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Vol. 3, No. 5 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, DECEMBER 5, 1952 5 cents DECISION BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON RENT

INCREASES IS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK

Future President And First Lady

FOR THE FIRST TIME in its history the Canal Zone will have one of its former residents in the White House when President-elect Dwight D. Eisen- hower takes office next month. He and Mrs. Eisenhower lived at Camp Gaillard on the west side

of the Canal from January 1922 to September 1924

while he was a Major in the Infantry. The picture above was taken in front of the Administration Building in August 1946 when they

revisited the Isthmus soon after his triumphal return from the battlefields of Europe. During his residence in the Canal Zone the Presi- dent-elect was an ardent canoeist and the old Canal

files contain a request for permission to paddle a canoe from Gamboa to Gatun. A duplicate of the canoe license to operate in Canal waters was presented during his 1946 visit by Commodore Stewart A. Manahan, then Marine Superintendent.

The following is a hitherto unpublished incident of the 1946 visit: An informal invitation to make "another canoe trip through the Canal" was extended to General Eisen- hower by the late George W. Green, Municipal I En- gineer. Mr. Green was in New York at the time and

encountered the Eisenhowers as they were leaving a theater. The General immediately recalled his canoe trip and his association with Mr. Green in the construction of a road to Camp Gaillard. During his visit to the Isthmus Mr. Green presented General Eisenhower with a swagger stick made from

an original Panama Railroad crosstie "in recognition

of his services as Personnel Officer, 20th Infantry

Division of Puerto Rico, for assistance rendered in the construction of the Fox Connor Road serving Camp Gaillard, C. Z." Serious Operating Problems Are Faced

With Locks Overhaul And High Traffic

One of the most serious operating prob- lems in the Canal's history will be faced during the first five months of next year

while the overhaul of the Pacific Locks

is in progress if the volume of ship traffic continues at the high level of the past few months. The Canal's capacity is limited by the number of lockages possible within a 24- hour period and this number is reduced by more than one half during overhaul

periods when one traffic lane is out of

service. Under normal operating conditions a

total of about 24 lockages is possible at

Pedro Miguel with one chamber not in service. Based on past experience the 24-hour capacity at Miraflores is about

21 lockages with one lane out of service, but Marine Bureau officials hope to in- crease this number to an ultimate limit of 24 during the coming overhaul period by

adopting special operating procedures and

the careful scheduling of transits. Daily Averages High

During the past several weeks the daily number of lockages have averaged almost

the maximum capacity of both locks during overhaul. In the (See page 15)

Governor Will Attend

Sessions Which Open

Monday In Washington

Definitive action on the pro- posed increase of rents on U. S.- rate employee quarters will be

taken early next week at the

quarterly meeting of the Board

of Directors of the Canal Company.

The Board sessions are scheduled to open Monday in Washington and Governor Seybold left by plane this week

to attend the meeting. Before his departure, the Governor said that he expects

to make an announcement as soon as the board reaches a decision. For the employees, the rent question

will be the most important item on the agenda of the Board meeting, since nothing of its nature has aroused such widespread interest and debate in the Canal Zone in many years. Members of the Board of Directors will have ample reading material on the subject on which to base their decision. Recommendations of the Rent Panel have

been furnished each member in addition

to a complete transcript of the Panel

proceedings, consisting of more than 200

typewritten pages of verbatim testimony. Create Better Understanding

Regardless of the final disposition of the rent question the public hearings by a

panel of three impartial members served

greatly to create a better understanding

of the problem among employees. Because of the complete and accurate coverage given the hearings by the local daily newspapers, The Review presents below a list of the principal participants and a brief summary of the four-day Panel sessions. The public hearings were the first of

this nature ever to be held in the Canal Zone and both Canal representatives and

officials of labor and employee groups

expressed their appreciation for the manner in which Panel members conducted

the hearings. The consensus was aptly expressed by Governor Seybold at the November "shirt-sleeve" conference when

he said it was the "best conducted"

hearing of that kind of which he had

personal knowledge. Chairman of the Panel was Professor Benjamin Kaplan, of the Harvard Law

School, who was the public member. He

was assisted by Dr. Herbert Ashton,

Director of the Transportation, {See page 2)
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952 Study Resumed On Plans For Converting

Electrical System To 60-Cycle Current

Decision By Board On Rent Increases Due Early Next Week

DEEPLY ENGROSSED in rent schedules are members of the Rent Panel shown above during their

visit tu the Atlantic side to inspect employee quarters. Left to right are: Dr. Ashton, Mr. Lovelady, Professor Kaplan, Mr. Haskins. Mr. Randall, Mr. Burrows,

and Mr. Wagner. Also a member of the group but

not shown in the picture above was Jack Rice, of the Cristobal-Margarita Civic Council. This picture was

taken during the inspection of quarters in New

Cristobal.

(Continued from page 1) Communications, and Utilities Division, of the Department of Commerce, and Orrin A. Burrows, Assistant to the President of the

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.Public Hearing Arranged The Panel hearings were decided upon

the latter part of October during a visit to Washington by Governor Seybold. Also

in Washington at the time was Howard E. Munro, Legislative Representative of the Central Labor Union-Metal Trades Council. The final plans were made after various conferences of labor representatives with the Governor and the Secretary

of the Army. The hearings, held in the Fern Room of the Tivoli Guest House, opened Monday, November 17, and daily sessions were

held through the following Thursday. Governor Seybold made a brief statement

at the opening session in which he ex- pressed the desire for a complete and

unbiased hearing. The principal part of the testimony

entered by the Canal administration was

presented by Lindsley H. Noble, Comptroller, and H. L. Donovan, Community

Services Director. They were assisted by

Charles Haskins, member of the legal

staff of the Secretary of the Army; E. A. Doolan, Personnel Director; Paul M.

Runnestrand, Acting General Counsel; John F. Lewis, Chief Accountant; and Edward M. Browder, Acting Engineering and Construction Director. Presentation Of Testimony The bulk of testimony and exhibits presented in behalf of employee- was

given by Mr. Munro and Rufus M. Lovelady, National Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees and Chairman of the Canal Zone Emergency Legislative and Finance Committee. Both Mr. Munro and Mr. Lovelady read prepared statements and other- wise participated actively throughout the

hearings. Assisting in the preparation of the case presented by the American Federation

of Labor was W. C. Hushing, former Panama Canal employee and for many

years Legislative Representative of the A. F. L. in Washington. Mr. Hushing

spoke briefly at the closing sassion and

expressed appreciation on the part of the union membership for the impartial manner in which the hearings were conducted. Various representatives of employee

groups attended most of the sessions al- though only Mrs. Margaret Rennie, President of the Ancon-Balboa Civic Council;

the Rev. Philip H. Havener, of the Cristobal-Margarita Civic Council; and

Charles W. Hammond, Chairman of the General Committee of Canal Zone Civic

Councils, took an active part. John B. Kennedy, President of Local

595, National Federation of Federal Employees, presented a prepared statement

at the closing session in behalf of civilian employees of the various defense estab- lishments in the Canal Zone. Chairman Invites Testimony

Although Professor Kaplan stated on

several occasions that the Panel would be

glad to hear testimony from employees

or others interested, only Mrs. William

Choate, wife of an Industrial Bureau

Studies are being resumed on plans for converting the Canal Zone electrical sys- tem to 60-cycle current, an allotment of $30,000 having been made available for

this fiscal year. The conversion project will require

several years for completion and it is expected that it will be in the planning

stage for at least another 18 months.

Engineers familiar with the plans and work required estimate that it will be at

least six years before the change frem

25-cycle current can be completed. During the preparatory period, plans and specifications will be made with a view to placing orders for the necessary equipment by the beginning of the fiscal year 1955, providing the necessary funds

are made available. Several months of study on the conversion were made on the proposal two

years ago but the project was abandoned

because of the expected scarcity of vital materials. The conversion project will involve the replacement or rewinding of all generators

in the hydroelectric plants, replacement

of large transformers, and conversion or replacement of both Government-owned

and private electrical equipment. It is not presently planned to convert the operating machinery of the Canal Locks

since this type of equipment operates more efficiently with 25-cycle current, and

the locks' operation requires only about

four percent of the total power output. Conversion Often Studied

Consideration of converting the electrical system to 60-cycle current is an old and often-discussed subject. Serious consideration was given to the proposal in the early 1930's during the construction

of Madden Dam and hydroelectric station. The urgency of the problem lately has been largely influenced by the increasing

difficulty of obtaining (See page H)

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

buildings. In addition to the formal testimony

presented, a considerable amount of in- formation on the background of the proposed rent increase was developed through questions of Panel members as

well as representatives of the Canal and

employee groups. Members of the Panel were given ample

opportunity to make personal inspections

of quarters during their visit to the Zone. No formal session was held Wednesday

afternoon while Panel members visited a number of houses on the Atlantic side, including quarters in New Cristobal. They

were accompanied on this trip by Walter Wagner, President of the Central Labor

Union-Metal Trades Council, who re- ported briefly on the trip at the final Panel hearing Thursday morning, and

Mr. Lovelady. The party was met on the Atlantic side by J. C. Randall, Cristobal Housing

Manager, and Jack Rice, of the Cristobal- Margarita Civic Council, who accompanied them throughout the tour.
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW Lower Fire Insurance

Rates Are Announced

At November Meeting

A substantial reduction in fire-insurance rates on personal property in the Canal Zone has been made by one insurance

firm as a result of conferences with Canal

officials, Governor Seybold announced

at the November Governor-Employee

Conference. The Governor expressed the hope that

other firms will follow the lead in reducing

rates. The reduction was made in view of the exceptionally low fire losses reported

in the Canal Zone. The November meeting was one of the

shortest since the conferences between

Canal administration officials and repre- sentatives of employee groups were insti- tuted more than two years ago. For the first time in several months

there was no question or discussion on

rents although Governor Seybold took the

occasion to express his satisfaction at the manner in which the rent hearings were

conducted.Panel Hearings Praised

"I thought it was the best conducted

panel hearing of which I have ever had any

personal knowledge," Governor Seybold

stated. He said he thought the hearings were conducted in an eminently fair manner and he complimented both Govern- ment and employee representatives on

their presentation of material for the

panel's consideration. His statement was made after Rufus Lovelady, of the American Federation of Government Employees, asked and was given permission to reproduce the transcript and exhibits of the rent hearings for the various organizations of the Canal Zone Emergency Legislative and Finance Committee, of which

he is Chairman. Most of the subjects discussed at the November conference were of a continuing nature and the Governor reported what

has been done on about ten problems which had been under consideration at previous meetings. Group health insurance, furloughs, in- creased hospital and medical services, quarters' assignments, the problem of cashing Canal Company checks in the United States, the status of houses in New Cristobal, Mindi Dairy, and the possible consolidation of various Government

services were among the many topics

briefly discussed. Walter Wagner, Central Labor Union

representative, asked the status of possible consolidation of various services. Governor Seybold said the Joint Committee of the Canal organization and the Armed Services is continuing studies

of various consolidations but that no

"proved combinations" have resulted. Henry R. Chenevert, of the Marine

Engineers' Beneficial Association, called attention to a proposal to charge higher automobile license fees for residents of New Cristobal. The Governor said that a

report to this effect had been received and

the matter was being investigated. Auto Insurance Discussed

This led to a discussion of compulsory

automobile liability insurance in the Canal Zone. Representatives of two

organizations reported that (See page n>

Local Traditions Reappear

During Christmas Season

UNCONVENTIONAL as the choice may be, this offshoot of a South Pacific tree family is scheduled

to appear again this year in the role of "official" Canal Christmas tree. Local tradition has proven

that the Pandanus at the Balboa Railroad Station

looks as good in colored lights and plays the part

just as well as possibly more proper northern pine Christmas trees. Christmas catches the Canal Zone

every year about this time.

Little musicians in the schools and

adults in other circles start tuning their instruments and trying their vocal cords on the "Messiah" and other Christmas music that will be shared with audiences

at choral and instrumental programs

during the holiday season. Plays and pageants will be the thing at other Christmas performances. Budding young artists in the schools

are pondering art and craft principles in- volved in making Christmas cards and

gifts to be given to their elders. The

youngsters are also viewing Nativity

scenes painted by the Old Masters, shown

this year on colored slides in the ele- mentary schools. Tinsel and stars and strings of lights soon will be dug out of dry closets to fashion indoor and outdoor displays to heighten the Christmas spirit. Poinsettias Are Naturals

Poinsettias, which are "naturals" among

local Christmas decorations, are already

at their blooming best. They start showing off for the big event more than a month before it arrives and continue to redden the local outdoors long after the holiday season. An odd quirk in local Christmas tradi- tion has elevated to the accepted position as the Canal's "official" Christmas tree no proper northern fir or spruce but an

import from the South Pacific. The spiral-leaved pandanus tree at the Balboa railroad station probably became

the Canal's foremost Christmas tree be- cause of its position.

It is close to the heart of Canal activities, open to view from several directions, not too big and not too little, and dark

green in color and properly cone-shaped

like more conventional Christmas trees. While it is decked out by the Electrical Division with colored lights for its holiday

role, other branches of the pandanus tree family back home in the South Pacific

will be bearing another kind of fruit far removed from Christmas baubles. Newcomers' Pineapple Some of its cousins in the South Pacific islands have a nutty tasting fruit that

looks like a pineapple minus its green top. The islanders call the tree "newcomers'

pineapple" because of the tourists who

ask to see some of the pineapple "trees." The leaves of closer relatives of the Canal's pandanus tree are woven into mats and baskets by people in the South

Pacific. The South Pacific pandanus tree

is called the lauhalu. Another local Christmas tree that has developed into a tradition is the one set up each year at Gatun Locks, where the employees make Christmas in the Canal Zone an international institution. The ships that go through Atlantic Locks during the Christmas season re- ceive a greeting card designed, printed, and paid for by employees of the Locks. The cards are also sent each year to present and retired personnel of Atlantic Locks and people scattered through many

other Panama Canal units. The big Christmas tree set up in the Locks area for the benefit of ships in the Canal share the Christmas scene with a Santa Claus and his reindeer and other Christmas decorations, (Seepage^
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952

Tourist Season Will Begin December 29

With Arrival Of New Cruise Ship "Maasdam"

YEAR'S cruise ships to transit the Canal will be the SS Caronia of the Cunard Line. The 715-foot liner, distinctive with her hull painted

in various shades of green and her bright-red funnel, has made six previous trips to Canal ports. In 1949, her first season, she called at Cristobal four times on

Caribbean cruises. In 1950, she was again on a Caribbean cruise, and in 1951 she was southbound

through the Canal, carrying 214 passengers on an

around-the-world cruise. This year she is to cruise around South America. She has a registered gross tonnage of 34,183. Men who like to look at ships and women who like to see what well- dressed tourists are wearing will have ample opportunity to satisfy their desires

this coming dry season. The tourist season begins on December

29 with the arrival of the new Maasdam,

sister ship of the Holland Line's Ryndarn

which opened last year's tourist season. Between December 29 and March 18, when the Canadian Pacific's 26,000-ton Empress of Scotland winds up the cruise season, IS shiploads of tourists will have

visited the Canal Zone. In addition, there

will be the regular passenger runs of the

Pacific Steam Navigation's Reina del Pacifico, the United Fruit Company ships, the Grace Line's vessels, and the ships which run regularly through the Canal back and forth to New Zealand.

Several new ships will visit the Canal Zone this year and others will be making

their first call at local ports. New Visitors New visitors will be the Maasdam, the Furness Bermuda Line's Queen of Bermuda

and the 30,000-gross ton Andrea Dona, new flagship of the Italian Line. In addition, the Persons Travel Bureau has been

advised of the expected arrival of the Arnold Bernstein Shipping Company's

Silver Star, out of Florida with a cruise party of 300. The Persons Bureau and Panama

Tours, two local tourist agencies which

handle most of the shore excursions while

the cruise ships are in port, have made

reservations with the Dredging Division

for trips through Gail lard Cut for most of the tourist parties. For large tourist groups, the ferry Presidente Porras is usually used. Smaller

parties make the partial Canal transit on

the craneboat Atlas or on one of the Dredging Division's tugs. Italian Liner Due

Outstanding among this year's visitors

will be the new Italian liner which sails i'rom New York January 20, stopping at

St. Thomas, San Juan, Martinique,

M, and Cartagena before arriving

in Cristobal at 8:30 o'clock the morning

of February 8. She will sail at midnight

the same day. She has a normal service speed of 23 knots and accommodations for 1,250 pas- sengers in three classes. The ship is air conditioned throughout. Each class has

its own public rooms, a movie and swim- ming pool, covered promenades, and open

spaces for games and sports. The Maasdam, "identical twin of the Ryndarn," has a registered gross tonnage

of 15,014.19. Built for the tourist trade, she is 503 feet overall, has eight decks

and, with the exception of a limited number of first class accommodations, she

is tourist class, with a tourist capacity of 842 of which 60 percent will be in twoberth rooms. She is completely air conditioned. Like her sister ship, the Maasdam

has a specially designed funnel which

keeps soot and ashes from being deposited on the decks. "Queen Of Bermuda" Coming

The Queen of Bermuda, grossing 22,550

tons, will be another first-time visitor here. She is well-known on the run be- tween New York and Bermuda.

Only one of the cruise ships, the

Caronia, is scheduled for transit. Due in Cristobal February 14, this 34,000-ton Cunard Liner is the third largest of this season's cruise ships, being exceeded in size only by the Nieuw Amsterdam and

the Mauritania. She is scheduled to transit southbound February 15 and sail from Balboa February 16 on a cruise around South America. The smallest of the cruise ships, the clipper-bowed Stella Polaris, has added a new attraction to her three Caribbean

cruises this year. She is stopping briefly at the San Bias Islands and at Portobelo

before docking in Cristobal. Chronologically this season's tourist

cruises, together with line and local agents, are scheduled at present as follows: December 29: Maasdam, Holland America Line, Pacific Steam Navigation Company.

January 8: Silver Star, Arnold Bernstein

LOCAL TRADITIONS REAPPEAR DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON

(Continued from page 3) which are flood- lighted at night. The employee committee which is in charge of all these Christmas activities is headed this year by Richard L. Pennington, an operator at the Locks. Santa Claus Lane

Oleander Place, a short street in Balboa,

will play this year the traditional role that has given it the name "Santa Claus Lane." Residents there get together each year to work out large outdoor displays that have made their street the place to go to see Christmas decorations. The Canal will not want for other Christmas trees. The Commissaries will have about 14,000 that are expected on

the Panama Line ship that arrives December 15. They will be balsam firs from

northern New York, where they are planted and grown solely as a Christmas

industry. The trees will be stacked at the Atlantic and Pacific side toy centers where

purchasers can take their choice. Or, if the trees are ordered in advance, they will be delivered to homes as in former years. "Messiah" Planned

Musical programs that go into the making of the Canal Zone Christmas tra- dition will include the second annual

presentation of the Canal Zone Community Chorus. This choral group of stu- dents and adults will present Handel's "Messiah" in the Balboa High School

Library. Balboa High School will have its annual program of choral and instrumental music

on the steps of the high school building and the Balboa Junior High School also

will present a Christmas music program. On the Atlantic side, the Cristobal Junior and Senior High Schools will have

a joint program of Christmas music. La Boca and Rainbow City Occupational High Schools will have musical programs and pageants. The elementary schools also will have

various types of Christmas programs. Other practical or ever-present aspects

of the local Christmas tradition include the expected Commissary and Clubhouse

crush of late and last-minute Christmas

business; the booming business in cards and packages that go through Canal Zone

postoffices; housewives' concern with turkey and trimmings and other details of holiday feasts; and the children's usual

uncluttered concentration on nothing but Santa Claus business. Shipping Company.

January 13: Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line, PSNC.

January 30: Maasdam.

February 1 : Oslofjord, Norwegian American Line, PSNC.

February 2: Nieuw Amsterdam. February 8: Andrea Doria, Italian Line. February 9: Mauretania, Cunard Line, PSNC.

February 10: Empress of Scotland, Canadian-Pacific, W. Andrews & Co. February 12: Queen of Bermuda, Furness Bermuda Line, PSNC.

February 14-16: Caronia, Cunard Line, PSNC, transiting. February 14-16: Stella Polaris. February 27: Empress of Scotland. March 3: Maasdam. March 3: Mauretania. March 15-17: Stella Polaris. March IS: Empress of Scotland.
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

FOR YOUR

A

INTEREST AND GUIDANCE

LA !£CCIDENT PREVENTION

Management, Supervision, And Safety

In a previous issue, the Safetj Zone

gave .1 condensed version of an article by

the National Safetj Council on the characteristics ni an "accident-prone worker." NnH we give .i version of what thc\ have

tn -a\ about the boss. In the Canal Zone Government-Panama

Canal Company organization, most CJ. S.- rate employees are usually some kind of boss. They may not be in charge of a bureau or division, but many are in charge

of a shop or gang, or only have an assistant. Since each boss has a bus- over him, then he becomes a worker in turn, and could also have the characteristics of the "accident- prone individual" described previously. There are also local-rate bosses among the HONOR ROLL

Bureau Award For BEST RECORD

October ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION BUREAU

AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR

Community Services. 5

Civil Affairs 3 Engineering and Construction 3 Industrial 3 Health 1 Marine

Railroad and Terminals

Supply and Service

Division Awards For NO DISABLING INJURIES

October MAINTENANCE DIVISION DREDGING DIVISION ELECTRICAL DIVISION MOTOR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION

DIVISION OF SANITATION

AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR

Grounds Maintenance 7 Clubhouses 6 Motor Transportation 6 Electrical 5 Dredging 4 Hospitalization and Clinics 3 Maintenance 3 Sanitation 3 Storehouses 3 Railroad 2 Navigation 1 Commissary

Locks Terminals

local-rate employees, so whal tin- National

Safety Council has to say about bosses

applies to all these people. The extent to which an individual is influenced by others depends upon how

important they are to him. It has been

found th.it the average worker spends about

one half of his waking hours on the job ami

it means more to him than just earning his bread and butter. Since his job is then a very important and vital part of his life, the boss becomes one of the most important

people in his life. How the boss thinks.

feels, and acts determines in a large degree how the employees under him think, feel, and act. The boss, as the immediate supervisor of the workers, is the medium through which management carries out its policies and

production. If top management selects a

typical straw boss, loud, cursing, bawling

out his workers for the least little thing,

belittling their work and persons in front of

others, trying to establish by force that he

is the boss, then he is sure to have trouble. His workers will do nothing on their own, and eventually his best workers will resign, leaving only the "apple polishers" and such workers as the "accident-prone individuals." Some workers often appear indifferent to the point of having an accident just to spite the boss, somewhat as little children think when their parents have scolded them.

If any part of management impulsively

institutes new policies without explaining

the whys and wherefores, and procrasti- nates in attending to those things which make for efficiency and safety, then the workers become resentful, frustrated, and

develop a tendency to worry about their jobs and security. Because of the resulting emotional upset, they become less skillful and mindful in performing their jobs, with injuries as the

possible result. It is evident that such a

one-side viewpoint of pushing only the wishes of management at the expense of neglecting the human element will result in management having a labor problem with

a definite increase in their accident rate.

If we are to expect safety consciousness and safe operation among our workers,

their management and supervision must do

their part. Experience has taught the important fact that safety and supervision are

inseparable. A good safety record is not

possible without good supervision. The National Safety Council says it is rather a common practice for the managers

and bosses to delegate the responsibility for salety into the laps of its safety engineer-.. Responsibility for safety cannot be dele- gated in such a manner. anj mure than management would delegate production also to the Safety Engineer. Safety engineers are important in carry- ing out the wishes of management as to ways and means to promote safety, but they cannot assume all the essential functions of management. The National Safety Council found the accident rate to be in direct proportion to management's interest in the

total problem of working with people. You

as a boss, no matter where you are on the ladder of management, are the key person

to the success of any accident prevention program.

It is then to the best interest of manage- ment to see that the workers have the right kind of bosses with the following characteristics:

1. He must be interested personally in every worker.

2. He must be willing to take the time

to be a teacher.

3. He aims to build good workers, not

his ego.

4. He must know his job, but not knowit all. 5. He may be tough, but he is fair.

6. He never fails to keep a promise.

7. He must not only have his door open, but have the welcome mat out at all times.

8. He must be willing to do everything

possible to settle every grievance as soon

as possible.

9. He must be ready as a leader to as- sume personal responsibility when one of

his workers pulls a boner.

10. He must assume personal responsibility for his own boners. From this, it is evident that the boss, who has the good points described above,

also will have a well-run and efficient group

of workmen with a good safety record and

very few lost-time injuries among the employees under his supervision.

OCTOBER 1952

Engineering and Construction Bureau

Supply and Service Bureau

Civil Affairs Bureau Marine Bureau

C. Z. Gov't Panama Canal Co. (This month)

C.Z. Cov'l Panama Canal Co. (1952 to Date) Health Bureau

C.Z. Gov't Panama Canal Co. (Best Year) Community Services Bureau

Industrial Bureau

Railroad and Terminals Bureau

Number of Disabling Injuries 26

Disabling Injuries per 1,006,000 Man-Hours Worked

(Frequency Rate)

Man-Hours Worked. .2,981,190 LEGEND

3 Amount Better Than Panama Canal Company—Canal Zone Government Best Year 3 Amount Worse Than Panama Canal Company—Canal Zone Government Best Year
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952 New Coded Track Circuit Developed

By Railroad Supervisor Of Signals

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

Lirio will be equipped early next year

with an automatic signal system which

will represent a savings of many thou- sands of dollars by the elimination of the

use of costly cables. Heart of the new system is a vest- pocket contraption consisting of an in- tricate system of relays powered by stor- age batteries and rectifiers which will control all signals on that section of track. The rails themselves are used as the con- ductor for the electrical impulses controlling the signals. Formerly both cables and rails were used. The new system has been devised by

the Railroad's Supervisor of Signals, Robert S. Wood, who spent two months

of about as intensive study and work as would be possible on a project. During

that time he gave up practically everything except his meals to fit the jigsaw

pieces of electrical equipment together in workable fashion. Among other things he gave up his hobby of a small weekly

poker game with a few intimate friends. Often Awakened At Night

While he was at work on the new

system he would often wake up during

the night when some idea as to an ar- rangement or rearrangement of the relay

circuits would occur to him. On such

occasions he would not take the chance

of forgetting the idea during a few more

hours of sleep but would put the idea down on paper and test it out the

following day. On two or three occasions he had the

circuits where they would work but not

in a manner satisfactory to him nor in a manner which he thought would provide

the utmost in flexibility. The average person would call the new

automatic signal system an invention but Mr. Wood modestly says it is only an

adaption of principles and equipment al- ready in use. The system itself is knowoi

as a coded track system, which means

that the electrical impulses controlling the railroad signals are transmitted by

the rails. Actually the Panama Railroad is al- ready using two short coded-track sections, the first of which was installed in the Quebrancha section north of Gamboa

in 1950. This was a kind of experiment

to see if the equipment would withstand

the tropical climate. First System Not Flexible Safety in operation in that section was

improved but the equipment did not

provide as much flexibility as line wire

control. More equipment was installed the following year in a section of track between Gamboa and Summit. Both of these were single-track circuits and provided controls only on two signals between two sidings. The principal difference between these and the system devised by Mr. Wood is that four coded-track circuits have now

been joined to provide the same flexibility of control for the end and intermediate

signals between two sidings as could be

ined by cable circuits. The system

also provides added safety in operation

THIS COMPLICATED SYSTEM of relays and

batteries will control the signal system on the sevenmile stretch of Panama Railroad tracks between

Frijoles and Monte Lirio when it is installed next month. It is known as a coded track system and its

operations are being explained to Governor Seybold and A. C. Medinger, Railroad and Terminals Director, (left) by its designer, Robert S. Wood, Supervisor

of Signals, (center). Mr. Wood worked day and

night for two months to develop the system.

for trains meeting or following each other within the same block. The latest circuit arrangement is complicated by the functions it must perform and an explanation of what it does or how

it works is more complicated that the maze of relays and wiring used to make

it work.Explanation Of Functions The following briefly summarizes, in Mr. Wood's own words, what the new

system is and how it will work when

installed: "The Panama Railroad has eight

sidings between Colon and Panama where

trains may meet or pass each other. At

each end of these sidings are two signals. One of the signals at each end protects the limits of the sidings, and the other two signals protect the track between

adjacent sidings. About a mile away

from the sidings there is another set of

signals, one of which indicates an ap- proaching train, the condition of siding

limits ahead, and the condition of the

track between that signal and the siding. The other signal protects the train against opposing or following moves. These are

called intermediate signals and if they are placed much more than three miles apart another set of intermediates divides the

distance so that a train may not have to travel too great a distance without the engineer knowing of conditions ahead. "The new four-coded-track-circuit de- velopment can take care of signal control needs on the railroad between any two of the adjacent sidings. Where distances between sidings only require two sets of intermediate signals three of these track

sections can be used, and where the distance is greater and three sets of in- termediate signals are used, four track

sections are required.

"If there are no trains within the area

of the two adjacent sidings and track

conditions are safe, all signals are clear. Under this condition, the coding equip- ment will be continuously sending impulses from one signal location to another

throughout the distance between sidings." Current Is Short Circuited When a train enters a section of clear track controlled by the coding apparatus,

its wheels and axles short circuit the rails. This automatically prevents the electrical impulses from returning from the coded

track section. The latter causes the auto- matic signals to display stop indicators

to trains approaching in the opposite

direction. Protection against following trains is provided by shorting out the "leaving" impulses through the rear wheels and

axles. Under the new system, this will provide for a stop indicator to appear on

the signal immediately back of the train and a caution signal to be displayed

only after the train has passed the second

signal entering the section or block. Thus, the train is protected with stop

signals throughout the block in front and

two red signals immediately back of the

train. When the caution signal is dis- played back of the train it permits an- other train following to enter the block with ample distance between for safety. This feature saves considerable time for following moves and is called "Absolute

Permissive Block Signaling." Block Signals Not New

The automatic block signal system is no new thing for railroads. It has been

used by the Panama Railroad since 1915 when the 48 miles of main track were

provided with automatic signals. At the present time the system consists of 25

blocks protected by a total of 42 semaphore signals in each direction. These

signals are located less than a mile apart

in yard limits to as much as seven miles apart on the main line. Until the coded track equipment was

first installed in the short Quebrancha

section two years ago, all of the signals were controlled by cables. Some idea of the saving which can be effected by the new system can be obtained from the cost

of cable used. The {See page 14)
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW OF CURRENT INTEREST

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

Prinitd by tht Printing Plant Mount llopt, CanalZone John S. Seybold, Governor-President H. 0. Paxson, Lieutenant Governor

E. C. Lombard, Executive Secretary

J. Rufus Hardy, Editor Eleanor H. McIlhenny

Oleva Hastings

Editorial Assistants LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters containing inquiries, suggestions,

criticisms, or opinions of a general nature

will be welcomed. Those of sufficient interest

will be published but signatures will not be

used unless desired. SUBSCRIPTIONS—$1.00 a year SINGLE COPIES—S cents each On sale at all Panama Canal Clubhouses, Commissaries, and Hotels for 10 days after publication date. SINGLE COPIES BY MAIL—lOcents each BACK COPIES—10 cents each On sale when available, from the Vault

Clerk, Third Floor, Administration Building, Balboa Heights.

Postal money orders should be made payable to the Treasurer, Panama Canal Company, and mailed to Editor, The Panama

Canal Review, Balboa Heights, C. Z.

Six United States Representatives and a delegate to Congress from Alaska arc scheduled to visil the Canal Zone this month,

Rep. H. R. Gross, Republican of Iowa, with his wife and son will be the first ol the

visitors, arriving December 8 on the S. S« Anion.

I he following week, Rep, Fr.nik E. Smith, Democrat of Mississippi, and Mrs. Smith

will visit, arriving December 15 on the

S. S. I 'ana ma. The remainder of the visitors are scheduled to sail on the S. S. Cristobal, arriving December 22. They are: E. L. Bartlett, Delegate to Congress from Alaska, Mrs.

Bartlett, and their two daughters; Rep. (Kile Boyle, Democrat of California, and

Mrs. Boyle; Rep. Harold C. Hagen, Republican of Minnesota, and Mrs. Hagen; Rep.

Carroll D. Kearns, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Kearns; and Rep. H. O.

Talle, Republican of Iowa, Mrs. Talle, and

their daughter.

More than 1,580 names were put in the spinning cage which was used for the drawing for low automobile license numbers for 1953 which was held November 24 and 25 at the Civil Affairs Building in Ancon.

License applications made by several score of others were ineligible for the drawing and were returned to the appli- cants because the forms were not filled out properly or were incomplete. The license plates issued as a result

of the drawing are numbered from 21 through 1527. Low numbered licenses formerly were acquired on a first-come, first- served basis, with early bird applicants sometimes waiting at the License Section as long as 48 hours before the doors were opened on the first day the new Send

CHRISTMAS GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS

TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

More than 1,000 former Canal employees now receive the CANAL REVIEW regularly. There are several thousand others who would welcome it as a Christmas Gift. An attractive gift card

will be mailed to any subscriber you name. Gift subscriptions should be received no later than December 1 2 if the gift card with your name is to be received in the States by Christmas Day.

Clip and mail the coupon with a $1.00 Money Order

(Make money order payable to: Treasurer, Panama Cana Company)

Editor The Panama Canal Review

Balboa Heights, C. Z. Please enter a one-vear subscription to CANAL REVIEW for the following: THE PANAMA

(Please type or print name)

(Street Address)

(City and State) Mail special Christmas Gift Card in my name:

(Your Xame)

(Post office Address)

plates were issued. The drawing for low numbers was

proposed by and was conducted with

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

The former Ancon Police Station, va- cated early in September when police

activities there were transferred to the Balboa Station, has now been occupied by

the Ancon Kindergarten. The second floor of the building will serve as a girls' dormitory for the Canal Zone Junior College. The move provided greatly needed additional space for the kindergarten which now has about 65 students, about double

the number enrolled last year. The second floor will provide living quarters for about six girls and their house- mother. There has been no regular girls' dormitory for the College since the old Balboa Police Station was demolished in August 1951, the upper story of which had

served as dormitory space. Since that time non-resident girls attending the College have been provided accommodations

on a special student basis at the Tivoli Guest House.

The semiannual review of rates of pay for the Craft and Craft Supervisory Sub Group based on average wages in the nine United States Naval Shipyard

area wage schedules resulted in pay

increases ranging from two to eight cents an hour for craft employees. The semiannual review also resulted

in increases of 22, 27, and 32 cents an

hour, respectively, for craft supervisory employees who are Leadingman, Quarterman, and Chief Qiiarterrnan. The adjustments in the supervisory

rates provide for three within-step rates

in each designation allowing for pro- motion to the next higher step on the

basis of certain time requirements in each step and the recommendation of the bureau director or division head.

In applying the new supervisory

rates and promotional requirements,

all supervisors who have completed 26 weeks in their supervisory rating, have been placed in the third step and for promotion to the fourth, or merit step, supervisors will have had to complete

a minimum of 78 weeks in their present

supervisory rating and by recommendation by the bureau director as having demonstrated superiority in their work. The pay adjustments became effec- tive November 9.

The Governor's nominations of one

principal and three alternate candidates from the Canal Zone for admittance to the LT nited States Military Academy at West

Point will be made some time this month. The Committee on Admissions to the Military and Naval Academies met last week to interview the eligible candidates who had passed the qualifying mental and

physical examinations. The Governor's nominations will be made

on the basis of recommendations made by

the Committee.

There were nine eligible candidates, three from Cristobal High School, four from

Balboa High School, one who is attending

the Canal Zone Junior College, and one who is in school in the L

T nited States. The West Point entrance examinations

will be given to the four Canal Zone nominees on March 2 and the successful can- didate will enter the Academy July 7, 1953. The Committee on Admissions to the

Military and Naval Academies is composed of the Marine Director, who is Chair- man, the Engineering and Construction

Director, the Executive Secretary, and the Superintendent of Schools. The Director of Secondary Education serves as ex officio Secretary.
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952 Determination Of Amateur Astronomers

Is Reason For Miraflores Observatory

The Canal Zone has a Miraflores Observatory for astronomical observations because James A. Hess was an amateur

astronomer and a very determined man. He wangled the telescope that started

it all, then, with other equally earnest amateurs, endowed the Observatory into which it grew with a unique public service

tradition. The Observatory will be open to the

public on Friday and Sunday nights during the dry season, starting about January 1 and continuing to the first of May.

Those who take advantage of the lec- tures and equipment to learn about the heavens can thank their stars and dedi- cated local astronomers for the celestial sights and information they receive. The telescope through which visitors look was maneuvered from the Navy

with the sometimes unknowing and probably surprised assistance of former Governor Burgess. The building and equipment and

periodic repairs come to present day

visitors courtesy of ordinarily reluctant Canal units from which they were

formerly wangled.

Dailey And True The astronomical information visitors now receive is provided by Earl 0. Dailey, Supervisory Construction Electrical Enineer, or Clarence H. True, Valuation Engineer of the Plant Inventory and

Appraisal Staff.

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

early backers. The former anomalous status of Miraflores Observatory as a privately pro- moted public institution has now given

place to a more secure position as a unit within the Schools Division, but it re- mains a monument to the tenacity and

purpose of earnest local astronomers. The telescope was acquired in a single- handed coup maneuvered by Mr. Hess, who retired in 1938 as a towing locomotive

operator at Pedro Miguel Locks and now

lives in Callao, Va.

Oliver Bullock made all the calculations for the proper orientation of the

telescope. He retired in 1946 as Electrical Supervisor at Pacific Locks and now lives in San Diego, Calif. Studies Led To Maps

Mr. Bullock also drew a series of star maps for this hemisphere that eventually were incorporated, as a result of many

requests, into a booklet, "Panama Evening Skies." Copies of his maps have been

used for most astronomical observations made on the Isthmus. Mr. Dailey and Mr. True worked with Mr. Hess and Mr. Bullock from 1934

until the latter retired and left the Isth- mus and since that time have taken

ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION visitors re- ceive at the Miraflores Observatory is provided by

Clarence H. True, shown at the telescope, engineer

in the Canal's new property appraisal unit, or Earl 0. Dailey, Supervisory Construction Electrical Engineer, shown here studying star maps. During the dry season when the Observatory will be open on Friday and Sunday nights, they will take turns

presiding at the Observatory and interpreting for

visitors the celestial'sights.

weekly turns to keep the Observatory open to the public. They were all moving

spirits in the former Canal Zone Astro- nomical Society which flourished from

1929, when it was founded by Mr. Hess,

to the beginning of World War II in December 1941. Mr. True's knowledge of astronomy

grew from an original interest in navigation, a unique thecry of which he ex- pounded in a book, Navigation and

Astronomic Data, published in 1943. Mr. Dailey became interested in as- tronomy through the activities of the former astronomical society and went on from there to study for himself to gain his present knowledge of the subject. Worries Of Wartime A bright spot that continued to appear

in the sky within range of observers at a wartime United States base in Costa Rica

caused enough worry that Mr. Bullock, Mr. Dailey and Mr. True were called on

to help explain the phenomenon. The

uneasiness about the strange object had

increased considerably when someone

thought he saw a basket hanging from it. The local astronomers went to Costa Rica—a nice junket as they describe it

and identified immediately the cause of alarm as the harmless planet Venus, which shows up in the daytime as well as

at night as a bright spot in the sky. The acquisition of the equipment and

building that is now Miraflores Observatory is a sly little tale as it unfolds in

official correspondence in yellowing Pan- ama Canal files. It started in March 1928 with an unrecorded conversation between Mr. Hess

and former Governor Burgess, to which

the Governor referred in a letter of some

urgency sent to Mr. Hess at shipside. The Governor pronounced an official blessing on the establishment of a local astronomical society and said "such

assistance as may be practicable" would

be rendered the organization. Telescope Wanted

Next in the files is a cable from Mr.

Hess, apparently on vacation in Washington, asking Governor Burgess to re- quest the Naval Observatory there to lend The Panama Canal a telescope which, Mr. Hess had been told, could not

be lent to the Canal Zone Astronomical

Society. (Mr. Hess called the first organizational meeting of that group at his home more than a year later). The Governor at that time declined to request the loan of the five-inch equatorial, one of six telescopes built originally

for the Navy to observe the transit of Venus across the face of the sun, which

occurred in 1874 (when the telescope was

built) and again in 1882. The Governor also told Mr. Hess he would talk to him when he came home. Instrument Available About a year later the Governor

received another letter on the same subject, this time from the Chief of the Washington Office of The Panama Canal, who had been visited by Mr. Hess, again on vacation in Washington and still on

the telescope trail. Before seeing the Chief of Office, Mr.

Hess had been to the Naval Observatory
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

MTAAFLORES OBSERVATORY, overlooking Miraflores Locks, is up a hill from the Miraflore

Filtration Plant. The Observatory building shown here was completed in 1930.

wh:re he obtained a letter from the Superintendent advising that "it would be

agreeable" to state in any loan request

that "it was understood" that there was

available for loan to the Canal Zone Government a five-inch equatorial. .

. Mr. Hess had also told the Chief of Office that he understood the Governor was willing to make such a request. So

the Chief of Office had written, for the Governor's signature, a letter asking the Secretary of the Navy for the loan of the telescope. The Secretary of the Navy granted the Governor's request for the equatorial and

directed the Naval Observatory to turn

the telescope over to Mr. Hess, who then authored more cables directed to the Governor requesting free transportation

for the acquisition. The telescope was first set up at Mr.

Hess's home at Pedro Miguel where it remained while officials pondered the question of a suitable "shelter."

It was finally decided that the necessary

$1,000 for a building to house the tele- scope should come from Clubs and Play- grounds funds since it would provide employees entertainment a solution that apparently pleased everyone except Clubs and Playgrounds officials. Observatory Built The masonry building that houses the

telescope, was completed in June 1930. It

is located on a hill overlooking Miraflores Locks at latitude 9 degrees and 15 seconds North and longitude 79 degrees, 35

minutes, and 51 seconds West. It is a

circular building, 14 feet in diameter, equipped with a mobile dome that travels on a circular track for observations of

all points of the compass. The hard-come-by telescope is a re- fractor type on an equatorial mounting

which gives local hour angle readings to the nearest second and declination readings to the nearest tenth of a minute. The

objective lens is five inches in diametei and the magnifying power is about 150, depending on the diameter of the eyepiece used.Seating Forthcoming A paragraph concerning the desir- ability of seating for the Observatory's growing public later was tacked on at the bottom of one of Mr. Hess's periodic reports to the Governor concerning

educational activities at the Observatory. The words had their effect and the seats were forthcoming from a not-too-enthusiastic Canal unit. So it went with most

of the things—usually small ones, to be

sure—needed by Miraflores Observatory. The public enthusiasm shown for the Observatory throughout its 22 years of existence has amply justified the tenacity and purpose of those who begged and

borrowed it into existence. In 1937 the number of visitors was

estimated at about 12,000 and attend- ance has remained high to the present. Students, from the primary grades to junior college level, have always formed

one of the largest groups of Observatory

visitors. Public attendance on the nights the Observatory is open during the dry season

is usually large and can easily overtax the

available accommodations.

Lecturers discourage too much adver- tisement of the Observatory's attractions because of its popularity. They recall a time that a small newspaper notice brought out a crowd of about 300, entirely too many for hearing or seating or a look through the telescope. Forty Years Ago In November NEW VALUATION ENGINEER

Panama Canal hero Theodore Roosevelt won in the Canal Zone but lost in the United States in November elections. In

the real United States elections his Progressive Party split the potential Republican vote between him and William Howard Taft and elevated the Democratic candiate, Woodrow Wilson, to the Presidency.

In the Canal Zone, the mock elections

in Isthmian Canal Commission club- houses were explained by The Panama

Canal Record as "manifestations of

political desire for expression on the part

of thos? temporarily disfranchised". "The Commission hotels and commissary stores," The Record stated, "af- forded material for many reform planks, nearly all of which were expressions of crude humor. . . While generalizations demanded political and social equality and industrial freedom, there were practically no protests against the so-called paternalism of the Canal Zone Govern- ment and the privileges afforded officials. "The Panama Railroad was denounced

as a 'monopolistic corporation,' apparently for the progressive ring of the words, as no practical reform in rates were suggested. . ."

cargo carrying merchant vessels, $1.20 per

net vessel ton—each 100 cubic feet— of actual earning capacity; (2) Vessels in ballast without passengers or cargo, 40 percent

less than the rate for passenger or cargo carrying vessels; (3) Naval vessels, other than transports, colliers, hospital skips, and

supply ships, 50 cents per displacement

ton; and (4) Army and Navy transports,

colliers, hospital ships and supply ships, $1.20 per net ton. The Secretary of War

would prepare and prescribe the rules of measurement and regulations necessary to carry out the tolls structure, the proclamation stated. A new lecture room for tourists was

fitted out. The models of the Canal Locks and relief maps of the Canal, which had

been used for tourist lectures at the Administration Building at Culebra, were moved to the new lecture room in Ancon, which had seats for 175 people.

Toll rates for vessels using the Panama

Canal (which opened August 15, 1914)

were published in a proclamation by President William Howard Taft dated November

13, 1912. The rates were: (1) Passenger or

The Isthmian Telephone Company, which

operated a long distance commercial tele- phone business over the Panama Railroad Company's wires, acquired a line of its own and promptly changed telephone rates. Its commercial telephone business over Panama Railroad wires had formerly taken second place to official business messages. The rates, which had varied from 10 cents for calls between Panama and Empire to 50 cents for calls between Panama and

Gatun, became a uniform 20 cents for calls between almost all points on Ike Isthmus.

JOHN D. HOLLEN, Valuation Engineer, is Chief

of the Plant Inventory and Appraisal Staff of the Comptroller's Office which will make an inventory of capital assets of the Panama Canal Company. He

arrived in the Canal Zone November 17 to assume

his new duties. He has had several years of experience in govern- ment accounting and appraisal work including employment as Plant Records Engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority. He recently completed a year of active duty with the Navy in which he served

as Assistant to the Director of the Division of Engineering and Technical Services in the Bureau of Yards and Docks in the Navy Department in Washington.

Felix Frankfurter, law officer of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, was one of the party which accompanied Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, when he

visited the Isthmus in November 1912. The Secretary of War inspected "all phases of Canal work."
10 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952 Square Dancers Do Their Dosey-Does

In Five Canal Zone Dance Groups

FOLK AXD SQUARE dancing music and calls aren't paced for sissies—as proven by these Canal Zone dancers pictured at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Balboa

Folks within hollering distance—a good

loud holler—of the Ancon Playshed on Friday nights or the Margarita Gymnasium on Thursday nights know that local square dancers, their pianists, and callers

all go at it like thunder. The Promenade Club on the Pacific side, which meets at the Ancon Playshed, the Dosey-Doe-ers, Atlantic side group which

dances at Margarita, and the Star and Circle Club, composed of advanced

dancers from both groups and both sides

of tht- Isthmus, keep themselves and

their dance places jumping with lively

folk, square, and figure dancing. The "ladies go gee" and "gents go haw" and they "swing their maw and

they swing their paw—and don't forget

to swing grandmaw" and "Dosey-doe"

and "promenade all" and schottische and

polka, and do folk dances from many parts

of the world. The pace of the music and the calls aren't set for sissies. The dancers admit

it is rigorous; novices would probably call

it "rugged." The American folk dancing done in the Canal Zone is predominantly Western style, as lusty as the Old West

itself compared with New England's so- called circle dancing or the running sets that mark a more stately Southern

dancing tradition. Started In 1941 Canal Zone square dancing got its start and style from Roy E. Graham, former Cash Accounting Clerk in the Finance

Bureau, who instructed the original folk dancing groups in 1941 after he came to the Isthmus from Denver, Colo. The

American folk dance revival had been

fostered in the part of the country from

which he came by Lloyd Shaw who had

demonstrated with his group of dancers

the lively democratic cowboy dances done

in the old "Wild West." Mr. and Mrs. Graham had been runners

up in a state dancing contest and had

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

wants to join their weekly dancing ses- sions is taught or pulled through in a

friendly fashion as many dances as he

chooses to take part in. Two girls, originally German refugees who had learned Spanish but could speak no English, presented themselves at the Friday night Promenade Club gathering

several years ago. Members taught them

the steps and they danced very well and

apparently understood the calls without

benefit of English. Youngsters, Dogs Dance Too

There are also children and dogs among

those who dance at Ancon on Friday

night. Some children from the Canal Zone who have learned folk dancing in the Summer Recreation Program or other dance classes attend with their parents and do well, especially the simpler folk dances. Panamanian children from teen-age down to as young as six or seven years

also are attracted across Fourth of July Avenue by the music from the playshed and dance with as much enthusiasm, and

almost as much skill, as the adult members of the Promenade Club. Dogs also follow their friends to the dancing and, although with faulty footwork, follow them through the dance

formations. Several young men and women who

came to the Friday night dancing sessions as newcomers and strangers have since become man and wife. As teacher, Mr. Graham was also caller when Canal Zone dance gatherings were

started. Then other callers learned the

business, memorizing the patter that tells the dancers what tc do and keeps them

all together. Callers—Young And Older Wesley H. Townsend, Surveying and

Cartographic Engineer Supervisor in the Surveys Branch of the Engineering Division, was the second regular caller for the Fridav night dances of the Promenade

Club.'

S. R. Cunningham, Cash Accounting

Clerk, now a caller for the Atlantic side Dosey-doe-ers, was another of the first local dancers to become a caller. Callers

for the Pacific side dancers are now C. L.

Foiles, Property and Supply Supervisor

in the Storehouse Division; Earl 0.

Dailey, Supervisory Construction Electrical Engineer; Charles W. Hammond,

Lock Operator at Pedro Miguel Locks; and Robert J. Seiler, Postal Clerk at Ancon.

Eight-year-old Dolores Kay Hammond,

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W.

Hammond, is also a caller and she isn't any novice. She has been calling for dances attended by her parents since the

ripe young age of five. Besides Mr. Cunningham, other Atlantic side callers are Donald Johnson, Apprentice Wireman in the Electrical Division, and Charles H. Bath, Construction and Maintenance Foreman in the Maintenance Division. The Dosey-Doe-ers on {See next page)
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 11

Lower Fire Insurance Rales Are Announced At November Meeting

(Continuedfrom pajt i) their members

were generally in favor of requiring li- ability insurance, to which the Governor

said that it was a question which has aroused much debate in the United States. He expressed the belief that the various organizations represented should take the

initiative and determine if the general

public desires compulsory insurance.

S. J. Garriel, of Plumbers' Local 606| requested information on the Canal's

policy on furloughs and whether some of the quarters construction work could not be done by force account to avoid fur- loughs or force reductions. The Governor

said it is planned to do as much of the house building work as possible by contract. He said he did not approve, generally speaking, of requiring the system

of furloughs. Mr. Garriel said that his organization preferred reductions in force rather than furloughs. Subsistence Rates Increased

In reporting on previous questions which have been under discussions the employee representatives were informed

that subsistence rates have been raised, and E. A. Doolan, Personnel Director, provided all representatives with copies

of the recent regulations on allowances for

local travel or temporary assignment. Reports by the Governor on actions taken on other problems brought to his attention at previous conferences included

the following: The bus shelter adjacent

to Balboa Commissary has been authorized and will be built soon; a report on

parking arrangements at Gatun Commissary has been received and a further study

has been requested; the resurfacing of the middle strip of certain streets in Gamboa

is not presently warranted; the dermatologist at Gorgas Hospital has returned from leave and will again pay monthly

visits to Colon Hospital; Clubhouse Managers will cash checks upon proper

identification when they have sufficient funds; a sidewalk from Mount Hope to Margarita is not a high priority project;

efforts are continuing to employ an Eye,

Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist for Colon Hospital; and the consolidation of bus systems on the Atlantic side will be

Purchases By Canal

From Panama Suppliers

Reach New High Level

Purchases by the Panama Canal in the Republic of Panama climbed to a new

high level duiing the first three months of the 1953 fiscal year, exceeding by about

$324,000 purchases in the same period of the previous year. Dollar volume of supplies purchased

iluiing the past July, August, and September amounted to $728,614 compared with

$404,744 for the opening quarter of the previous fiscal year. Purchases of all types of products showed marked increases except for lumber products which showed a drop from

the first quarter of the 1952 fiscal year when heavy local purchases were being made for the Canal building program.

Canal purchases in the Republic have

exceeded $1,500,000 for the past three

years, reaching a record volume of more

than $2,000,000 in the 1952 fiscal year. The following table shows the amount

of purchases in Panama for the first quarter of the 1953 and 1952 fiscal years.

First First quarter quarter 1953 1952

fiscal year fiscal year Meat products $273,742 $128,695

Agricultural products (fruit, vegetables, sugar, alcohol) . _. 146,882 22,563 Other agricultural products 11,119 1 , 949 Other food products 8,705 5,188

Beverages 36,260 34,663

Forest products 17,110 58,869

Industrial products 129,769 55,223 Miscellaneous—. — 105,024 88,590

Total .- $728,614 $404,744

studied as soon as all problems of the

recent consolidation of such services on

the Pacific side have been settled. Those attending the Governor-Employee conference last month and the groups they represent include the following: The Governor, Mr. Doolan, and

F. G. Dunsmoor, Administrative Assist- ant to the Governor, and the following employee representatives: Mr. Wagner, John J. Tobin, Owen J. Corrigan, and H. R. Chenevert, Central

Lt. W. G. Dolan Named

Civil Defense Chief

Lt. William G. Dolan of the Fire Division at Cristobal has been named Chief

of Civil Defense and assumed his new

duties December 1. The appointment marks one of the first steps in the initiation of a practical civil defense program for the Panama Canal

population, for which limited funds have

been made available.

Civil defense activities to be organized under Lieutenant Dolan's direction have

been transferred from the Safety Section

to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Civil defense headquarters will be located in the office formerly occupied by the Immigration

Station Control Section in the Civil

Affairs Building in Ancon.

Labor Union; Mr. Lovelady and Herschel Gandy, A.F.G.E.; Mrs. Margaret Rennie,

Pacific Civic Council; Rev. R. H.

Havener, Cristobal-Margarita Civic Council; William H. Ward, Gamboa Civic Council; Chester Luhr, Panama Canal Lock Employees Association; Andrew

Lieberman, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association; S. J. Garriel, Plumbers'

Local 606; William S. McKee, International Association of Machinists; and and F. H. Hodges, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

(Continued from preceding page) the Atlantic side include teen agers in their weekly dances. One night a month children down to

third and fourth grade level dance for one hour of the weekly two-hour dance ses- sions, primarily so they will not forget the dancing lessons learned in Summer

Recreation Program classes. Star And Circle Experts The Star and Circle Club of dancers from both sides of the Isthmus was or- ganized by those whose skill is sufficiently advanced that they can concentrate on more intricate dances. This group meets

every other Saturday night at either Ancon, Margarita, or Pedro Miguel. W. C. Fritz, Construction Inspector

Supervisor in the Contracts and Inspection Division, is President of the Star and

Circle Club. R. C. Worsley, a Balboa

shipping agent, is President of the Promenade Club. Lt. John A. Taber of the Fire Division at Cristobal heads the Atlantic

side Dosey-Doe-er's. The most recent square dance groups

to be organized are the Columbus and USO Clubs. The former, sponsored by

the Knights of Columbus, meets on

the first Tuesday of the month at the BPOE Lodge and the other Tuesdays at the K. of C. Hall in Balboa. The USO

Club meets Monday evenings at the USO-JWB Armed Forces Service Center. Pianist Is Important A most important person at any of these gatherings is the pianist who supplies the dance music. Mrs. A. B. (Delphinia) Williams of La Boca, whose husband

works for the Tivoli Clubhouse, is the long time regular for Pacific side dancers, who consider her rhythm just right for their promenades and dosey-does. They

always try to take her along for any of

their dances.

J. B. Egozcue, Fiscal Accountant in the Finance Bureau, and Robert C. Daniels, Clerk in the Electrical Division, are among those who have played the piano

in the past for Pacific side square dancers. The regular pianist for the Dosey-Doeers is Videl Anthony, known to all dancers only as "Tony," who works in the housewares section of the Commissary

at Gatun. Both the Dosey-Doe-ers and the Promenade Club charge a nominal 25 cents for their weekly dances primarily to pay the

pianist and for the cost of their own

public address systems. Any money collected in excess of expenses goes into a party fund, which

pays for refreshments served at two

or three special "party" dances, held throughout the year. There were 16 at the first local folk dance gathering held in 1941. Now there

are about 50 who attend the dances at the Playshed at Ancon, 50 who gather at Margarita, about 50 who dance at the K. of C. Hall in Balboa, and about 15 at the USO-JWB.

Their skiD has long since far surpassed

their first fumbling steps and faulty fig- ures, and for several years exhibition groups have appeared before Isthmian

audiences.
12 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952 THIS MONTH'S CALENDAR

DECEMBER

6th—Track Foreman No. 2741, Balboa B & B Shops. 7th—VFW Post No. 3857, Cristobal Veterans Club, 9 a. m. 8th—Machinists No. 699, K. of C. Hall, Margarita, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Post No. 1, Legion Home, 7:30 p. m. 9th—Pipefitters, Margarita Clubhouse,

7:30 p. m.

Electrical Workers No. 397, W'irz Memorial, 7:30 p. m. VFW Post No. 100, Old Bov Scout

Building, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Post No. 7, Fort

Clayton, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Auxiliary Unit I, Balboa Legion Home, 7:30 p. m.

10th—Carpenters and Joiners No. 913, Balboa Lodge Hall, 7:30 p. m.

Pacific Civic Council, Board Room,

Administration Building, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Post No. 2, Legion Home, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. 12th—Blacksmiths No. 400, Boiler- makers Nos. 463 and 471, K. of C.

Hall, Margarita, 7:30 p. m. 14th—Sheetmetal Workers No. 157, Balboa Clubhouse, 9:30 a. ra. Plumbers No. 606, Balboa Lodge Hall, 9:30 a. m. 15th—Electrical Workers No. 677, Masonic Temple, Gatun, 7:30 p. m. Truckdrivers, Balboa Lodge Hall, 7:30

p. m. 16th—Operating Engineers No. 595, K. of C. Hall, Margarita, 7 p. m. Machinists No. 811, Balboa Lodge

Hall, 7:30 p. m. 17th—AFGE No. 14, Balboa Clubhouse,

7:30 p. m. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 3, Legion Hall, Gatun, 7:30 p. m. 18th—American Legion Auxiliary Unit

6, Gamboa Legion Hall, 7:30 p. m.

21st—CLU-MTC, Balboa Lodge Hall, 8:30 a. m. 22d Machinists No. 699, K. of C. Hall, Margarita, 7:30 p. m. VFW Auxiliary, Post No. 3822 Home,

7:30 p. m. 23d—Marine Engineers No. 96, Jewish Welfare Board, CSO. Governor - Employee Conference,

Board Room, Administration Building,

2 p. m. Operating Engineers No. 595, Lodge

Hall, Balboa, 7 p. m. VFW Post No. 100, Old Boy Scout

Building, Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Post No. 7, Fort Clayton, 7:30 p. m. 24th—AFGE No. 88, Margarita Clubhouse, 7:30 p. m. American Legion Auxiliary, Legion Home, Old Cristobal, 7:30 p. m. 25th—Christmas. JANUARY

1st—New Year's Day. Carpenters and Joiners No. 667, Margarita Clubhouse, 7:30 p. m.

2d—American Legion Post No. 6, Gamboa Legion Home, 7:30 p. m. December Sailings

From Cristobal

Ancon December 1

Panama ."December 19

Cristobal December 26 Ancon Januarv 2

Panama

Cristobal-. . Ancon _ _ Panama

From New York

__ __ _ ..December 10 December 17 December 24

_ _ December 31

PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS

October 15 Through November 15

The following list contains the names of those U. S.-rate employees who were transferred from one division to another (unless the change is administrative) or from one

type of work to another. It does not

contain within-grade promotions or regradings. CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU

Louis F. Dedeaux, from Postal Clerk, Postal Service, to Recreation Supervisor, Division of Schools. Mrs. Ethel P. McDermitt, from Substitute Teacher to Elementary School

Teacher, Schools Division. ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION BUREAU

William J. Schuster from Powerhouse

Operator to Powerhouse Operator Dispatcher, Electrical Division, Tower Branch. Francis E. Conover from Supply I >is- tribution Assistant to Construction In- spector (General), Contract and Inspection

Division. Murray Klipper from Construction In- spector, Contract and Inspection Division

to Wireman, Electrical Division. Everette N. Clouse, Theodore F. Babich, and Archie W. French from

Electric Welder to Combination Welder, Maintenance 1 (ivision. George A. Wills from Assistant Sheet- metal Work Supervisor to Supervisor Sheet- metal Work, Maintenance Division. James P. Young, Jr. from Apprentice Plumber to Plumber, Maintenance I >i\ ision. Richard C. McKeown from Sheetmetal

\\ i m ker i" Sheet metal Woi kei Leader, Maintenance I >ivision. Harvey W. Sauter from Sheetmetal Worker Leader to Supervisor Sheetmetal Work (Maintenance Division) Assistant, Maintenance I Hvision. HEALTH BUREAU

Miss Thelma L. Capwell and Mrs.

Llizabeth L. Appleby from Stall Nurse,

( orozal Hospital, to Nurse, Gorgas Hospital.

Richard L. Wright from Medical X-Ray Technician (Photofluorography),

Division of Preventive Medicine, to Medical X-Ray Technician (General), Gorgas

Hospital. INDUSTRIAL BUREAU

Henry J. Patten from Locomotive

Machinist, Railroad and Terminals Bureau,

to Machinist, Industrial Bureau. Robert W. Fuller from Shipwright to Shipwright Hand Pattern Maker, Industrial Bureau. Jack B. Tippett from Boilermaker, Locomotive and Special Boilermaker, Rail- road Division, to Boilermaker. Industrial Bureau. Harry F. Amos from Auto Repair

Machinist, Motor Transportation Division,

to Machinist, Industrial Bureau. MANAGEMENT DIVISION Thomas E. Burrow from Administrative Assistant to Budget Examiner.

• MARINE BUREAU

Walter A. Dryja from General Engineer,

Office of the Chief of the Locks Division,

to Assistant to Marine Director, Office of Marine 1 lirector. J. Douglas Lord from Property and

Supply Clerk, Administrative Branch, to General Storekeeper, Pacific Lock-. Gilbert H. Davis from Lock Operatoi

(Ironworker, Welder) to Lock Operator

(Ironworker, Welder) Leader, Pacific Locks. PERSONNEL BUREAU

Robert A. Stevens from Position Classifier to Salary and Wage Analyst, Wage and

< llassificat ion I )ivision. RAILROAD AND TERMINALS BUREAU

Fred E. Wells from Passengei I raffic Clerk to Passenger Traffil Manager, Steamship I ickel Office. Elbert F. Ridge and Jan Mirrop from

Ganger. Division ol Storehouses, to Gauger

and Cribtender Foreman, Terminals Division. Gerald R. Fruth from Traffic Clerk to

ANNIVERSARIES

Employees who observed important anniversaries during the month of November are

listed alphabetically below. The number

of years includes all Government service with the Canal or other agencies. Those

with continuous service with the Canal are

indicated with (*).35 years Miguel Corco, Government Accountant, Finance Bureau. 30 years Bert J. Benoit, Crane Operator and

Machinist, Industrial Bureau. Joseph A. Parent, Guard Supervisor, Locks I (ivision. William C. Smith, Control House Operator, Locks Division. 25 years Harry J. Ailant, lire Rebuilder, Motor

Transportation Division. "Louis H. Hack, Designing Engineer, Engineering Division. *Fred D. Hunsicker, Supervisor, Motor Transportation Division. Louis Pincus, Signalman, Navigation

Division. 20 years Mahlon D. Davis, Accountant, Finance

Bureau.

15 years Lea K. Dugan, Clerk, Gorgas Hospital. John Kozar, Policeman, Police Division. Elsie D. Naughton, Elementary School Teacher, Schools Division. Carroll S. Sanders, Pumpman, Maintenance Division. Richard B. Simpson, Fireman, Fire

Division. William E. Thompson, Panama Canal

Pilot. Anthony J. Zablocki, Towboat Master, Dredging Division. RETIREMENTS IN NOVEMBER

Employees who retired at the end of November, their birthplaces, titles, length

of service at retirement and their future addresses are: Burt W. Hall, Washington; Power Dis- patcher, Electrical Division; i3 years and

four months; St. Petersburg, Fla. David H. Hinds, Louisiana: Steward,

Corozal Hospital; 34 years; Panama City. George F. Miller, New York; Filtration Plant Operator, Maintenance Division; 28

years, six months and 17davs; Charleston, 111. Walter W. White, New York; Records

Analyst, Administrative Branch; 39 years; Balboa. Eleanore A. Widsteen, Ontario, Canada;

Office Appliance Operator, Finance Bureau;

19 years and 12 days; Canal Zone. Storekeeper (Checker), Terminals Division. Victor T. McGarry from Security Guard, Atlantic Locks to 'Traffic Clerk, Terminals Division. Donald R. Brayton from Traffic Clerk

(typist) to Yard and Road Conductor,

Railroad Division. Bernhard I. Everson from Superintendent, Motor Transportation Division to Assistant Director, Railroad and Terminals

Bureau. Lloyd W. Peterson from Tabulation

Planner, Division of Storehouses, to Pas- senger Traffic Clerk, Steamship Ticket

Office. SUPPLY AND SERVICE BUREAU James R. McCarrick from Policeman,

Police Division, to Gauger, Division of Storehouses. Irwin K. Meier from Agent-Operator,

Railroad Division, to Gauger, Division of Storehouses. David W. Hawthorne from Coffee

Roaster, to Supervisory Coffee Specialist, Commissary I >iv ision, Roger W. Adams from Assistant to Superintendent, to Superintendent, Motor

Transportation 1 >iv ision. William R. Dixon from Auto Repair

Machinist, to Motor Transportation Supervisor, Motor Transportation Division. Miss Phyllis J. Albritton from Substitute Teacher, Schools Division, to Commissary Assistant, Commissary Division.
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 13

OUR OUT-OF-DOORS

We don't have the crisp cold air to remind US that Christmas is just around

the corner but we do have its counterpart, the glorious red poinsettias coming

into bloom. The poinsettias are just as much a part of Christmas in the tropics as holly or mistletoe in temperate climates. The original poinsettias (Euphorbia

pulckerrimu) came from Mexico but are now grown in almost every tropical and

semi-tropical region in the world. Many

cf our choicest hybrid poinsettias have

been developed by gardeners in California and thousands of petted plants are sold through florisst each year. There are very few plants easier to propagate than the poinsettias. Cuttings

placed in the soil in May should, with a

little care, produce stocky plants bearing

six or more blooms by the following December. Single blooming stock may be had from cuttings placed as late as August. Shock Branches Often The secret for growing bushy plants

POINSETTIAS are part of Christmas in the tropics

with numerous blooms is to keep the

plants growing vigorously and to keep

picking off the tip of each new branch when it is from four to six inches long. The

more times the branches are "shocked" by picking before September first, the more dormant buds will be forced into growth for Christmas flowering.

It is important that the plants be

allowed to develop or mature from Sep- tember on to insure that they are in the prime for Christmas. The bright red rosettes of floral leaves

are usually mistaken for flowers. The

true flowers however, are the small yel- low protuberances near the center of the

rosettes. Many of you may not have been content to admire the poinsettias growing

out of doors but have attempted to cut them for indoor decorations. The results may have been disheartening as the

bracts soon wilted. Prevent Wilting The chance of keeping the cut bracts from wilting is greatly increased if, immediately after cutting, one dips the cut end of stem into boiling water to stop the

loss of juice and then plunges the entire stem and flower into ice cold water. The

"flowers" should be thus immersed in water for at least four hours before they

are placed into shallower containers for use as table decorations.

In view of the prevailing Christmas spirit ami preoccupation with holiday gifts, Com

missarj Talk, like must December talk, deals with things Santa Clans could bring someone.

This Christmas Commissary shoppers' guide consists of suggestions from people

in the wholesale sections of the Commissary

Division at Mount Hope, who know the most about the goods ordered for the retail stores for Canal Zone Christmas presents. Look down the list to see what you might buy and about how much it will cost. From about $1.00: Ties, including new

ones that are narrower

For the Masculine in width, 85 cents to Set, 'Teen Age $2.25: jewelry, Hickok

and Up and Swank, including new screw-on small tie clasps like Grandfather used to wear, other types tie clasps, chains, studs, cuff links, single and in sets from $1.25 to $6; handkerchiefs, cotton, linen, boxes, initialed, all under $1 ; toiletries, Morning Canter after- shave lotion by the fine French perlumer,

Pinaud, Old Spice and other sets from about

$1.50; wallets, Burton and Hickok, from

$2.50 to the finest: belts, pigskin, cowhide,

with non-rusting buckles, from about $1; house slippers. From about $5: Pajamas, including new TV lounging sets with plaid tops and solid color trousers, cotton, about $4; other types

of pajamas, regular cottons, fancy rayons,

acetate and nylon, about $4 or $5; travel cases, fine leather, fitted and unfitted, from

about $5 to $20: cigars, from the United

States and Jamaica, from about $4.50 to $7 a box. From about $10 on up: Shaeffer and

Parker, pens and pencils, gift boxed, and

in handsome desk sets up to about $30; Black & Decker home utility drill, yi inch, AC-DC, $22.75; accessories to go with the

drill include buffing and polishing kit, $3.50, horizontal stand, $3.40, and abrasive kits, $4.50; Sunbeam Shavemasters, $23.65;

golf bags, nylon, zippered, with travel hood, $23.50.

' From about $1.00: Hose, 60 gauge, some

with fancy heels, black For the Feminine or dark seams, some

Side for the fancy pleated vari- Personal Gifts ety, about $1.50; apple blossom or lavender perfume sticks; new cinch belts, several

colors and styles, from less than $1 to about

$2; coral jewelry, single pieces and sets; Italian mosaic jewelry, pretty and inexpensive; Old Spice and many other Cosmetics,

single and in sets; perfumes, Chanel, Lentheric, Houbigant, D'Orsay, Worth, single bottles and sets starting at about $2; powder boxes, some musical, from $2.50; jewel boxes, simulated leather, some with

gold tooling and more than one tray, and some that are musical, from $1.75; perfume

bottles, fine crystal and fancy shapes from

about $2.50; doeskin gloves, washable,

white, natural and black, about $2; handkerchiefs, of all varieties, fancy, single and

boxed sets; house slippers, including gay new sock slippers with sponge rubber sole and sock top; pretty pajamas, floral prints, nylon crepes, satin, rayon brocade, prices up to $10; dusting powder, fancy Prince

Matchabelli's Stradavari, and others; night- gowns, rayon, from about $2.50; Lady

Buxton wallets, some in sets with key

holders; evening bags of many styles at

prices starting at about $3. From about $5: Robes, nylon, satin, taffeta, duster and other styles, up to $12;

golf bags, gabardine, nine club size, about

$7.50. From about $10: Hair dryers, electric, complete with stand and cord, operate on any current, $17.50; fancy lingerie, night- gowns, slips, nylon with net, eyelet embroidery, many styles; cashmere sweaters. From about $1: Casserole caddies, new

metal stands with For Housekeepers, which to serve cas- Homes, and serole food, less than

Families $1, and casserole caddie warmers; knife

sets, of many types and prices; deluxe sets

of stainless steel kitchen tools with riveted rosewood handle-,, sets ol five and seven;

gaily colored towels for bath and kitchen,

rolled and ribboned in decorator boxi starting at about $1; tablecloths, including some hand painted with metallic scroll, in decorator colors, from about $3; luncheon

sets and place mats. From about $8: New charcoal barbecue

grills, two models, one deluxe, table high with windshield, recessed casserole with cover and shelf for added working surface, the other a portable model with large broil- ing surface and shelf. From about $10: Electric mixers, Hamilton Beach and Sunbeam, starting at about

$15; automatic electric toasters, Sunbeam

and Toastmaster, about $20; Sunbeam

waffle irons; Waring blender; Dormeyer

automatic electric fryer, in the $25 class; General Electric cooker with removable aluminum grids; General Electric steam

iron; Westinghouse vacuum cleaner, tank- model, also Hoovers, in the $60 class; auto- matic roasters, $38; Westinghouse and Sun- beam coffee makers, automatic, in the $30

class; China, many tvpes, sets of service

for 12 from about $20 to $60; silver, sterling and plate; electric sander and polisher, in the $30 class. Refrigerators, Westinghouse,

completely automatic, frost free, $367 cash;

Ironrite electric ironer and cover; motor

operated; washing machines, including the non-automatic General Electric $143.50, automatic Inglis $298 and Westinghouse Laundromat $343.25; Westinghouse electric clothes drier, $275; home portable electric sewing machine, $110. Toys, toys, toys, and toys, also: From

about 50 cents: Records. For Children Little Golden, 22, 69, and

95 cents, and others from

the Child Record Guild which cost 95 cents; boys' ties, 45 cents. From about $7: Children's furniture, in- cluding non-musical and musical rockers, about $7 and $10.

Silver feeding spoons, bib holders, ratt? .u r> u ties, some tarnish- wear- For the Baby resistant| single and in sets_ sterling and plate, from $1.50; silver cups from about $4. From about 50 cents: Cocktail glasses of many varieties from

For Almost Anybody eight cents to $2.50

each; Grove Crest rum and brand) fruit cakes; plum puddings,

English, in one-pound basins; sterling silver photo frames, S2.65; Cari-ette, portable ice box, new outing accessory about $4. From about $5: Foam rubber pillows, dust and allergy tree, moth and mildew

proof, $8.50; travel irons, AC-DC, $4.75;

martini, cordial, liquer, and zombie glass

sets, S5 to $7.50; Siphon bottles, Sparklet,

$7.60. From about $10: Silver plated cocktail shakers; portable ice box 21 x 10 x 11, price $12.50; General Electric table model radio, standard broadcast, $22.50; two-burner

hot plate with closed element, three heats. Underwriter Laboratory approved, S10.25; cameras, including one German reflex type, Photina, with 3.5 lens, shutter speed up to

1/200, double exposure preventive, coated

lens, uses 120 film with 12 exposures, $23.50 at Balboa and Cristobal commissaries. For Dogs: Christmas stockings filled with dog playing and chewing things. There will be plenty of turkey and all the trimmings in the For Those Who Commissaries this year Eat or Cook as in the past. One of the new trimmings you

might try is a ready prepared herb seasoned

stuffing. An eight-ounce package, enough

for a five-pound fowl, costs 25 cents. For Christma. or any time, try the Commissary's F,nglish biscuits or cookies in \\yi- or 15-ounce tins for 85 cents to SI .45. Walnuts, pecans, almonds, brazil nuts,

filberts, boxed chocolates in 1-, 2-, 3- and

5-pound sizes, hard candies in 2\4- and

5-pound tins, or loose in smaller amounts,

are also, all available.
14 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952

New Coded Track Circuit Developed By Railroad Supervisor Of Signals

{Continued from page 6) original system re- quired the use of approximately 250,000

feet of cable. Since the present cost of cable is more than one dollar a foot, this represents an investment of more than a

quarter million dollars in cable alone. Cable Use Curtailed

It is estimated that coded track circuits can be economically installed in enough

of the 25 railroad blocks to eliminate the need for over 160,000 feet of this cable. The use of the coded track equipment is not economical for short sections, such as

in railroad yards and it is not expected

that it will replace cable control in such

sections. Much of the equipment used in the five sets of relays to be installed on the Frijoles Monte Lirio track section was already on hand when Mr. Wood started his job of tying them together to get the coordinated

set of signals. He estimates that the cost of the five sets of relays about $3,000, not counting

the time he spent on the work. If all of the material had been ordered new, he

estimates that the total cost would have

been $8,000 for relays, batteries, and

rectifiers. Based on experience gained in the use of code control already in use this cost would be about 10 percent of the

cost of line wire control when installed new. Value Of Cable Saved

In the case of the two coded-track sec- tions already in use, the value of cable

released from the two sections was about

five times the cost of the coding equip- ment. Cable released in those two sec- tions was used for replacement when

serviceable and sold for scrap when

unserviceable. The equipment was recently inspected by Governor Seybold and A. C. Medinger,

Railroad and Terminals Director. During

their visit, Mr. Wood gave them a detailed explanation of the coding equip- ment and how it operates. Mr. Wood Is Zone Boy The "inventor" of the system is practically a native of the Canal Zone. He

came to the Isthmus when he was only

1 1 months old. His father, the late Joseph

C. Wood, was employed throughout most

of the construction period and for many

years afterwards in the Accounting (now

Finance) Bureau. Bob attended school in Empire and

later in Balboa. He says that he got his desire for railroad work when he was a

small boy. One of his boyhood desires was a ride on the speeders used by track maintenance and signalmen. After his family moved to Balboa he and James M.

Hunter, now employed in the Storehouse

Division, spent much of their spare time watching the operation of the inter- locking system of the railroad in Balboa. Although his first permanent job was

as a helper in the Mechanical Division,

his application was already on file for an

assistant signal maintainer's job. An

opening occurred only six months after being employed in the Mechanical Division and he transferred in April 1927. He

was promoted to his present position as Supervisor of Railroad Signals about five years ago when the signal work was

transferred from the Electrical Division

to the Railroad.

Hotel Washington Attracts

Most Guests In Dry Season

PALMS around the Hotel Washington seldom have a respite from the steady winds blowing off the Caribbean Dry-season winds that bend the palms

that circle the Hotel Washington bring

the Atlantic side hotel the year's largest numbers of guests. The annual upswing in visitors that marks the months of the trade winds is traditional and is not expected to change

during the coming dry season, which will be the hotel's fortieth as a stopping place

for Isthmians and tourists. The numbers of both groups of guests

increase considerably during the dry sea- son but the proportions change to about

half local guests and half tourists, compared to 75 percent local guests during

the rainy season. The tourist visitors debark from the

ships on regular runs and the cruise ships which visit in greatest number during the dry season, the majority of which, if they

stop on the Isthmus, dock on the Atlantic

side.Isthmians, who become more outing- minded when the rains have stopped,

often stay at the Washington in the course

of their rambles around their own Isth- mian back yard. For many of them the charms of a

trade-wind-conditioned room, with inner- spring mattress, balcony, and maybe even

breakfast in bed, outweigh the attractions

of other types of more demanding Isth- mian junkets. The swimming pool, tennis and handball courts also draw other

local visitors.Employee Resort The position of the Washington as a

stopping place and weekend resort for government employees is traditional and

well secured by their 25 percent discount on room rates. Parties, weddings, teas, and other

social gatherings draw many Isthmians

to the hotel. Few days pass without some

get-together in one of the public rooms—

the gilt-decorated main dining room, looking out to the Caribbean and the Atlantic entrance to the Canal; the adjoining Fountain Room, dominated by a bronzed Cupid and water sprites in a plant-tilled, fountain-sprayed niche; the lounge, be- tween the bar and lobby; or the grand

ballroom, with its gilt and heavy crystal chandeliers and a tradition of gala parties. Other local visitors come in just to

cat, attracted there by the efforts of

Herbert Thompson, the chef, whose specialty is plank steak. The present hotel building was authorized by former President William Howard

Taft after he visited the Isthmus in 1910 and noted the absence of suitable commercial hotel accommodations on the

Atlantic side of the Isthmus. Early planners visualized that the

Hotel's park-like grounds would be one

of its main attractions—a belief that has proved to be very well founded and is most apparent during the dry season when the many flowering trees and shrubs

in the deep lawns are at their best. But the sight and the sound of the Caribbean beating against the sea wall around the hotel is probably the charm

that endears the place most to most of the Washington's visitors, who take their comfort with their ringside view of Manzanillo Bay and ships entering and

leaving the Canal.

Study Resumed On Plans For Converting

Electrical System To 60-Cycle Current

(Continued from page 2) electrical equip- ment using 25-cycle frequency, and the

fact that many of the Canal's power generators must be replaced in the near future. The Canal Zone is now about the only

place in the America's where 25-cycle current is still used. Because of the very

limited demand for this equipment, large manufacturers have become more and more reluctant to accept orders for 25-

cycle equipment which has greatly in- creased the cost of such equipment. One of the principal phases of the conversion project during the present plan- ning stage will be a determination of the amount of equipment which must be con- verted or replaced. Aside from this phase, the project is a highly technical and

complex undertaking which will require

careful planning to avoid expensive delays and service disruptions. During the studies made in 1950, it was

roughly estimated that there will be some

35,000 frequency-sensitive electrical appliances and motors in the Canal Zone

which will require replacement or conversion. As the present studies progress, more detailed figures on this must be

obtained before plans for the actual conversion can be finally formulated.
December 5, 1952 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 15

Serious Operating Problems Are Faced With Locks Overhaul And High Traffic

.Continual from page 1) month of October, when new traffic records were established, the average number of lockages at Miraflores was 24 a day, or three above the normal capacity. Although Canal authorities are making

plans td handle traffic iii the most expeditious manner possible, it is recognized

that delays to shipping will occur during

the overhaul period unless a major drop

in the traffic level occurs. Bee rase of the wide variation in the

traffic pattern, delays to ships of as much

as 24 hours are not infrequent during lock overhaul periods. During the 1950 over- haul of Gatun Locks some ships were

delayed longer than 24 hours in some cases. The number of ocean-going commercial

transits during the first five months of 1950, while the Pacific Locks were being

overhauled, averaged 474 a month. The

volume of commercial traffic has shown a steady increase since then and during the

first five months of this year there were

2,865 commercial transits, or an average

of 573 a month. The number of large Government-owned ships using the Canal

also has greatly increased during the past two-year period. Delays Are Expected

Because of the fluctuations in Canal

traffic from day-to-day and from monthto-month, it is impossible to predict

traffic conditions, but it is expected that

delays to ships will be far more frequent during the coming overhaul period than

ever before. Canal authorities have advised ship- ping interests of plans for the coming

overhaul and have announced a traffic plan during the overhaul of Pedro Miguel

Locks. This plan is based on the assumption that traffic will be equally divided

THE U. S. S. /OIf.4 is shown tightly fitted into the lower Miraflores Locks chamber during its transit November 17. The Navy's mighty battle- ship was on its way home to Norfolk, Va. from Korean waters. Because of its size, the Iowa and other

ships of its class, as well as the larger carriers, between northbound and southbound

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

traffic will represent an individual prob- lem and will be handled accordingly. Both Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks will be operated 24 hours a day

throughout the overhaul period. Other

require special care in transit through the Canal. Any transits by ships of this class during the coming overhaul of the Pacific Locks will disrupt normal schedules since they require about twice as much time for a lockage as smaller ships. Canal operations on the Pacific side per- taining to the transit of vessels will also be on a 24-hour schedule, with boarding

parties available at all hours for customs,

immigration, quarantine and admeasure- ment duties. No change is planned in the hours of operation at Gatun Locks although the dispatching of ships from Cristobal will be scheduled to permit expeditious handling of traffic generally. The overhaul of Pedro Miguel Locks

is presently scheduled to start January 3. It is expected that the work there will be completed about the end of March and

that at Miraflores Locks will be finished by about the end of May. BALBOA CRISTOBAL

SATURDAY

• DECEMBER

6TH

SATURDAY

• DECEMBER

13TH

An adventure-film of modern Africa, "IVORY HUNTER" tells the exciting story of a game warden who becomes sickened by the slaughter of animal life and sets out, against great odds, to establish a wild animal sanctuary in the African jungle.
16 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 5, 1952

PRACTICING FOR A SESSION of lunar bird watching are Kathryn Ann Colclasure of the Field- Biology class of the Canal Zone Junior College and

Craig Smyser, a special student at the College. Miss

Colclasure is acting as recorder for the team. If they

were really at work she would have a flashlight to illuminate her notebook. An hour is about

the longest a team can work at one stretch, counting and reporting birds as they fly across the

face of the full moon.

Canal Zone Lunar Bird Watchers Aid s

Extensive Study Of Night Migration grt

the viewer and the direction in which it flies, computed by a method outlined by

Louisiana State, are also recorded. The observer also attempts to estimate -j; the size of the bird, in terms of its rela- tionship to Tycho, a prominent crater on

the bright part of the moon. Thus, a

large bird may be described as being "2 T's" or two Tychos long, and a tiny

bird may be only a "X T" or a quarter of a Tycho. Bats And Bugs Too

If the observer can tell by the shape of an image what species of bird the object

is, he reports that, too, tc his recorder. But the images generally are so distorted that it is difficult to identify much except herons and birds of that general ilk. Bats and insects are also recorded as such if they can be identified. In six nights of observation the local lunar watchers recorded over 1,000 birds. From this figure the Louisiana State

scientists will be able to work out the density of the migratory movement. The birds observed from the Canal Zone watching post have been consistent

in their movements.

"In the hours we watch, we get birds nearly all the time," Mr. Lee says. The peak of the movement comes in the hour before midnight. After midnight, the 194S observations showed, the migration drops sharply, levels off from two to three o'clock and drops to a "baseline" between four and five a. m. Night Migration Is High

Scientists now believe that it is difficult to get accurate observations on daytime

migration and think it likely that many

supposedly favored migration routes rep- resent attractive lingering spots where

migrants congregate to feed during the day.Unlike daytime migration, the orni- thologists think, nearly all night migration must take place at a comparatively

high altitude. Few migrating birds can

see well in the dark and must stay high

to avoid close-to-the-ground obstructions. There are only a few species of nocturnal

birds and few of these fly high to feed. Consequently when a large number of birds are moving at high elevations at night it is safe to assume that they are migrants. Local observers have done their lunar watching between October 1 and 5; be- tween October 30 and November 3; be- tween November 29 and December 3; and

expect to have another observation period between December 28 and January 1. The observers here have included Mr. and Mrs. Lee; Stephen Peck, a teacher at the Balboa Junior High School; Mr. Townsend and his son, Frankie; Mr. Webb and his son, Teddy.

Others from the Junior College field biology class and from the student body

were: Kathryn Ann Colclasure, Yvonne

Kuperman, Wendall Spreadbury, Elaine

Kelly, Eric Hagborg, Gerald Hendriekson, and Craig Smyser, a special student

at the Junior College and nephew of Colonel Craig Smyser, Engineering and

Construction Director.

A handful of Zonians with scientific trends of mind have been eyeing the face

of the full moon recently. What they are doing is called "lunar bird watching," and what they learn may add another bit to the fascinating—to biologists at least

puzzle of bird migration.

Ornithologists have long wondered

whether or not bird migration is affected by weather. They have puzzled over the

effect of the moon on migration. They

want to know if migrating birds follow

rivers, as some scientists believe, if birds

cross large bodies of water while migrating or stay along a shore line. Some of these questions may be answered when data to be compiled by

the Louisiana State University's Museum

of Zoology is completed. The local group

of lunar bird watchers is just one unit of many which are scattered all over the United States and other parts of the Americas.Revival Of 1948 Project This year's project is a renewal of one which took place in 1948 when some 200

people in 30 localities, from Canada to Yucatan, pooled their efforts and spent more than 1,000 hours watching birds migrating at night. During the past summer the Canal Zone Junior College received an invita- tion from Louisiana State University to take part in the migration observations

this fall. The strategic location of the Canal

Zone, according to the Louisiana State University Museum's Assistant Curator,

"will make your data for the 'full-moon

period' priceless information." George O. Lee, Biology Instructor on

the Junior College faculty, rounded up a group of students who were interested in the project; their first observation period was during the full moon early in October. Clouds proved to be a considerable hindrance. Mr. Lee and a small group even went to Cerro Pina, near El Valle, but had no clearer skies there than in the Canal Zone. Back Yard Is Good Post The group has tried Miraflores and

Sosa Hills as observation points, but

finally has settled on the Lee back yard on

Tavernilla Street in Balboa as gocd a

location as they are going to find. The back yard has further advantages,

too. Mrs. Lee can always be counted on

to help out when one of the observers becomes tired, and two junior neighbors, Frankie Townsend and Teddy Webb,

with their fathers, Wesley Townsend and Winton Webb, have become interested

participants. To watch nocturnal migration the observers need a good, full moon, a tele- scope or a pair of at least 15-power

binoculars, and a record book. Lunar

bird watchers work in pairs, one observing and the other recording. The Canal Zone group found the tele- scope at Miraflores Observatory too powerful for their purpose and the small

finder beside the big telescope too awkwardly placed for prolonged observation. Binoculars were tiring to hold during

long periods.Telescope Modified

Finally the local watchers settled on a modified telescope which had started out

as a range finder and has been altered by

its owner, Manuel Smith of the Section

of Surveys. This instrument has the great advantage of being so arranged that the observer can look down into the viewer instead of having to crane his neck upward. One of the group peers into the instru- ment and calls out to his recording partner

the number of birds he sees outlined against the bright face of the moon. The

times the bird image enters and leaves

John F. Wallace served as Chief Engineer for the Isthmian Canal Commission

from June 1, 1904, to June 28, 1905.