t,i a soup kitchen in a shack on the
Gill.-rt House grounds. Between .1'l2
and 1924 the kitchen served one hot meal
a day to thousands who would otherwise
have had nothing to eat.
Shutdown of the clinic did not take
the Cristobal Club out of the welfare
field. Its members continued to care
for the Atlantic side indigent in other
ways and now are providing about 75
Colon families each week with clothing.
some medical care, and such basic food
as rice, milk, sugar, and dried beans.
\\hil, they ,imrinir, to care for thr
physical v. Illl -in of others, they are not
rl,.-... thi., their own cultural and social
;.iIn' -. Before the last presidential elec-
1 i.ii the Woman's Club was instrumental
in I, l liL' Zonians know absentee ballot
li'.. ihlur.'-. and many of their min. fing
are devoted to national and international
.iT.nr On the social side thir are an
active arts and c(.il- c,,iii. which has
studied interior .h, ,.r..Iaig .mni pollera
Im.I iii0 a *' iL' .'r.iii which has made
new cushions for the Club's chairs, and
occasional card parties, mI.it hl teas, and
the annual luncheon.
A current major project is the prepara-
tion of an nL'.IL', lli l calendar, well-
illustrated with local Ihri,'gri|'ih. Pro-
ceeds from t11 sale of these will L'" into
the club's treasury, to liii.irm the philan-
thropic projects and to help swell the
l ldi liiL' (1 IIh 1l.


12 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW September 6, 1957







INTRODUCING Walter Allen


WALTER JOSEPH WALTER PIERCE WALTER FRANCIS


Just imagine what something like this does to the postal
service! All three of these men are named Walter
Allen. Walter Joseph Allen, left, is Mail and File
Supervisor in the Administiative Branch. He comes
from New Yolk. Walter Pierce Allen, center, is the


first layman to hold the post of Assistant Director of a
Canal Zone Hospilal; he is a native of Rochester,
N. Y. And Walter Francis Allen, right, is the official
driver for the Governor-President's car. He was born
in Renova, Pa., and has been a Zonian since 1941.


18 Employees Are Given

During Ceremony Held


An Outstanding Service Award and a
Superior Service Award were presented
recently to two women employees of the
Canal organization at a ceremony at
which 16 other employees were given
checks ranging from $15 to $30 for em-
plo\ e suggestions.
The Outstanding Service Award and a
check for $200 went to Mrs. Dorothy C.
Webb, of the En!pli ni mnt and Utiliza-
tion Division for her work in preparing
retention registers for the reduction-in-
force actions attendant on the closing of
several commissaries and service centers
at the end of the past calendar year.
A story on the work of Mrs. W'ihbb and
her all-girl crew appeared in the October
195l i-su of THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW.
The Superior Service Award, ii'-itht-r
with a check for $100, was given to Mrs.
Olive Pajak of the Electrical Division for
orgjnizi;n a syst'-m of accounting controls
for electric current revenue. The system
provides comparative data and prede-
termined revenue totals for each month.
The employee suggestions awards were
presented as follows:
George E. Shori-nnlktr, Division of
Storehouses, $30, for his recommendation
that Balboa and Cristobal storehouses
use a single excess disposal list.
Lorenz F. Gerspach. Robert L. Ridge,
and Albert B. Hendricks, $25 each.
Mr. Gerspach, of the Locks Division,
recommended that only towing locomo-
tives in trouble sound their bells when


Awards

Recently


casting off from a ship; Mr. Ridge, of the
Marine Bunkering Section, recommended
that the sumps of gasoline tank trucks be
emptied before they are filled with kero-
sene; and Mr. Hendricks, of the Office of
the Comptroller, suggested that the larger
gasoline stations render such additional
services as tire repair, lubrication, etc.
Hortensio Botello, Maxine A. Cawl,
Herbert S. Driscoll, Kathryn C. Hum-
mer, John Vaucher, and Fred W. Whit-
ney, $20 each.
Mr. Botello, of the Division of Sanita-
tion, suggested prominent markings for
Company-Government owned bicycles.
Mrs. Cawl, of the Balboa Port Captain's
office, proposed the adoption of a new and
improved pilot's report form. Mr. Dris-
coll, of the Navigation Division, suggested
use of a red blinker light to aid ships
docking at night. Mrs. Hummer, of the
Duplicating Unit, pointed out that the
use of black ink for signatures would
facilitate reproduction. Mr. Vaucher, of
the Supply Division, recommended a
number of procedures to relieve the load
of the wholesale groceries section. And
Mr. W\ hitney ,%ug-._-4td that towing loco-
motives be equipped with a holder for
storing lead plugs.
Margaret L. Cana'.~;io, Thomas J.
Dee, James R. Doran, Richard B. Hoard,
John A. Michaelis, and Burman S.
Spangler, $15 each.
Mrs. C;ina.-agin,. of the Terminals
Division, -ugr~et'r d that bulky record


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 13


books be placed in book bins on rollers.
Mr. Dee, of the Electrical Division, sug-
gested accounting changes concerning
electric cable. Mr. Doran, of the Store-
houses, suggested new procedure for
ai,.,Iuntin, for sales of excess property.
Mr. Hoard, of the Fire Division, proposed
a new monthly report form for the daily
report of firefighting apparatus. Mr.
Michaelis, of the Balboa Magistrate's
Court, suggested an improved protective
method for certification using the Com-
pany Seal. And Mr. Spangler, of the
Maintenance Division, divised a new
holder for hospital equipment.


Panama Railroad Timetable
Effective August 18, 1957
NORTHBOUND
Leave Arrive
Panama Colon
7:10 a. m. 8:30 a. m.
9:55 a. m.* 11:20 a. m.
12:10 p. m. 1:30 p. m.
3:10 p. m.* 4:35 p. m.
4:55 p. m. 6:20 p. m.
10:10 p.m. 11:30 p. m.
SOUTHBOUND
Leave Arrive
Colon Panama
7:00 a. m. 8:25 a. m.
9:45 a.m.* 11:10 a. m.
12:00 noon 1:20 p. m.
3:00 p. m.* 4:25 p. m.
5:10 p. m. 6:35 p. m.
10:00 p. m. 11:25 p. m.
All trains run daily except those
marked (*) which are daily except
Sunday and holidays.


September 6, 1957












SEmployees who were promoted or trans-
ferreid between July 15 and August 15 are
listed below. Within-grade promotions are
not reported.
ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH
Christian W. Wirtz, from Supervisory
Administrative Cfficer. Supply Division,
to Fornm Control )fticer. Records Section.
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
Albert M. Jenkins, from Chief, Plant
\. i.. 1.. I:ranch, to Supervisory Auditor,
.i ii.ir D division.
Mrs. Florence K. Redmond, Clerk-Typ-
ist. from I' .11 Branch to Claims Branch.
Mrs. Irene E. Maher, from Clerk-Typist
to Clerk (Typing), Central Typing and
Clerical I nit.
Payroll Branch
Winston P. Abernathy, fiorn Voucher
Examiner, General Iedger and Pr,.. -;i,.
Branho., to Time, Ieave and 'Paroll
Clerk.
Mrs. Elna G. Montayne, from Card
Punch Sulper\isor to Time, Leave and
P. r..ll Clerk.
Mrs. Jeanne M. Wheeler, Mrs. Dorothy
J. Herrington, Mrs. Mary E. Becker, from
S.. ... ,';,.. Clerk to Time. Leave and Pay-
. I I h ,-t,
Mrs. Helen T. Kat, Mrs. Edna J. Hum-
mer, froln Pi .. .I c'I'i. lMachine Operator,
(General I.edger ar-.I I'rl.. ,.-.,, Branch, to
Time, LeavI e andl I r.ll I I -i 1.
Mrs. Daisy M. Tettenburn, from Retire-
ment Clerk to Time. Ieave and Payroll
Clerk.
Mrs. Helen M. Tomford, from Time,
L ea.e and Payroll Clerk to Retirement and
Pay roll Clerk.
Mrs. Yolanda E. Valencia, Clerk-Ste-
nographer, from C(entral Typing and Cleri-
cal I'nit to Payroll Branch.
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
BUREAU
Luther B. Sartain Jr., fro, Chief, Elec-
trical-Meclanical Branch, to Chief, 60-
Cycle Design Branch ngiiieering l)ii-
sion.
Quentin R. Cooper, from Heavy Equip-
mient Operator to Heavy Equipment and
Pumping Plant Operator, Maintenance
Division.
Helen E. Barr, from Chief U'sher, Balboa
Theater, to Typlist, Etngineering Division.
HEALTH BUREAU
Mrs. Arilla Kourany, Clerk-Typist. from
officee of Personnel Director to (Gorgas
llHospital .
Mrs. Jean M. Harris, from Stall Nurse,
bGora;s Hospital, to Head Nurse, Corozal
Slo pittal.
MARINE BUREAU
Emmett W. Argo, from I.ei Foreman
Carpenter 11 to G(eneral Maintenance (,en-
eral F:oreman. Atlaint ic Locks.
Thomas F. Gibson, from Leadl FIoreman
Painter 111 to general l Maintenance Lead
If'oreiman 1. Atlantic Lock-.
Joseph M. Daly, fronm lMarinel Inspection
A-,i:.t,a l to A. ,lie&,urer. Navigation D)ivi-

John C. Thompson, ftron lMarine ic a-
chinisi I to (, Ie l For nan Painter. Aids to)
- ,' t Si ltioti.
Jim.-- L. Haas, iroin Policeman, Police
Diviioni. ito Seemert.d Worker Appren-
lice. Indmh ri.d Diii-ion.
Ralph A. Morales, fromii Ileriric \Weler
idl I Diver io Co iil' tioi \\'Vltler anld
[ier, lin',I'triil D)i i "ioli.
Frank J. Erennan, Glenn D. Redmond,
Eulus C. Clemons, Benjamin S. Fra'..ritr,
Jr., Arnul.o Manning, Fred R. [roul,
\nhiii.r G. Winkes, Oral E. Hardwick;
\V\ hh [de, Ind tril OI M-. ,.
Edward M. Fetherston, Joe Y. Christian,
fr
Ra l A. Swalnm, trin Si '-l tiliute inlott
( cr I'o.n l ) 'ii i,n P.'I rohn o. 1 Ltwk
So !ri I Hi < .
John S. Catanzaro, fron IThirld A--i-I ant
t Sc o, 1d Da-i t ilM t M ine 1iic i.iincer
(7's i'',i;i A \i I, i, \,I i i t i ^it'. 1-r liti
SI 'PI .Y AN I 'aMPI.i',.:E SERVICE BI REAt
Norman B. Davison, from Siiper\i^Dr


Accountant, Supply Division, to Adminis-
trative 'ifi r, Office of Director.
Thomas G. Relihan, from Assistant Gen-
eral \1 iri.,xer. to Superintendent, Commis-
sary Branch, Supply Division.
Hugh E. Turner, from Supervisory Sup-
ply I r er Division of Storehouses, to
Chief, Procurement Section, Supply Divi-
sion.
Clarence W. Kilbey, from Assistant to
General Manager, Service Center Branch,
to Chief, Administrative Section, Supply
Divi-ion.
Norbert M. Schommer, from Supervisory
Accountant, to Chief, Budget and Statis-
tics Section, Supply Division.
Bart J. Elich, from Special Assistant to
General Manager to Merchandise Promo-
tion Manager, Supply Division.
Raoul O. Theriault, from Administrative
Officer to Assistant to Supply and Employee
Service Director.
Henry E. May, from Superintendent,
Division of Storehouses, to Superintendent,
Storehouse Branch.
TRANSPORTATION AND TERMINALS
BUREAU
Edward B. O'Brien, Jr., from Assistant
Superintendent to Superintendent, Termi-
nals Division.
Randolph M. Wikingstad, from General
Stevedore Foreman I to Assistant to
Superintenenet, Terminals Division.
Mrs. Edith W. Cotton, from Cargo Clerk
(Typing), to Supervisory Accounting Clerk,
Terminals Division.
Mrs. Margaret M. Dietz, from Cargo
Clerk to Cargo Clerk (Typing), Terminals
Division.
Mrs. Dorothy G. McLain, Clerk-Typist,
from Conmiissary Division to Terminals
Division.
Mrs. Helen L. Meisinger, from Account-
ing Clerk to Cargo Claims Assistant. Ter-
minals Division.
Mrs. Alda L. McLeod, from Clerk-Typist
to Accounting Clerk, Terminals Division.
Paul R. Kuyoth, firi Senior I ligh School,
Teacher, Division of Schools, to Chief,
Southern Iistrict, Motor Transportation
Di\i-ion.
Gilbert A. Sollas, from Patrolman, I.ocks
Security Branch, to Guard, Terminals
Division.
John K. Brayton, from I.ead Stevedore
Foreman to General Stevedore Foreman,
Terminals Division.
OTHER PROMOTIONS
Promotions which did not involve change
in title follow:
Clement J. Genis, Safety Inspector, Of-
fice of tihe Supply and IEmployee Service
Director.
Ernest P. Muzzio, Plumbing Inspector,
Contract and Inspection Division.
Clara Kirchmer, Accounting Clerk, Ter-
minals D)ivision.
Dr. Temistocles Malo, Dr. Wallace M.
Snyder, Medical Officer, Coco Solo Ilos-
pital.
Eugene I. Askew, Adimeasurer, Naviga-
tion Division.
Thelma C. Herrington, Marguerite Flynn,
Mrs. Evelyn Reynolds. Mrs. Sylvia E.
Staples, Mrs. Helen Hobbs, Edward H.
Appin, Mrs. Frances P. Walker, Time,
leave and Payroll Clerk, Payroll Branch.



SEPTEMBER SAILINGS

FROM CRISTOBAL
Ai inom i.1, -.1 n l *- 4
( r tistbal la ,. I., r 14
.AnoI cSept ember 21
FROM NEW YORK
' critthl Sepltember 6
.Ine It n Septlc, ber l 13
(Crisli ii Septelt her 24
.a i tull u at li ii titin itetdai lit,.' whi t li ll
l intn I.\
(. i lnn m foh il; '1 .. i tiV w ..I h in


PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS


July 15 through August 75


ama City which he has not looked over
with a sharp inspector's eye.
Born in Kearney. Nebr.. he served with the
Navy at Coco Solo lrin,,. World War liHe
returned here late int 1'.2 and was on the po-
lice force for a few months. In 1924. he trans-
ferred to sanitary work and in that capacity
has served in the Painalma suburban area,
at Madden D)am, in Panama City proper.
and more recently in the Anton area sani-
tation office. Almost 20 years of his service
were with the I health Office in PaInama City.
Not long after he came t to te Istihnus
he met a pretty nurse from (Gore I hospital
and a little later Miss Ermna l iil became
Mrs. Raymond Forles. She is now School
Nurse for the Pacific side. Their two chil-
dren, Jim and Joan, were born in the Canal
Zone
In his spare time, Mr. Forlbe- enjoys
golfing or puttering around his house andl
car. The Forbes have a place in he \c olcan
where they spend local leave and a summtier
home near I'arishlille, N. Y.. at a little
set tlemenit w ith the fiscinatiing namle of
Jo Indian Pond.
30 YEARS
August's second-place manl. onl Ihe anni-
versaries list, is now a mayor without a
municipality. Since the town of Pedro Mi-
guel was eacinaled several years ago, and
Ernest B. Curling had to lmo\e io 1)iablo
Hri.ilit- M r. t iirling has put his title (if
II .. r' aw\ay in mnothb1all And has dI-
oted his energies to helping willh iitle
I.eague affairs.
His .30 ears If -crvicc, which includes
three tours of dlity with the Canal orglani-
4alion, also Covers work a1 tl' Norfolk
Navy Yard and with the Ohio Ri\er project
of I lie Corps of Engineer-.
A nim.ichinist. his first P|anama Canal jobi
wants at the Balboa Sthops. Iater lie hecamle
a Marine Malchinist al the Crislobal Shops
Iand since 19.) lie liha been witl the Locks
Division. lie is now at Pedro \li...i Locks.
D T|., ,1 .l. I ,,r hen lie lived in
Pel'd il,,,, I '.1. i 1I,I \as head Civil-
ian 1 i1.,.-, \\ I 1, and was also active in


14 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


ANNIVERSARIES

35 YEARS
Raymond E. Forbes, top man on the
AIIz-,- list of service anniversaries, had his
hrst look at the Canal Zone from the deck
of a Navy ship. He liked what he saw so
well that when he had finished his Navy
service, he came back here to work.
Noxw he is the senior, from point of serv-
ice, of the Canal's sanitation inspectors-
a job in which i'e has been busy for the
past 33 years. There are few places on the
Pacific si le of t'e Isthmus-including Pan-


September 6, 1957







RETIREMENTS

Retirement certificates were presented
the end of August to the following emiil ce1
who are listed alphabetically, igei her itll
their birthplaces, titles, length ',I C'.i.I
service, and future addresses:
Lee R. Beil, Pennsylvania; Station
Chief, Madden Hydroelectric Plant; 31
years, 1 mnrlth 17 dilys. Pennl-i\l .ini.t
May B. Clemmons, Al.l,.,n.l., .T'ike.
seller, Diablo Service Center; 15 years, 26
days; Canal Zone for present.
Homer B. Cooper, Penn. l.,mi.i. Ma-
chinist, Industrial l)ih\i-in. 13 :,eir. 3
iu,,nrh,. 7 days; Honduras.
Capt. Roy A. Fort, Connecticut; Pilot,
Marine Bureau; 18 years, 2 months, 21
(da.,... Fl.,rida.
Vincent J. Gonzalez, Cuba; Gauger,
Terminals Di,.io.,, 9 years, 4 months, 16
days; New Vurk lor present.
Otto L. Savold, South Dakota; Post-
master, Cristobal, Postal Division; 31
year,. 3 months, 16 days; Santa Clara,
Pana ila.

Civic Council affairs. In connection with
the former, he was sent to the Civilian Pro-
tection School at Amherst, Mass., and from
the latter he derived his unofficial, but last-
ing, honorary title of "mayor."
25 YEARS
Both of the employees who completed a
quarter of a century of government service
in August, have had continuous service with
the Canal organization. They are Lionel L.
Ewing and Herschel Gandy.
Mr. Ewing was born in Gloster, Mi- .
and spent most of his service as Admeasurer
for the Marine Bureau. He began his Canal
service in 1939 as a Junior Engineer in the
Maintenance Division and held this position
until 1946 when he was transferred to his
present job as Admeasurer.
Mr. Gandy, a native of Millville, N. J.,
began his employment in 1939 as a General
Clerk in the Supply Bureau and is now
Administrative Assistant in the Mainte-
nance Division.
20 YEARS
Eight states and two countries are rep-
resented by 12 employees who completed
20 years of government service in August.
Five of these employees have continuous
Canal service. They are: Philip L. Dade,
from New Haven, Conn., Chief, Civil De-
fense; Stanley J. Guest, from Comanche,
Okla., Lead Dairy-Foreman, Commissary
Division; Donald W. Journeay, Trotterville,
Staten Island, N. Y., General Engineer,
Engineering Division; Sydney T. Lindh,
Dallarnar, Sweden, Machinist, Industrial
Division; and William L. Benny, Ancon,
C. Z., Assistant Chief, Motion Picture
Branch, Service Center Branch.
Also completing 20 years of government
service are Paul M. Bell, Policeman, from
Blacksburg, S. C.; Mabel M. Duncan, Tel-
ephone Operator, Commissary Division,
from Frontenac, Kans.; David E. Coffey,
Lead Foreman-Shipfitter, Industrial Div-
ision, from Colon, Republic of Panama;
Lamar M. Lavender, Towing Locomotive
Operator, Locks Division, from Abbeville,
Ga.; John W. Muller, General Engineer,
Engineering Division, from Pedro Miguel,
C. Z.; Howard W. Osborn, General Engi-
neer, Maintenance Division, from Chester,
Mass.; and Helen L. Smith, Window Clerk,
Postal Division, from Deer Park, Ala.
15 YEARS
Over half of the 18 employees with 15
years of government service have unbroken
Canal service.
They are: Frank J. Bartlett, Fire Ser-
geant; James V. Bartlett, Fire Lieutenant-
the Bartletts are brothers; Richard S. Bro-
gie, Time, Leave, and Payroll Clerk, Office
of the Comptroller; Howard H. Carey,
Liquid Fuels Gauger, Terminals Division;
Eleanor L. Colbert, Head Nurse (Psychia-
tric), Corozal Hospital; May B. Clemmons,
Ticket Seller, Service Center Branch-she
retired the end of last month; Louis S.
Damiani, Plant Engineer, Maintenance Di-
vision; Norman S. Davison, Administrative
Officer, Supply and Employee Service Bu-
reau; Vicente J. Gonzalez, Liquid Fuels


Over $5,000,000 Spent

In Republic Last Year
(Continued from page 4) went into cfftit,
and the first six months of operations have
indicated that this was an accurate esti-
mate.
Percentagewise, the drop in amount of
goods bought from Panama suppliers has
been much less than the drop in total sales
in the Commissaries.
The above figures show that local pur-
chases amounted to approximately $;.'5l.-
000 less in the period of January through
June of this year than in the comparable
period of 1956. While a six-month period
is too short for use as an accurate gauge
in judging the long-range picture, Com-
missary officials believe these comparative
figures for these two six-month periods
are fairly representative of the local pur-
chase picture under present circumstances.
They believe, however, that the amount
of consumer goods bought in Panama will
increase as more goods are produced
locally. An indication of this is the com-
parative figures on the amount of eggs
bought in the Panama market from Jan-
uary through June in 1956 and 1957.
In the first six months of the calendar
year 1956 the Commissary Division spent
$13,854 for eggs produced in Panama.
In the first six months of this year, egg
purchases amounted to $29,225, over twice
the dollar volume of the previous year.
The following figures show the dollar
value of purchases in Panama from Janu-
ary through June of this year and last of
several staple food products, long bought
in bulk by the Commissaries:
January through June
1956 1957
Meat--------- $315,000 $175,000
Sugar ------------- 326,000 102,000
Coffee ..----------- 37,000 20,000
Beverages---------- 62,000 47,000
There was no appreciable decline in
the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables
bought locally, the report showed. This
was due to the fact that most employees
who lost commissary purchase privileges
at the first of this year were residents of
the Republic of Panama whose purchases
of local fruits and vegetables through
Commissary stores was negligible in the
past because of the small difference in
retail prices of these products.
The decrease in amount of consumer
goods bought in the six-month period
probably would have been more decided
except for a substantial increase in the
purchase of building materials this year.
These purchases amounted to $200,000 in
the first six months of this calendar year,
as compared with only $91,000 in the
comparable period of 1956. These pur-
chases, however, are subject to wide fluc-
tuations being dependent on the amount
of construction work in the Canal Zone.

Gauger, Terminals Division; Tracy Hook,
Auto Repair Machinist, Motor Transporta-
tion Division; James A. Hoverson, Lead
Foreman, Refrigeration and Air Condition-
ing, Maintenance Division; Gerard K.
Schear, Window Clerk, Postal Division; and
A. G. Terwilliger, Lead Stevedore Foreman,
Terminals Division.
Other 15-year employees are: B. F.
Slaughter, Machinist, Locks Division; Rob-
ert E. Welborn, Fire Lieutenant; Dr. Maur-
ice B. Winstead, Medical Officer. Gorgas
Hospital; and Josephine S. Wood, Staff
Nurse, Gorgas Hospital.


September 6, 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Power Conversion

A Progress Report


Conversion of frequency-sensitive elec-
tric iquipilniint both domestic and indus-
trial, is scheduled to lgin in the P] itfi-
area about April 1. Thi. area includes
Anm .,. Balboa, Balboa Heights, La Boca,
Diablo Heights, and Los Rios; also in the
Pacific area are Corozal Hospital, the
Inmigidrtin Stati.ni, the West Ferry
.lip, th. \\.'t Side Lighthouse Line, and
the Balboa Gun Club.
The contract for the Pacific area is held
by the Consolidated International Elec-
tric Co., Inc., of New York City, whose
bid for the area conversion was $1,432,228.
Consolidated International has had
several years of prior conversion experi-
ence during the changeover of electric
current in Canada. A member of the
firm, here for the bid .peninv, said that
his company expects to pre-assemble all
necessary materials and be in a position
to start the actual conversion about next
April 1.
Meanwhile developments are expected
soon on three other major power conver-
sion projects. Chronologically they are:
Installation of remote control and relays
for the power stations, the contract for
which will be advertised early this month;
conversion of the West Bank-Miraflores
area, on which bids are to be opened Sep-
tember 13; and conversion of the locks,
for which the bid ojpenipr date is set for
October 23.


Approximately 175 Non-U. S.

Employees Will Be Retired

The retirement of approximately 175
non-U. S. citizen employees of the Canal
organization will take place between now
and the first of the year.
The group includes more than 100 em-
ployees whose retirement normally would
have taken place during the past year but
which was deferred until last month pend-
ing possible action by Congress on a Civil
Service retirement plan for non-U. S.
citizen employees. The others are those
who will reach the age of 62 years before
the end of December.
Governor Potter announced last Au-
gust that employees reaching 62 years
of age before July of this year could
defer retirement providing they were
physically qualified to continue work.
Up until the end of June there were 111
such deferments.
In addition to these, about 25 others
will be retired between now and the end
of the year because of physical disqualifi-
cations. There are from six to ten each
month who are placed on cash relief rolls
because of physical di.: iility.
The Personnel Bureau has begun work
of processing employment records of those
who reached retirement age sir.ce last
August, and it is planned to place a list of
about 50 names before the Alien Cash
Relief Board at its meeting in September.
Thereafter, about 50 a month will be re-
tired during the remainder of this year by
which time all deferment cases will be
handled and normal retirement proce-
dures will be resumed as individuals reach
retirement age.


September 6, 1957


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW




UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA


SHIPS AND SHIPPING 62085444635


Breaks on the east bank of the Canal below La Pita signal station August 17
and 24 tumbled about 50,000 cubic yards of rock and dirt into the Canal. Traffic
was not interrupted. Here is the slide as seen from the dipper Dredge Cascadas.


TRANSITS BY OCEAN-GOING
VESSELS IN JULY


1956 1'*,;
669 7N"


Commercial
Government


Total.--- --- .....
TOLLS*
Commercial ..._. ,11i',",l 15
Government _..- ,7,"'


of aI new ships in Cristobal and 29 in
Balboa.

"Empress of England"


16 44 Luxury is an understatement when it
comes to the new cruise liners. Most of
685 ;2 them are dil.-,in,.l1 to make the ordinary
passenger definitely dissatisfied with th,
$.',.1'7 i.i; I comforts of home. The latest of the
in';|, luxurious new cruise ships expected to


1q


Total. $il2 ,,2- 1 .4 .1', 1. i4
*Includes tolls on all vessels, ocean-going and small.
TOTAL CARGO TONS
Commercial ,,'72,'," n 4.14 ;. 17
Government ... ,''d l.

Total (Long tons) 'I.'1,,.499 4.' 1,". J0l

Early Cruise
The cruise season got off to an early
start this year with the arrival here late
last month of the SS fI-',i",l,,;,, on a late
summer cruise of the Caribbean. Th.
bulk of her ';,, or more I. -"r i' rI. were
members of the Jersey :t i -Il.1-,l Club,
an *ir 11,'. i t i in "f njl,' ', of the
.Stir, lr. l Ii, I '..imi i.' '.-. v Jersey.
The ship had sailed from New York
August 17 on the 17-.11. cruise which took
her to Bermuda, Iaiti, ('C l 'I. i i Cris-
tobal, and HIavana.
The .'.1--.., v ,ss'l flies the Lilerian
flag. She was handled l ... .I by iByd
Brothers.
New Customers
New ships and ships ne w to th- ('anal
are still I '' ii- I';Panama( Canal admc;a-
surers busy. .-!' last I I' l.11 ". i. I
have I-en an .ir I.,- of Ti) hips to be
measured each month in Cri tobal alnd
about 20 each month in ltilboa. I)i iI,'
the ti r three weeks of August. 37 ship:;
had been measur,.d in ('ri1tobal and 11 in
. l i .. 11 irb. July, then were ;i total


Repeat Performance


For the second successive year, the MV Portunus has been the Canal's most fre-
quent customer. Last month Capt. W. S. Rodimon, Marine Director, presented her
master, Capt. Fritz Moebes, with a certificate. At right is Arturo Lince, Jr., agent.


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


o/-I -- (770)


September 6,1957


make Cristobal a port of call this winter
is the Canadian-Pacific Liner Emlpus.s !f
Egjlrdil. sistersEip of the new Emlre s ..f
Britain.
Completed last year, the Empress if
En ,.l dii was placed in the North Atladnii
trade this summer and will make the
cruise tiip[ this winter in place of the
older Emr1., ( (rf Scotland.
Air-i ,niii.,i .di thro.u h.,uit. the new
2n,).,n-t ,n Empress will .irry approxi-
i;nIt ly 600 cruise pas~I.ini.rs on each
trip. She is due to dock in Cristi.bal
January 2J., Fr.bruary 11, March 4, and
March 22. Pa\vne & \\'.rdlv, are her
local agents.
Schedule for "Reina"
The Pacific St,.in Navigation (Com-
pany's motor liner Hr'inu del Poariiro.
which went ;i.r.. iIund off Bermuda rLeci.ntly
and which is now li *inZ held in Liverpool
for .nIiij r.pair.-, will skip one of her
scheduled round-trip voyages between
Liverpool and \ alpar.iisl via the Panama
Canal. Her lucal .i',.nt, report th.it the
ship is now ,ch,,l1.l'd t, sail from Liver-
pool October 24 and will arrive in Cris-
tobal N,',ilror, r I .
The Reina del Pacifico is a well-known
visitor to the Canal and has been making
igular transits except during \\Wrld
\\'Wr II for the past 25 years.
When she was built n,.irly 26 \'a.rs
ago, the Reina was considered revolu-
tionary from a marine eniilinr.rinv stand-
point and is the prototype of several
much l-i'Lr, r motor liners. During the
last war, the ship chalked up a iemark-
able record by traveling more than
2'V:lann miles and -:irr.ving approximately
1' ,IItIII trIn.iJ or passengers without
mishap.