SIA& i '

Vol. 8, No. 4 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, NOVEMBER 1, 1957 5 cents

Gift ofthe Panama Canal Museum r\
£S^3

All lock wall recesses have been filled with concrete

to provide smooth running surface for big tires. Here workmen are engaged in building pyramid back of gate.

Steel plating was used foi reinforcing at many places. GATUN GETS READY

For new LeTourneau towing devices. Maintenance Division

completes extensive alterations needed for locomotives.

Gatun Locks have been brushed and combed for a big date. For the past six weeks men from the Maintenance Division have swarmed

over the walls and gates of the two lower

lock chambers to make them ready for use of the new type towing locomotives manufactured by Et. G. LeTourneau, Inc., of Longview, Tex. According bo a schedule furnished by the manufacturers, the new devices arc to be delivered and ass •mbled ready for testing at Gatun this month. The Maintenance Division work has been chiefly that of filling holes, rein- forcing, protective plating, sand blasting, guniting, painting, and Plasciting. The

work is scheduled to be completed this week at a total cost of slightly over

$70,000. Primarily, the work done at Gatun

Locks was required for the operation of

tin- l>i'_' rubber-tired fenders which will be Used on the new LeTourneau devices for holding ships away from the lock walls

as they are under tow. Much of the work was below the normal water level

in the two lower chambers and it was

r j to take Hie east chamber out

of service from September 25 until October 1 1. This phase of the work was rushed •" completion at a record-breaking pace to minimize the time required for single-lane

n at (latun. and the men on the job were highly praised for their work by

top < 'anal officials. Approximately 16,000 square feel of on the center wall was sand

and refinii hed. After being sand

blasted to a smooth surface, the area

along which the fender tires will operate was covered with gunite and then fin- ished with Plascite, a patented, paint-like substance which provides a highly glossed and slick surface on which the tires can

be moved up and down under pressure while the .ship is being raised or lowered

in the lock chambers. Other work involved filling-in, with

reinforced concrete, various recesses in the kick walls and the installation of sh el plating for protection of the bridge. The ladder and snubbing-hook recesses over which the fenders will operate were

all tilled with concrete. The recesses for the big fender chains were [tartly filled and the narrowed openings protected by

hinged COVer plates. The openings back

of thi' lock gates where mitered ends of the gates lit into the wall recesses were

filled by the construction of five-fool tri- angular sections of reinforced concrete. Precast concrete beams were used to fill the culverl discharge slots and these were grouted into place to provide a smooth operating surface for the fender

tires. The reinforcing required has been done

principally by the installation of heavy

steel plating. This was required along

i he vehicular bridge over which the fen- der tires will pass in towing vessels into the lower chamber. It was also necessary

to remove the heavy wooden timber fen- ders along the top of the approach wall

install steel-plated lamps at the junction < f the approach and lower chamber wall.-. Other work of this nature in- cluded the installati d "f protective plating over water pipes of (he sprinkler system on the gates. While the locks have now been made

ready for the use of the new towing loco- motives, it will probably (S r

,„, u)

Key to successful operation of rhe Le- Tourneau devices are giant fenders to hold ships in fow away from walls. THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 19 q

"'
CONGRESS

Members meet here this month for Zone studies. Formal hearings slated.

November with its three holidays and

pre-Christmas shopping is always a crowded month for Zone residents. This year the month has added signifi- cance with the scheduled official visits of two Congressional groups, one of which

will hold formal hearings.

There are many matters of vital inter- est to the Canal administration and Government employees in this area which will be under consideration when Congress re- convenes next January which are to be

given first-hand study by the two groups. The visits by the members of the two

Committees, both from the House of Representatives, will give the individual members valuable information on these varied subjects. In addition, the Congressional groups will have an opportunity of taking a personal look at the sites and facilities where changes are scheduled The two groups are: The Panama Cana! Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee with Mrs. Leonor K.

Sullivan, U. S. Representative of Missouri, as Chairman. A Subcommittee of the House Post

Office and Civil Service Committee, of which Representative John Young, of Texas, is Chairman. Among the many matters of special

interest to the Canal and its employees,

already scheduled or expected to be before Congress next year are: The single wage legislation which was

approved by the Senate at the last session

of Congress; the replacement of housing and other facilities in the New Cristobal area which will be transferred to Panama;

the short range plans for increasing the capacity of the Canal; investigations re- lating to alternate Canal routes or major

alterations of the existing waterway;

changes in Canal Zone medical services and facilities based on the Falk report; additional funds for the construction of the high level bridge over the Canal; and

salary increases and other prospective

legislation affecting Federal Government

employees as a whole. In addition to these broad subjects,

Congresswoman Leonor K. Sullivan, of Missouri, heads group from Merchant Marine and Fisheries Commitiee.

there are numerous other matters of a

lesser nature affecting the Canal and its operations which House members are ex- pected to investigate during their visits. Complete details of the visits had not been arranged at the end of last month, and the exact date of arrival of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee had not been announced. Formal hearings will be held in the Canal Zone by the Subcommittee on

Matters Relating to Personnel Activities in the Panama Canal Zone, headed

by Congressman Young. This will be one of the rare occasions when a Congressional group holds hearings here, although two such hearings have been

held within the past three years. Congressman Young's group will take testimony on legislation already before the House to implement the agreement

of the 1955 Treaty with respect to per- sonnel practices in the Canal Zone. The

principal features of this legislation are provisions for the adoption of a single wage scale for all Government agencies

in the Canal Zone and the inclusion of non-U. S. citizen Canal employees in the

Civil Service retirement plan. Committee members scheduled to at- tend include Representatives Robert W.

Hemphill, of South Carolina; Ralph J. Scott, of North Carolina; Glenn C. Cunningham, of Nebraska; and David Dennison, of Ohio. The Sub-committee will be accompanied by two staff members,

a representative of the U. S. Civil Service Commission, a Department of State representative, and at least one representative from the Department of Defense. Some of the group are sailing from New York November 15 and will arrive November 21, while others will arrive by

air about November 23. The exact date

of the formal hearings has not been set.

Novembei 1, 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

The visit of Congresswoman Sullivan and her group holds special interest since her Subcommittee normally handles all legislation directly relating to the Canal

enterprise. The Subcommittee is sched- uled to arrive during the last week in November and be here for about two

weeks. No announcement has been made

on any formal hearings. Congressional members expected on

this trip include Representatives Alfred

E. Santangelo, of New York; John J. Allen, Jr., of California; L. Mendel Rivers,

of South Carolina; Timothy P. Sheehan,

of Illinois; William S. Mailliard, of California; Vincent J. Dellay, of New York; Robert J. Mcintosh, of Michigan; Edward J. Robeson, Jr., of Virginia; and

Frank W. Boykin, of Alabama. All are not members of the Panama Canal Sub- committee but the entire group will be

in the Zone on that Subcommittee's

business. One of the principal objectives of the

visit by this group will be the investi- gation of a possible solution of the Isth- mian Canal problem on a long-range

basis. Congressman Herbert C. Bonner, Chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, announced during the closing days of Congress this year that his committee

would make on-the-site investigations

of alternate canal routes. Mrs. Sullivan, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee, has written Governor Potter

asking that arrangements be made for the members to visit and make an aerial in- spection of some of the routes. Arrange- ments are being made for an aerial in- spection of the proposed San Bias and

Atrato River canal routes as well as a

visit to Nicaragua and a flight over the canal route there. Also being arranged at Mrs. Sullivan's request are inspection trips to the Canal

properties and areas being (See page 4)
SUGGESTIONS MEAN MONEY YOUR SAFETY RECORD

FOR SEPTEMBER

Twelve ol 14 employees receiving cash awards for suggestions are shown re- ceiving checks from Acting Gov. H. M. Arnold on Administration Building

steps. At left, back to camera, is John D. Hollen, Chairman of Incentive Awards Committee. Checks totaling $285 were given out early last month.

Cash incentive awards ranging from

$15 to $50 were presented last month to

14 employees of the Canal organization. The presentations were made by Acting Governor Hugh M. Arnold in a special ceremony held on the front steps of the Administration Building. The names of the employees and the amount of the checks they received for ideas which were approved and adopted by the Company-Government follow: Mrt. Helen F. Hoverson, food service

simplification: $50. Mrs. MaybeUe H. Walker, bench at Los

Rios Railroad Station and change in Di- ablo Commissary hours: $30. Mrs. Anne A. Lawson, procedures for clearing account: $25. Norman C. Anderson, a protective for cable splice: $25. Miss Beatrice II. Simonis, support-bars

for patient safety, comfort, and self-help: $20.Mrs. Martha D. Carey, method of or- dering supplies: $15. CONGRESS

fCnnimwdlmm transferred to

the Republic of Panama under terms of the 1955 Treaty. The group will also

visit sites for replacement facilities and

confer with various Canal officials on

plans for such replacements. Many of the Congressmen coming to the Isthmus this month have visited hen'

before and already have a valuable knowif general local conditions. Several have \ i m leveral occa Accompanying the Bouse members will be the wives of two of those from the

l'n t ( iffice and Civil Service Committee,

and six of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. Wives present! uled to accompany their husbands are mningham, Mrs. Dennison, Mrs.

Rivers, Mrs. Sheehan, Mrs. Mailliard, Mrs. Dellay, Mrs. Mcintosh, and Mrs. Bovkin.

Mrs. Margaret M. Janssen, purchase of microtype typewriter: $15. Rudolph L. Jemmott, improvement for

filing material orders: $15. Mrs. Helen L. Meisinger, method of ac- counting for cancelled and restated in- voices: $15. Mrs. Dorothy II. Neville, return of car by Panama Line: $15. George E. Shoemaker, V-belt length

finder: $15. Ralph K. Skinner, additional Yerifax machines: $15. Daniel C. Zitzmann, revision of forms:

$15.Ray D. Wilson, ship incident illustra- tions: $15.

HONOR ROLL

Bureau Award For BEST RECORD

SEPTEMBER

SUPPLY AND EMPLOYEE SERVICE BUREAU

ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION BUREAU

CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR

Health 7

Civil Affairs 6 Engineering and Construction 5 Supply and Employee Service . 5 Marine 1 Transportation and Terminals 8 Division Award For NO DISABLING INJURIES SEPTEMBER

COMMISSARY AND SERVICE CENTER

NAVIGATION DIVISION MAINTENANCE DIVISION HOUSING AND GROUNDS DIVISION DREDGING DIVISION ELECTRICAL DIVISION INDUSTRIAL DIVISION MOTOR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION

FIRE DIVISION RAILROAD DIVISION POLICE DIVISION STOREHOUSE

AIDS TO NAVIGATION

SANITATION DIVISION AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEAR

Aids to Navigation 9

Electrical 9 Fire 9 Housing and Grounds... 9 Sanitation- - 9 Dredging 8 Maintenance 8 Motor Transportation 8 Storehouse 8 Hospitals and Clinics. 7 Industrial -- 7 Commissary and Service Center 6 Police 6 Railroad - 6 Navigation 3 Locks. 2 Terminals 1

FREQUENCY RATE

SEPTEMBER 19S7 BUREAU

Supply and Employee Service Bureau

Engineering and Construction Bureau

Civil Affairs Bureau

C. Z. Govt. -Panama Canal Co. (This Month

)

Transportation and Terminals Bureau

Disabling injuries per 1.1 hours worked.

0,000 employee-

^

i 5 ip Lj v^

1 Tn

i

•

1 ::•;:}v

BL ; i "~1 ?:::: i i

I

Number ot Disabling Injuries

LEGEND

Man Hours Worked

| Frequency Rale this month

' ::] Accumulative Frequency Rale this Calendar Year Zj 1951 19551956 Calendar Year Average

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 1957
The Event of the Month in October is pictured on this month s cover. It shows some of the guests

at the 200,000th transit ceremony

leaving the Grace Line s Santa Mercedes" at Miraflores Locks. Without doubt the proudest man

in the Panama Canal on that day, October 4, was Capt. Theodore

Brennan, master of the Santa

freighter which won the numerical honor of making the 200,000th

transit by an ocean-going commercial ship. The veteran skipper is shown above with Acting Governor Hugh M. Arnold holding the

special certificate. Also participating in the ceremony were Capt. Warner S. Rodimon, the Canal's Marine Director, and F. X. Zeimetz

of the Panama Agencies, local agent for the Grace Line. The simple but impressive cere- mony was held on the bridge of the "Santa Mercedes" as it was being

locked through Miraflores Locks. The master and his crew did not receive news of the distinction

until Canal boarding officers came

aboard in the Balboa harbor. Be- tween then and the time the vessel entered Miraflores Locks, the entire forward section of the ship had

received a new coat of paint. This was the third such ceremony

which has been held in the Canal's

history. The practice of honoring

such ships was instituted just 19

years before when the 100,000th

commercial transit was made by

the S.S. "Steel Exporter." In April 1951, the S.S. "Nevadan" re- ceived a certificate for making the 150,000th trip by an ocean-going

commercial liner.

Civic Council

Election Plans

JZurJi. CANAL g

Official Panama Canal Company Publication Published Monthly At Balboa Heights, C. Z. Printed by the Printing Plant, Mount Hope, Canal Zone

YV. E. Potter, Governor-President Hugh M. Arnold, Lieutenant Governor W. G. Arey, Jr., Public Information Officer

J. Rufus Hardy, Editor Eleanor McIlhenny, Assistant Editor Eunice Richard, Editorial Assistant On sale at all Panama Canal Service Centers, Commissaries, and Hotels for 10 days after publication date at 5 cents each. Subscriptions, $1 a year; mail and back copies, 10 cents each.

VOI I

Beverly Boyett, left, andKMarilyn Ward get instructions from Dean R. C. Hackett on holding polls for Pacific side Council. Students will help again this year.

Postal money order! made payable to the Pan- ama Canal Company should be mailed to Editor, The Panama Canal Review. Balboa Heights. C. Z.

The annual Civic Council elections in the Canal Zone will be held during the

first week in November with more than

150 candidates in the running this year. With two exceptions, Gamboa and Rainbow City, all Council elections are

to be held next Tuesday. Because of the

large number of Gatun residents who

work shifts, elections there are to be held today and tomorrow, November 1 and 2. Residents of Rainbow City will be polled tomorrow, November 2, the elections there being moved up this year because

of the celebration of "Colon Day" next Tuesday.

All residents have been urged to participate in the Civic Council elections. This is the second year in which gener- ally-uniform voting procedures and elec- tion dates have been used. Complete details of election plans of

all communities had not been arranged

in time for this edition of The Review. The summary below, however, gives the general information as to the number of candidates, vacancies, and the time and

place of polls in the individual communities. Polls will be open from 8 o'clock in the morning until 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon unless otherwise stated. GATUN—November 1 and 2. Candidates will be contesting for 10 vacancies. The only polling place will be at the Gatun Service Center. CRISTOBAL-MARGARITA - November 5. There are 16 announced candi- dates for eight Council vacancies. Polling places will be at: Cristobal Commissary,

Margarita Commisary; Coco Solo Hospital; New Cristobal High School; and

Margarita Service Center. The Margarita Service Center will remain open until 7:00 p. m. GAMBOA—November 5. There are

14 candidates for 12 vacancies. Voting

in the Gamboa Commissary. PACIFIC COUNCIL- -November 5. November 1 . 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

There are 36 candidates for 24 vacancies.

Pacific side polling places, with the number of candidates from each area in parenthesis: Ancon-Balboa (9) —Gorgas Hospital, Civil Affairs Building, Administration Building, and Payroll Building (old Ancon clubhouse); Balboa (10)—Balboa High School, Balboa Commissary, Post

Office, Industrial Division Building; Di- ablo Heights (9) Commissary and Service Center; Los Rios (8) —No polling- booths. Special voting booths will also be at Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. LA BOCA November 5. Because of La Boca's evacuation, balloting will be conducted in the La Boca Commissary

and in Pedro Miguel at House No. 326. There are 10 vacancies. For the first time, the La Boca Council officers will be elected the same as in other Latin American communities. That is, the Council members themselves will elect

their officers by secret ballot instead of the person getting the highest popular

vote becoming Council president. PARAISO -November 5. There are

31 candidates for 15 positions. The five voting places in Paraiso, which will re- main open until 6:00 p. m., are: the First Baptist Church, the Salvation Army, the elementary school; the Civic Center; and

Paraiso High School. SANTA CRUZ—November 5. There

are about 25 candidates for 12 vacancies. Voting precincts: Service Center; Commissary; the Dust Bowl area; and at McFarlane Parkway. RAINBOW CITY — November 2. There are 42 announced candidates for 30 councilmen and 12 alternates. The Rainbow City Council will make a per- sonal canvass of each area in its jurisdiction, at times to be announced, rather than set up various voting places. In

addition, a special election place may be

established in the Rainbow City High

School.
PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS

September 15 through October 75

Employees who were promoted or transferred between September 15 and October

15 are listed below. Within-grade promotions are not reported. ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH

Elizabeth Mitchell, from Clerk-Typist. Locks Division, to File Clerk. Records

Section. CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU

George L. Cain, from Custom-. Guar 1 to Customs Inspector. Customs Division. Mrs. Mildred R. Beggs, from Substitute Teacher to Elementary School Teacher.

Division of Schools. Mrs. Mary E. Evans, from Clerk. Supply

Division, to Clerk (Typing). Division of Schools. Peter S. Lang, from Doorman. Diablo

Theater, to Substitute Window Clerk.

Postal Division. David A. Hone, from Pumping Plant Operator II. Maintenance Divi- Policeman, Police Division. Pet^r Ubrau, from Window Clerk to Distribution Clerk, Postal Division, Benjamin A. Darden, from Distri i Po

lice ( nander to C lief, Police 1 >i\ ision. Joseph M. Corso, from Guard, Locks

Security Branch, to Policeman, Police Division.OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER

Mrs. Rosemarie J. Kenealy, from General Accounting Clerk to General Claims

Examiner, General Audit Division. Mrs. Frances L. Journey, from Supervisory Clerical Assistant to Supervisory Ac- counting Assistant. Accounting Division. Albert D. Mancinelli, from Systems Account, int. Accounting Policies and Pro- cedures Staff, to Auditor, General Audit

Division. Mrs. Clair V. Hughes, from Clerk-Typist

to Clerk. Rates and Analysis Branch. ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION BUREAU

Mortimer J. Brennan, from Wireman to Powsr Plant Electrician Electrical Division Mrs. Winnie M. Compston, from Typist, Engineering Division, to Clerk-Typist,

Electrical Division. Robert E. Seavey, Jr., from Substitute Window Clerk. Postal Division, to Engineering Ud, Meteorological and Hydrographic Branch.

John H. Poole, from Telephone [nstaller- Maintainer to Automatic Telephone Communication Equipment Maintainer I. Electrical Division. Allen K. Miller, from Electrical Engineer

I Distribution Systems) to Supervisors Electrical Engineer (Generation and Transmissions), Engineering Division. Mrs. Carol B. Cantrell, from Secertary.

i Mil. i- of Health Director, to Clerk-Typist, Power Conversion Project. James A. Wood, from Sheetmetal Worker

to Foreman Sheetmetal Worker, Mainte- nance Division. Frank L. Cunningham, from Field Supervisor to Supervisor. Southern District, Electrical Work Branch. Electrical Division. Charles A. Behringer, from Supervisor} Construction Inspector, Contract and In- spection Division, to General Engineer, Fmgineering Division. Walter A. Colclasure, Contract Spei i il ist, from Contract and inspection Division

to Engineering Division. HEALTH BUREAU

Mrs. Eva M. Harte, from Storekeeping Clerk to General Supply Clerk. Gorgas

I lospital. MARINE BUREAU

Richard K. Jenks, from Industrial Plant

Electrician III to Industrial Plant Electrical Systems Inspector, Industrial Division. William J. Nickisher, from Electric Welder to Combination Welder, Industrial Division.

J. D. Barnes, from Distribution and Window Clerk, Postal Division, to Locks

Security Patrolman. Locks Division. John W. Urey, from Pipefitter to Lead

Foreman, Pipefitter and Sheetmetal Worker, Industrial Division. Ralph J. Dugas, from Lead Foreman.

Pipefitter and Sheetmetal Worker to Lead Foreman II, Pipelining and Sheetmetal

Shop, Industrial Division. SUPPLY AND EMPLOYEE SERVICE BUREAU

Henry J. Chase, from Manager. Tivoli Guest House, to Supply Officer I Drugs and

Sundries), Supply Division. Stanley M. Hamilton, from Manager,

Hotel Washington, to Manager, Tivoli Guest House. Vernon F. Kepford, Jr., from Commissary

Supervisor to General Supply Clerk. Supply Division. Mrs. Juanita F. Day, from Acounting

Clerk to Accounting Assistant, Supply Division.TRANSPORTATION AND TERMINALS BUREAU

Norbert W. Hammond, from Guard to Supervisory Cargo Assistant. Terminals

Division. Richard C. Condon, from Firefighter, Fire Division, to Train Dispatcher, Railroad

Division. Quincy Limber, from Agent-Operator to Train Dispatcher. Railroad Division. Irwin K. Meier, from Train and Agent- Operator to Train Dispatcher, Railroad

I >iv ision. OTHER PROMOTIONS

Promotion^ « hich did not involve changes

in title follow : Fred A. Dube, Orthopedic Technii ian, Gorgas Hospital. Mrs. Doris L. Barfield, Cargo Clerk, Terminal- Piv ision. Richard R. Potter, Electrical Engineer,

Electrical Division. Howard S. Engelke, Chief, Communications Branch, Electrical Division, Donald M. Boland, Accountant, Internal Audit Branch. RETIREMENTS

Claud M. Kreger, New York; Rotary

Drill Foreman, Dredging Division; IS years and S months; Canal Zone for the present. Martin Nickel, Maryland; 1 ..hi:.:: Pipe

litter and Sheetmetal Worker, Industrial Division; 38 years, 6 months, 6 days; St. Petersburg, F'la. NOVEMBER SAILINGS

FROM CRISTOBAL

Cristobal November 6

.1 neon Noveml er 13

( 'ristobal Noveml per 23

.1 neon Nov ember 30 FROM NEW YORK

Anton - Novembei 5 Cristobal. .____.......... November 15

.1 neon Nov ember 22

Southbound ships which leave New York Friday

are in Haiti the following Tuesday. Those which

s.iillr.nii New York Tuesday spend Satunl.iv in Haiti. Northbound, the ships stop in Haiti two days aftei Clearing Cristobal: Monday for those which sail from

Cristobal Saturday, and Friday for those which clear Cristobal Wednesday.

ANNIVERSARIES

Although Carl Graff Breitenbach is a comparative newcomer to the Panama

Canal organization his service with the

i mal d ites back only to 1947 -he is no

Stranger to the government service. Last month he completed 40 years service, 30

of w hich were with the United States Nav ) Born in I til a, V \

'., he enlisted in Sep tember 1917 and served with the Navv

through two great wars. For over 14 years

, ( hid Pellv I Ifl'n it, holding the posis of Chief Gunner's Mate and Chiel Ma in al \rius. Part of hi N i was aboard the USS Massachusetts, on which he saw action

i| .,,. i and in the Pai ifii His i om

manding offii ei was < lapt H. 11. Mi Lean,

latei Marine Superintendent ol I he Panm.il. Mr. Breitenbai h i ame to the < anal Zone

in February 1947 as an Enginee

with the Marine Division. The following year he was promoted to the post ol I >.« k

. ... holds the position ol Lead Dock Foreman. All ol his service has been on the Atlantii side ol the Isthmu

.15 YEARS

Thirty-fifth anniversaries in government

service were celebrated lasl month bj two

Ca I emplo; ees, Max C. Conover, I ead

liter in the M.iiiilen.in. e I )i

. ion, and George M. Pervin, Clerk in the

ii of the Civil Affairs Bureau. .mover was born in Buda, III . but

, the < anal Zi ' mngster. His 1. 1 1 her, H. II. Conover. ».i..i shipwright The younger Conover worked in various

jobs during his summer vacations from

school and in 1920 started an apprenticeship .is a shipjoiner. A short time alter he had become a craftsman, he was caught in the force reductions of the mid-20's and left the Canal service for several years When

he returned in 1929 he worked with the Municipal Engineering Division and i he Constructing Quartermaster Division. For

the past several years he has been in car- pentry for what is now the Maintenance

I )iv ision. Mr. Pervin. a native Bostonian, came to the Canal Zone as a Stall Sergeant in the Army. He was stationed at Quarry Heights when he left the military service in 1940

to be le a clerk in the old Suppl) Department. In 1942 he was transferred to the

Polii e .ind 1- ire I >iv ision but was in I hat post only a brief time when he was recalle I to act iv e dm v with i he Ai mj fot se\ eral

.ii I le has been employed in t lie License S» lion since his return to I he Canal organization.

.10 YEARS

1 1. tuber's quartet ol 10-yeai employees

are s.|>lit evenly between those with un- broken and broken Canal service and be- tween i nit la in lets and native born Isthmians, The pair with unbroken Panama I anal service are Julia Guenzi, who teacl grade at Balboa elementary school, and

William E. Hughes, a sergeant in the < ma

Zone l'..li. e force. Miss Guenzi was bom

in Silver Plume, • olo and i ame here in 1927 bom Clarkdale, Ariz, She taught al

I 'ei II . M iguel -. I I foi 10 v eat - befi ire hi

, moved to I he Balboa a hool s, -i . e int

I [ughes, w ho , nines Iroin Dalla I ount Tex , came to the Canal Zone with the

Navv. He began his Canal service as a signalman in the Navigation Division but has been with the police force since l".i(>. The other two 30-year anniversary employees both work at Gorgas Hospital, 'to^ both are second generation Canal emploj

ees. Mrs. Stella N. Frampton is the daugh

ter of the late W. R. Newbold. Jr., foi man)

years with the old Fortifications Division lln first Canal job was with the former Mechanical Division, and I. net she worked

for the Office Engineer. She is now Per- sonnel Clerk ai Gorgas. Mrs. Edith T. McAllister is .1 clerk in the Medi. a] ( elllel al

t iorgas I lospital, she is the daughter ol

i In late 1 G I i.'w bridge, n ho woi ke.l foi the I lodging Division. All ol her service has been in i he I lealth Bureau.

25 YEARS

Both ol the i iien w ho completed a quarter

ni ,i centurj ol government service in CX tober have continuous Canal service, al though eight years ol Leonard B. Wilson's

25 w .is with i he ai med sei \ ii es Mi \\ ilson, a tow ing loi omotive operatoi

.it the Pacini Locks, comes from Old Trap, \ ( lie joined I he I lanal organizal ion in 1940 as a . hauffeui with the Motor Transportation Division He has also wmked

with the Maintenance and Fire Divisions

hereHoward S. Engelke's 25 years ol ervii e, howevei hive all been with the Panama

( '.mal organizal ion, I le is now ( Imi ol I he Communications Branch ol the Electrical Division Born in Anion and a member "I a well known /.me family, be began his

( anal i areei as an apprentii e \\ ith the

excepti t two months in 1937 when he worked ai the I oi ks, all of his quarter cen- THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 1957
©

CIVIL DEFENSE

NEWS

The second revision of the Canal tone

Civil Defense anil Disaster Relief Plan has been submitted to the Governor's Office for

final approval. Main- sections of the plan have been revised, mos1 important being

the plan for rescue service, and the reorganization of the rescue and operation forces

for disaster relief. Further details will be submitted when final action has been taken by the Governor.

All local-rate communities will have annual election of officers in November among

the members of the Civil Defense Volunteer Corps groups with installation of officers planned for December. Mrs. Charlotte Kennedy will conduct specialized training classes in the United States local towns

during November.

NOVEMBER VOLUNTEER CORPS MEETINGS

Date Town Place Hour

6 Margarita and Service Center 9 a.m. New Cristobal Margarita

13 Rainbow City School 6:30 p. m.

14 Santa Cruz Service Center 8 p.m.

iS Paraiso School 7:30 p. m.

19 Gatun Service Center 9 a. m.

20 Diablo Service Center 9:30 a. m.

turv has been spent with the Electrical Division and in communications.

20 YEARS

Five of the nine Company-Government

employees who rounded out 20 years of service in October have not only unbroken

service with the Panama Canal but with

their employing divisions, as well. They are: Martha W. Goodwin, who

comes from Bald Eagle. Pa., Head Nurse, Gorgas Hospital; Hector M. Grant, whose

birthplace was Jersey City, N. J., Pilot with

the Navigation Division; Rita G. Gribbons,

a native of New Brunswick, Canada, like Miss Goodwin, a Head Nurse at Gorgas

Hospital: Adolph Kapinos, formerly of Goodyear, Conn., a Police Sergeant with

the Police Division; and Robert C. Sievers,

Jr., who came from St. Louis, Mo., and is now Supervisory Baker Specialist in the Supply Division. Other 20-year employees with continuous Panama Canal service are Eugene S. Shipley, who comes from Kingston, Tenn., and

now, as a Police Captain, heads the Cris- tobal Police District; and Leon M. Warren,

Inspection and Estimates Engineer in the Engineering Division. He was born in Oroville, Wash. The remaining pair, whose Canal service

is broken, are: Eiden W. Coffey, once of Monroe, Oreg., Wireman Foreman I at the

Pacific Locks; and Charles A. Mockus,

whose birthplace was Hilldale, Pa., WindowClerk with the Postal Division. Although Mr. Mockus' service is not continuous it has all been with the Postal Division.

15 YEARS

Seven of October's 15-year employees have unbroken Panama Canal service. They are: Fred J. Blohm, Lead Foreman

Painter, Maintenance Division; Dr. Louis

Fink, Veterinarian with the Division of Veterinary Medicine; Robert H. Fisher, Auto

Repair Machinist, Motor Transportation

Division; Charles J. Hurley, Senior Towboat Master, Navigation Division; Dr. Leon

J. Malock, Psychiatrist, Corozal Hospital; Mrs. Nye C. Norris, Personnel Clerk, Per- sonnel Bureau; and James W. Watson, Towboat Master, Navigation Division. Those with broken Canal service are: Hubert Hart, Towing Locomotive Operator,

Atlantic Locks; Raymond F. Hesch, Machinist and Diver, Pacific Locks; James A. Marchuck, Policeman, Police Division; Mrs. Faye C. Minton, Administrative Officer, Office of the Engineering and Construction

Director; Louis L. Seldon, Hospital Electrician I, Maintenance Division; Albert L. Taylor, Chief Towboat Engineer, Ferry

Sen-ice; and C. V. Torstenson, Pilot, Navigation Division.

Mary Hebert presides at Balboa senior class. Cheering her are Eileen Damerau,

class secretary, Raul Barbara, vice president, and Allen Ward, class-sponor. Miss Mary Hebert broke all precedents

at Balboa High School this year when

she was elected President of the Senior

Class. She is the first girl to win this honor in the more than 30 years in which

such records are available, and perhaps

the first in the school's history. Mary is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hebert, of Diablo Heights, her

father being Chief Admeasurer in Balboa. The new class president was recently

elected to the National Honor Society

and will be one of the initiates at cere- monies on November 13 in the Balboa

Theater. She has been active in student

affairs since entering Balboa High having

served as Secretary of the Freshman Class. She is a member of the Drama Club, Pep

Club, and Future Teachers of America.

In winning her race for Senior Presi- dent, Miss Hebert faced three male candidates, Raul Barbara, of Curundu, who

came in second and was elected as Vice

President; Don Ryter, and Paul Bennett. Lake -O T O 17

Levels rVlk5H/

The rains finally came—to the Gatun

drainage basin. After lagging far behind any year on

record, the inflow into Madden and Gatun

Lakes took a sudden jump last month

with the result that uneasiness about fill- ing the two lakes began to be allayed. Madden Lake rose 13 feet from October 1 to October 23, and Gatun Lake rose

1.9 feet during the same period and ex- ceeded the 85-foot elevation for the first time this year on October 25. The level of Madden Lake on October 22 was 229

feet, about ten feet under the mark

needed to begin hydroelectric generation. An indication of the changed picture

in the water supply was the comparative

figures on net yield of the Gatun watershed. At the end of September the net

yield for the year was only 1,662 cubic

feet per second. At the end of October

this figure had risen to 2,864 cubic feet per second, which is still less than half

for a normal calendar year. Diesel power generation this year has been at the highest rate ever. Over 45

million kilowatt-hours had been generated up to the middle of last month by the

Diesel plants. Rainfall over the Isthmus was reported

at about average or above for the month

of October, except along the Atlantic

coast, according to W. H. Esslinger, Chief Hydrographer. Up until the beginning

of last month precipitation had been very

light over the Gatun watershed. November 1,1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

Dates For Closing La Boca

Commissary, Service Center

The remaining sections of La Boca

were largely depopulated last month as the families assigned quarters at Pedro Miguel moved out. The last of these were moved during the present week.

It has been announced at the Supply and Employee Service Bureau that both Commissary and Service Center in La Boca

will close their doors on December 31. The closing of the Commissary and

Service Center will result in a force re- duction of 13 full-time and two WAE

employees in the La Boca Commissary, and four full-time and 30 part-time employees at the Service Center. Force re- duction notices were being delivered this week to the employees affected, giving them 60 day's notice. The same force reduction procedures

will be used for these employees as those

at the first of the year when several commissaries and service centers were closed. The Schools Division has announced

that the La Boca School will continue in operation until the close of the school- year which will be the first week in February. Arrangements have already been made to provide free bus transportation

for those children who have moved to Pedro Miguel.

It has been announced that cash pay- ments will be made in lieu of conversion

of frequency-sensitive electrical equip- ment owned by employees residing in La

Boca who will be required to move out

of the Zone by the end of the year. Such

cash payments will be based on inventories of this equipment as of October 15.
Zone Hospitals Plan

Celebration Of 75th

Anniversary, Nov. 17

Sunday, November 17, will be cele- brated in the Canal Zone this year as Hospital Day during which the general

public will be invited to visit the various medical facilities which provide the community with service the year round. The designation of a special date as Hospital Day is in keeping with similar celebrations annually throughout the United States in which communities give

special recognition to the highly-trained corps of men and women who provide

their medical care. The celebration in the Canal Zone has

a special significance in that it marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of Gorgas Hospital and the establishment of hospital and medical facilities in the Pan- ama Canal organization. The entrancing

story of this record of service since Gorgas

Hospital was built by the French is told

in a special Diamond Jubilee Supplement

of The Panama Canal Review. The Diamond Jubilee is also being marked by the issuance of a three-cent commemorative stamp by the Canal Zone

Postal Service. The stamp has for its central design a picture of the Gorgas

Hospital Administration Building. The

stamp is to be issued Sunday, November

17, and orders for first-day covers are now being received. Orders may be placed with the Postmaster at Balboa.

Col. Charles 0. Bruce, Health Director, has announced that Gorgas, Coco Solo, and Palo Seco Hospitals will all hold open

house to the general public on Hospital Day. Details of the arrangements for the

individual hospitals will be announced

later during the month as plans are formulated. A brief ceremony and open house is being planned at Gorgas from 9 until 1

o'clock in the morning. Col. Norman H.

Wiley, Gorgas Hospital Director, has an- nounced that various Panama Canal offi- cials will participate in the ceremony at which time the introduction of the commemorative stamp will be made.

Maj. Bruno Eisen, Coco Solo Hospital

Superintendent, has also made plans for residents of the Atlantic side to visit the various operating departments of that

hospital of public interest. A tour of the

hospital departments will he held between

9 and 1 1 o'clock in the morning. Hospital personnel will he in attendance to give visitors an explanation of the various

services. The general public will he invited to

i m Palo Seco Hospital at any tune be- tween 9 o'clock in the morning and "i o'clock in the afternoon on Hospital Day.

Dr. Ezra Hurwitz, Superintendent, has

all o announced thai a party is being planned for the hospital patients that day al which time the patieni I will give an exhibition of native dances. This will be the tir I time in tie

l !anal Zoic that a general observ- ance of Hospital Day has been held.

i loloni I Bi uce and other health official are I an in\ it al Zone resident to

" making the observance a memone.

Credit Unions Celebrate

International Credit Union Day was justifiably celebrated with great fanfare October 20 by over 3,000 members of Zone's Federal Credit Unions. Above,

part of big parade at Santa Cruz, followed by dedication services and field day. Canal officials and other organizations helped to make the day a big success

PAGES FROM THE

- u h'V?/ t''\" ~^. ' THIS XAflMTH Ri^l >/ 12^3

THIS MONTH

50 Years Ago

Ten Congressmen, nine of whom were members of the House Committee on

Appropriations, visited the Canal Zone

in November 1907. They rode through

the Cut, inspected sites for Gatun Locks and Dam, visited hospitals, saw ware- housing at Mount Hope, and, finally, held hearings here on appropriations to fi- nance the Canal work for the coming year. The first accidental explosion involving

loss of life in five months in the Cnlcbra

Division killed two laborers and showered fragments of rocks on the Culebra Admininstration Building, the ICC Clubhouse,

the Culebra Hotel, and various family and

bachelor quarters. An entire village built by the French and completely buried by dense jungle growth was discovered at Caimito Mulato by engineers who were locating the center line of the Canal in the Chagres

Division. The village contained -2 liar- racks and mess halls, nine sets of family

quarters, and a small machine shop. Most of the buildings were in good enough condition to be repaired. 25 Years Ago

Canal traffic, which had been at a low

level for most of the year, was beginning

to revive somewhat. Although November transits were six less than those for October, the daily average was the highest for any month since September 1931.

\\ heat ihipments for the month totaled 253,246 long tons, the largest month's

shipment of thai commodity for almost

four y

/,!//c in \ obi mil i 198& a "threi eri 1

type of flood" mi the < 'hag • Canal traffic for Over !', hours. Al its nua imum, tfu river reached an elevation

of 1 16.80 feet at the Alhajuela gauging sta- tion 25.8 feet above low water level. The rise of the Chagres flooded the pit excavated within the cofferdam for laying

concrete at Madden Dam, laying down a foot-thick layer of silt, and delaying the work on the dam for several weeks. 10 Years Ago

The most comprehensive study of the Isthmian Canal problem ever made was

completed 10 years ago this month. On

November 22, 1047, copies of the official report on the Isthmian Canal Studies and Gov. J. C. Mehaffey's recommendation for converting the Panama Canal to

a sea-level waterway were mailed to the Secretary of the Army. There was no announcement at that time as to the contents of the report. Panama and the United States still had

reached no agreement, in November 1947, on the question of defense sites in Panama.

The United States rejected I'unania's pro- posal that any renewal of the ID-year lease on Rio llato Air Base be subject to joint approval of both countries, anil Panama's

ambassador, Dr. ./. ./. VoMarino, was or- dered back to Washington to stand by for further negotiations. William A. Van Siclen, Jr., a secondgeneral ion emplo] l e, was appointed Superintendent of the Atlantic Locks. He

succeeded Hugh A. Thomas. One Year Ago

Good neighbors from both sides of the border got together on November 15

last year to celebrate the Tivoli's fiftieth birthday. Maurice II. Thatcher, onlj surviving member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, made a special trip here for the occasion.

3 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 1957
SHIPPING

CANAL TRAFFIC CONTINUES

TO TOP FORMER RECORDS

Featured by the transit of the 200- 000th ocean-going commercial ship, Pan- ama Canal traffic for the first quarter

of this fiscal year surprassed that of any

preceding quarter in the waterway's his- tory in the number of ocean-going vessels. The first three-month period of this

fiscal year also included a new monthly

record of 812 commercial transits, sur- passing by four the record set last March. The new record was set in August, normally a light month in Canal

traffic. Ocean-going traffic during the period

totaled 2,453 transits, of which 82 were made by U. S. Government vessels. This

total established an average of 818 ships a month, about 80 above the monthly

average for the fiscal year 1957 when the

latest annual traffic record was established. Although the number of large Govern- ment ships using the Canal during the

first quarter of this year was higher than

in the comparative figure of the past fis- cal year, the big increase in traffic was

in ships of the commercial category. One of the most significant features of commercial traffic for the past quarter was an abnormal rise in the number of vess?ls going through the Canal in ballast. Statistics for the period showed an in- crease in the number of tankers, cargo

vessels, and ore carriers transiting with- out cargo. Ship tonnage figures for the first quarters of 1957 and 1958 below indicate the

increase of ships with empty holds: 1957 1958 Laden 8,834,000 10,186,000 Ballast 1,178,000 2,210,000 These figures show the relationship of laden ships to those in ballast dropped from a ratio of eight to one in the first

quarter of the past fiscal year to five to one in the comparative period this year. The tonnage of ships in ballast for the month of September was reported at 776,500 tons, far in excess of any month

in the postwar period. Prior to the be- ginning of this fiscal year, the tonnage

of ships in ballast was averaging about

.300,000 tons monthly, less than half of September's total. The increase in ballast tonnage for tankers is due principally to the heavy movement of Venezuelan oil through the Canal to the Pacific, with tankers returning empty.

Partly accounting for the increase of ore carriers in ballast is the continued

use of this type of ship during the sum- mer months. In previous years, many

ore carriers were taken off of routes through the Canal for service in the north Atlantic while favorable weather

conditions prevailed. Ore shipments have

continued heavier through the Canal this summer with the entry of many carriers specially built for this trade. Consequently, ballast figures for this class of vessel have also risen as they normally

return empty to the ore centers in South

America. While these factors are normal for tankers and ore carriers, an indication of some slackening in world trade is indi- cated by the increase in ballast tonnage

for dry-cargo vessels. Normally, the ballast tonnage of freighters in transit through the Canal is made up principally by fruit ships returning empty to the banana plantations of Central and South

America. This tonnage has been boosted

considerably, however, during the first three months of this year by an increas- ing number of other types of dry-cargo

vessels going through the Canal with empty holds.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND TOLLS

Vessels of 300 tons net or over

(Fiscal years)

Month

July August

September.

October November _ December.. January

February _ _ March

April May

June

Totals for first 3 months

of fiscal year

Total for fiscal year

Transits

788 812

771

669 653

646

699

654

751

701 673

808

767

783 775

457

505 444

461 435

439 444

436

506 487

465

445

Tolls

(In thousands of dollars)

$3,668

3,599 3,504

$10,771

1957 1938

$3,054

2,888

2,861 3,083

2,876

.3,420 3,161 3,033

3,603 3,430

3,551 3,484

S8.803 $38,444

$2,030

2,195

1,936

1,981 1,893

1,845 1,838

1,787 2,016

1,961 1,887

1,801

$6,161 $23,170

November 1. 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

TRANSITS BY OCRAN-GOING

VESSELS IN SEPTEMBER

1956 1957 Commercial . 646 771 Government 18 18 Totals _ 664 ~789 TOLLS*

1956 1957 Commercial $2,865,538 $3,508,949 Government 99,122 69,019 Total.... $2,964,660 $3,577,968

'Includes tolls on all vessels, ocean-going and small. TOTAL CARGO (Lone Inns) 1956 1957 Commercial 3,560,245 3,936,498 Government . 113,984 36,360 Total 3,674,229 3,972,858 South American Trade

Routes Show Increase

The continued increase in business in South American countries on the Pacific coast was indicated in traffic figures of the Panama Canal during the first quarter of this fiscal year. There were over 100 more ships in transit through the Canal during the first three months of this fiscal year on routes

to South America than in the comparative period of a year ago. The heaviest

increase was shown on the route between

the east coast of the United States and

South America. On this route there were

558 transits during the past quarter, a

gain of 84 ships of the ocean-going commercial category on the route in the first quarter of fiscal 1957. A substantial gain was also shown on

the route between Europe and South

America. In the first quarter of the

past fiscal year there were 174 transits by ocean-going vessels. This year the number was 210 for a gain of 36. Other trade routes through the Canal

showing gains this year over last were the United States Intercoastal, the East

Coast U. S. and Central America route; the East Coast U. S. and the Far East; and the route between Europe and the West Coast of the U. S. and Canada. The shipment of petroleum through

the Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the movement of ores in the opposite direction were leading features in the commodity movements for the first three months of this fiscal year. The amount of oil shipped from the Atlantic

to the Pacific during the past quarter

totaled 1,797,000 tons, an increase of al- most 400,000 tons over shipments in the

first quarter of the past fiscal year. Ore

shipments this year from the Pacific to Atlantic destinations aggregated 1,982,- 000 in the past quarter, an increase of nearly 650,000 over the comparable per- iod last year. Substantial increases were shown in the tonnage of other commodities. From the Atlantic to the Pacific these included

coal and coke, iron and steel manufactures, soybeans, ammonium compounds,

ores, and chemicals. Cargo shipments from the Pacific to Atlantic showed in- creases in lumber, wheat, nitrate of soda, bananas, coffee, iron and steel manufactures, and barley.
^ SHIPS ,nd SHIPPING ^l

200,000th Celebration A gala celebration in honor of the 200,000th transit of the Panama Canal

early last month by the Grace Liner Santa Mercedes, was held October 24 at the Union Club in Panama by Frank X.

Zeimetz, local Manager of the Grace

Line, and Mrs. Zeimetz. Acting Governor and Mrs. Hugh M.

Arnold, members of the Governor's staff, members of the Cabinet, and other high Panama Government officials were in- cluded among the 800 or more guests. Also invited were Panama Canal

personnel connected with the actual handling of ships in the Canal; Canal Zone and Panama shipping and oil company agents; businessmen connected with

exporting and importing business in Pan- ama; and members "f the press. The "New Look"

A "new look" at the Panama Canal was given this week by a passenger aboard

the SSGaUic, a Shawl Savfll & Albion Co.

Ltd., vessel en route to New Zealand. The passenger able to get a different view

of the waterway was a big giraffe being shipped from the London Zoo to the New

Zealand Government. If he didn't un- derstand what he saw, he had the benefit

of chatter from four chimpanzees accompanying him to his new home. New Service A new service between U. S. Gulf ports and the Far East has been started by the

Fernville Far East Lines, whose ships are regular customers of the Canal. The

line is now offering sailings on the 14th and 28th of each month from Gulf ports through the Panama Canal to Manila and Hong Kong. One sailing a month

has been scheduled for the ports of Djakarta, Singapore, Yokohoma, and

Kobe, all via Hong Kong. The Fernville

vessels carry general cargo and are also on a regular sailing schedule between New York and Far Eastern ports. Big Ore Ship

Another new giant ore ship arrived at

the ('anal during the latter part of < ((tu- ber. It was th" SS Rio San Juan, an

addition to the Trans-World Carriers

fleet, on its maiden voyage from Germany

to Sin Juan, Peru. The ship is 657 feet long and has an NT-foot beam. Its dis- placement tonnage is 45,000 tons and

gross tonnage is 12,858 tons. The big ore carrier was built in Germany and will he on a regular run from Peru through

the Panama ('anal to East Coast United

Stal i p irl New Customer Coming

The Royal Mail Lines, Ltd., have an- nounced the addition of the M. S. I.m-li Loyal to their United Kingdom, West

Indies, Central America, and Pacific Northwesl service. The ship, which will soon become another customer of the Panama Canal, was launched recently al the Belfast shipyard of Harland & Wolf, and was scheduled for delivery in October.

It has 575,750 cubic feet of space for genera] cargo, including 151,000 cubic

feet for refrigerated cargo. There are

' Lit ion I for 12 passengers and a permanent open-air tiled swimming pool. The new .-hip is due to arrive at the < Janal on her maiden \ oj age late in November

according to the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, her agents in Cristobal.

New Look At Corozal

Dresses for the women patients are now gaily coloied prints.

Clothes do make a difference, as a number of both men and women patients

at Corozal Hospital can testify. A few months ago, som:> of them were

outfitted with bright new clothes, as an

experiment, to replace the shapeless, faded blue denims which had been the trademark of the hospital for many years. The result is such an amazing boost of morale that all of th? old denims will b?

replaced by the gay new wearing app irel as soon as funds are available. The men's suits are made of gray

cotton twills, based on a sport-shirt ides, and the women are sporting colorful cot- ton-print dresses. According to h-alth authorities, the

hospital is trying to get away from the obsolete idea of the institutional type of clothing. In addition to the matter of funds, another slowdown in the replacement program is the question of fitting. But

hospital officials hope that in the not too

distant future all of the patients will be wearing the new suits and dresses.

Trim gray khaki has replaced the mens' shapeless blue denims.

!:;::-:-

i: „ | ^ |

' ' ' $

w Alterations Are Begun

At Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks will be operating

at a limited capacity for about three weeks while work is in progress which

bates unwatering thi culvert. Both traffic lanes will be kepi in service, but with single-culvert operati >". The work is being done by Mainte- nance l)i\ i lion forces. It is in connection

with alteration to increase the cap ! "i

I

of the locks during overhaul periods. The Pacific Locks are to I verhauled during the coming dr] ia >n and some

of the work require I will b • compl

both Pedro Miguel and Miraflore l id after the overhaul begins. Mosl oi the work, except that which will he done durirhaul, has already been ao ora

pli he

Alteration to the I latun Locks were made in time for the lasl overhaul there. They increased the \<a I :, >

< capacity by aboul 25 percent. THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 1957
Principal commodities shipped through the Canal

(All figures in thousands of long tons) ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC

Gatun Gets Ready

Commodity

First Quarter, Fiscal Years

1958 1957 1938

Petroleum and products (ex :lu les asph ilt) Coal and coke

Iron and steel manufactures

1,749,282

l.Ki-. .71,') d 16,923 305,830

2 19,398 171,585

1 53,988 117,077

108,937

<) >.m

95,023

93,415

87,121 70,613

69, MO

1,302.577

1,364,904

SOS, 166

183,1 !0 417,307

287,369

108,182 91,496 328,898

67,980

135,697 77,929 58,686

69,948

69,179

109,691 1,282,445

178,635 47,077 646,493

1 1 1,416

146,787 900

42,072

3,207 27,985 Paper and p ip -i pro lucts Machinery

Aiiun mium comp tunds Wheal -.

132.018

46,081 554 343

62,666

83,729

1,175,149

Total 6,553,565 5,827,386 2.989,009

PACIFIC TO ATLANTIC

Commodity

( >ri--, various Lumbar

Wheat

Canned food products Sugar Bananas

Nitrate of soda

Metals, various Food products in refrigeration (except fresh fruit"; Barley

Coffee Petroleum and products (excludes asphalt) Copra

Cotton, raw

Iron and steel manufactures

All othersTotal _

First Quarter, Fiscal Ye trs 1958

1,932,050 799,406 501,776

369,597 310.650

265,178

240,495

223,507

124,415 87,817

78,919 79,650 62,765

48,857

16,034 955,553

6,156,707

1957

1,339,987 705,788 473,789

337,658

3 >4,838 177,424 6S,b51 227,234

16 4.005 53,755 65,633

164,162 61,758

41,051 57,368 885,488

5,178,840

1938

541,685

877,574

40,873 30o,650

439.129

8,670 222,756

173,729 45,205

53,158

37,173 978,129

35,092

37,071 5,966 850,245

4,655,102

Canal Commercial Traffic by Nationality of Vessels

First Quarter, Fiscal Years

Nationality 1958 1957 1938 Number of transits Tons

of cargo Number of transits Tons

of cargo Number of transits

To.is

of cargo

4

307

191450

5 92

13

13,222

1,852.111 96,093

118,516 81,370

52,260 501,427

18,501

3 295

18

1356

480

14

3,316

1,919,057 101.454 88,079

78,179 37,304

293,411

24,.,:.:)

292

2

2

1 667 795

10,096

15,115

55 254,567

2 4,695

7 24 209

ii

77

27,772

127,565 650,590

282,955 96,638

527 158n

72

18,452 149,490 521,759

288.248

56,655

28

91

31

9

2

146.78S

450,641

181,941 2,926

11 176 Honduran -

1 36

120

3 138

2 54

9 199

114

11310

41

1 469

8,250 179.673 853.040

14,318

1.212,838 5,754 211,765

16,594

1,023,276 628,464

59,369

15,127 32,037

194,446

10,091 2,960,913

51 154I09,i 79 996,051

1375 39,933

S ' I 490

258 2,106,440 Netherlands. 47

21 246

136

115

14 45

222,583

34.308

1,200,024 695,450

57,655 30,722 63,600

181,014

60 217,168 Norwegian Panamanian

15554 855,770

155,169

Philippine _ 2 31

15 7 S0 206 545

Swiss. United States. . 526 3,110,649 495

2

5

1,406

2,860,S14

1 ,95

2! 151 Total 2,371 12.710.273 1,968 11,006,226 7,642,111

November 1, 1957 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

Gatun lock-wall sec/ion is clicked up where big lubber-tired fender will run.

(CarMnued from paye !) be a matter of several weeks before they are used for towing ships into and out of Gatun Locks. A detailed schedule has been prepared

for the testing period which calls for a considerable time in the training of Locks

personnel in the use of the devices on the return track at the locks and later on the towing tracks before they are used in handling regular traffic. After arrival the new locomotives will be unloaded on the north end of the

center wall by the 75-ton crane-boat

Atlas or the 250-ton floating crane Hercules. The LeTourneau company will send a team to the Isthmus to assemble and test the locomotives and later to

train Locks Division personnel in their

use.All of the initial trials will be made on

the return track. These will include tests for operation of the towline booms, traction, braking, and all electrical and mechanical check-outs. After the satisfac- tory completion of these trials, the loco- motives will be moved to the towing

tracks for a series of similar tests in addition to operation of the ship fenders. The first towing work to be done will be Panama Canal Company equipment

outside of normal operating hours for Gatun Locks. This will be followed by

the towing of small commercial vessels which can be scheduled for lockage outside of normal operating hours.

It is presently anticipated that this

trial period will require from three to six months time after which the two test locomotives can be placed in regular

operation. The LeTourneau devices will only be

used in handling ships through the lower

east chamber at Gatun. The present towing locomotives will be used to tow

all vessels from the middle chamber

through the upper chamber throughout

the testing period. If it is determined

that the new devices are satisfactory, al- terations to the upper half of the east chambers will be required before the new

locomotives can take over complete towing duties for the east lane.
-RECORDSBy The Dozen

There was a time not many years ago when a Canal traffic record had a chance

to stand unchallenged for several years but statisticians have had a difficult time during the past 12 months in keeping account of new records. New daily, weekly, monthly, ani

yearly records have been established and

"broken, some two or three times, since July 1956, the beginning of the past

fiscal year. During the 12-month period ending in September of this year each month set a record in the amount of commercial

tolls for the corresponding month in the Canal's 43 years of operation.

Also, during this period there were ten months in which ocean-going commercial

transits exceeded any of the previous corresponding ten months. The record-setting pace was only

slightly less for all ocean-going traffic moving through the Canal. Neither October nor November of last year broke

previous marks for those two months,

but since then each month has established a new record for that particular month. Without doubt this string of new

monthly marks will be extended to in- clude October. Traffic during the past month was exceptionally high and all indications were, when this edition of the Review went to press, that tolls and

transits would set new records for the month of October in both commercial and total ocean-going traffic. The following chart shows the number

of ocean-going commercial vessels and

tolls collected each month from October

L956 through September 1957 and monthly records established before that period. Records as compiled last month are in- dicated in boldface type. At the present

rate and growth of traffic many of these

will not long stand.

<?a~ 4-c

i -&>- - <z7

k wsi is

Past 12 months

Previous

record, and

year

established

(i, tobei 699 709 (1955) November (.54 636 (1954) December 751 670 (1953) January 701 668 (1955) February 07 ( (.81 (I 956) March 808 712 (1956)

April 7(.7 692 (1956) May 783 703 (1956) June 775 '.74 (1956) July 7XS 727 (1955) August '812 o7o (1955) September 771 686 (1955) *All-time monthly record. TOLLS

(In thousands)

Previous

record, and

Past 12 m \e.ir

e ' iblished

(3,083 >5 (1955)

2,87(. 2.700 (1955)

2..12II 2,963 (1953)

3,161 2,844 (1956) 3,033 wins (1956) 3,603 1,069 (1956) 3,430 (1956)

3,551 1,210 (1956)

3,481 (1956) 3,668 (1955)

J.599 .'.''so (1055)

3. SHI S.053 (1955) *AIl-time monthly ret ord

The freighter "Hawaiian Tourist" awaits repairs in Cristobal after disastrous

collision in Canal channel last month with the big New Zealand liner "Rangitane." It was one of the worst in the Canal's history. Fortunately no casualties

resulted. Canned goods are shown on deck. Port side was practically wrecked TRAFFIC MOVEMENT OVER MAIN TRADE ROUTES

The following table shows the number of transits of large, commercial vessels (300 net ton- or over) segregated into eight trade routes:

Firsl Qu irter, Fiscal Year-.

I iiiied Si. ite- Intercoastal Fast Coast ni I . S. and South \m. i ii .. East Coast of U. S and I Central Vmei ii a ast of I S ind Far East

I'.S. Canada Ea t and Australasia

F.l IT ope and West Coast "1 I . S Canada

Europe and South Amei i> a Europe and Australasia

All othei routes

Total Tr.if'ti CANAL TRANSITS—COMMERCIAL AND I. S. (,<>\ KRNMENT

First Quarter, Fiscal Years

1958 1957 1938

Atlantic

to

I'.n Hi.

Pacific

lo Atlantii

["otal [otal l.a.,1

Commen id \ essels:

1,1 so

110

1,191 110

2.^71 2<X

1,968 ISO1,406

211

1, ••>•> 1,310 2,609 '.lis 1.017

i si,, ivei nmenl ve 20

50

13 8200

OS Small 01

["otal < iovernmenl 58 93 |5| 12')

1

1 i ,1 commercial and 1 s

i lovernment 1,357 1.403 !,760

els undei (on net tons or 500 d tons.

pis on which tolls are credited, Priot to [ulj I. 1951, Government operated

ships transited free.

12 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW November 1, 1957