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VoLl,No. 4 BALBOA, HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, FEB"?UARY 2, 1951 5 cent,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL EXAMINE NEW CANAL COMPANY

ORGANIZATION BEFORE FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN IN JULY

Committee Is Selected

By Governor Newcomer

To Study Overall Plan

PROBLEMS concerning the formation of the new Panama Canal Company next July will be studied

here this month by a committee from the Board of Directors of the Panama Railroad Company. Gen.

R. A. Wheeler Heft) and Gen. Julian L. Schley, shown above, are members of this committee. The third member will be T. Coleman Andrews, President of the .American Institute of .Accountants, who was recently appointed to the Board of Directors. General Schley is spending the winter in the Canal Zone, while General Wheeler and Mr. Andrews are scheduled to arrive February 12 to begin their deliberations.

Plans For Civil Defense

Being Rapidly Developed

For the second time within a decade

the problem of civilian defense has been

brought to the forefront in the news and

in the minds of Isthmian residents.

It was just ten years ago that the first concerted effort was begun to provide

protection for the civilian population in the event of an enemy attack on the Panama Canal and its defenses. The

problem today has been highly compli- cated by the threat of atomic and biological warifare which might bring the number of casualties among non-combatants

to an appalling total. However distant the threat of actual warfare and atomic explosions coming to the Isthmus of Panama, the necessity of protection against such an eventuality be- came apparent after the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. The civilian defense program in the Canal Zone will follow in the main the same protective measures which are being

adopted by the major cities and industrial areas in the United States. The comprehensive program already devised and now

beyond the planning stage is intended not

to frighten but to educate and protect the

civilian residents. Governor Newcomer has urged that all Canal-Railroad employees and the adult members of their families cooperate to the

fullest extent in civilian defense work

which is presently being done and which

may be required in the future. In his statement the Governor stressed the im- portance of education. Governor's Statement

"It is of prime importance that all resi- dents of our community inform themselves fully on the community-wide measures which will be taken as well as the

individual protective measures which

would be required in event of an actual attack on the Canal," Governor Newcomer said. "The Office of Civil Defense

has recently distributed to all employees

the informative booklet officially released by the United States Government on protective measures in atomic warfare and

an extensive first-aid training program is presently in progress. Those who can do

so should take first-aid training, and

everyone should study in detail the booklets which have been distributed." The first formal step in the present

civilian defense program in the Canal Zone was taken last September when the

Office of Civil Defense was reinstituted and Melvin E. Walker was appointed

Civil Defense Advisor. Since then a Joint Advisory and Coordination Committee has been appointed with representatives from the military (Seepage^)

The intricate problems involved in the fiscal arrangements for the Panama

Canal Company after next .July 1 which

face the Canal Administration, the

Bureau of the Budget, the Secretary of the Army, and, for that matter, the President of the United States, will be

scrutinized by the Board of Directors

of the Panama Railroad Company prior

to a final settlement. The problems of establishing the

Panama Canal Company and consti- tuting the Canal Zone Government

effective July 1, 1951, in compliance

with Public Law 841, were discussed in some detail in the previous issue of "The Panama Canai Review." .\s was

indicated in that article, the issues involved are fundamental ones which

vitally affect future Canal operations.

The complete future picture of what

is now The Panama Canal and the

Panama Railroad Company probably

will not be known for another two or three months, either publicly or to those most closely connected with the

deliberations. This is true, not because

the deliberations and discussions are cloaked in secrecy, but by reason of the

fact that final decisions have not been

reached.

The layman in this fiscal wonderland

can perhaps best grasp the importance of the problems in establishing the new com- pany to operate the Panama Canal and

all its adjuncts by considering the high

Government agencies and oflicers in- volved in seeking a solution. The lines of the Canal Zone Govern- ment after next July have already been

etched into the new picture, and with

comparative simplicity. The meat of the question still under consideration is: Which functions of The Panama Canal

are properly chargeable to Canal tolls? In simpler (and far from exact) terms, which functions would not be performed

if ships were not being {See page J,)

SPECIAL FE.\TURES

# Simple instructions on what to do in event of an atomic explosion are given

in illustrated form on page II. 9 One little-known chapter of the Hotel

'I'ivoli's romantic history is carried In

this issue. 9 "Your Health" appears for the first time In this issue. See page 7. Lack of space prevented the use of the

identification contest, used »n the last issue of THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW.

It is planned to resume this popular

feature in future issues.
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

Plans To Lease Tivoli 30 Years Ago

Are Recalled By Hotel's New Status

Few hotels in the world have a more

romantic glow about them than the

three-story frame structure which stands on the east side of Ancon Hill and is known as the Hotel Tivoli. Yesterday

its 43-year life as a commercial establish- ment came to an end and it became a "Government guest house."

It began life in a blaze of glory with its

first guest being "Teddy" Roosevelt. The

President and his party came to the Isth- mus in November 1906 during the heaviest part of the rainy season to see the Canal work under the worst possible conditions. One wing of the new building was rushed through to completion for its distinguished guest under the insistent prodding of John F. Stevens, then Chief

Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission. The lore of the Tivoli and its guests, which have included the entire scale of society from royalty down, undoubtedly

will live long since its fame as a public

hostelry has spread to every part of the

globe.

Few of the present generation know

that the Hotel Tivoli's days as a Government-operated hotel all but ended about

30 years ago. This little remembered

fragment of the hotel's history involved

many personalities in the United States and on the Isthmus whose names have

been intimately connected with the Canal. Commission Recommended Lease During the early 1920's, Secretary of War, John W. Weeks, appointed a special

commission to investigate practically all phases of Canal and Railroad operations.

Among the various recommendations

made by the three-man commission was

one to lease the Hotels Tivoli and Washington for private operation. In those

years of peace and lack of war talk, the

story was of nearly the same local importance as the Income Tax story in 1950. A plan for leasing both hotels was

actually developed and bids were ac- cepted. Only two bids were entered, both

by local hotel men, and both were rejected

New and lower rates have been

announced for the Hotel Tivoli by P.

S. Thornton, Manager, effective with

the change on February 1 from a commercial hotel to a Government

guest house for those with Canal

Zone privileges.

Single rooms with bath range

from $3.50 to $5; double, $5 to $7;

suites, single $7 and $8, double $9

and $10; single rooms without bath,

$2.50 and $i, double $3.50 and $4. All rates quoted are for European plan

guests.

Discounts of 25 percent are granted on one month's basis, and

50 percent on two months or longer.

Table d'hote meals range from 50 cents for the lowest-priced breakfast

to $2 for the most expensive dinner.

Detailed information on rates and reservations should be obtained

from the hotel management.

on the grounds that they were too low. Andrew Johnston, then manager of the Hotel Tivoli, offered to buy the equipment of the Tivoli for $31,655 and lease the building for $1,248 a month.

Frank Martin, a former employee in the Supply Department and a well-known

restaurant manager of that period, made

an offer of $2,500 a month rental for the Hotel Washington and $40,000 as the purchase price for its equipment.

The book value of the Tivoli equipment was then approximately $60,000 and that

of the Washington slightly over $58,000.

Bids Were Rejected

Some casual inquiries were received from hotel interests in the United States on the proposed lease of the two hotels but no firm offers were ever submitted.

The death knell to the two proposals was sounded by R. K. Morris, then Chief

Quartermaster, who made an analysis of the bids and the prospective loss by the continued operation of the two hotels by

the Government. His recommendation

that both bids be rejected, submitted June 12, 1922, was approved by Colonel M. L. Walker, then Acting Governoi', while other recommendations on econo- mies to be effected were postponed for a

decision by Governor Jay J. Morrow, who

was then in Washington.

Among those who were interested in the proposed leasing of the two hotels was John McEwen, well-known hotel manager with two year's experience as manager of the Washington and six years

as manager of the Tivoli before Mr.

Johnston took charge. He wrote a lengthy letter to Secretary of War Weeks,

in which he suggested closing the Tivoli. (He was then the proprietor of the 40- room Hotel International).

Hotel Manager Enters Objections

After outlining all the disadvantages of the Tivoli and complaining that its con- tinued operation would be unfair to busi- nessmen in the Republic of Panama, he

said in pai't: "As a modern hotel it is a back number and a veritable fire trap.

It was said years ago that it was kept open all the year round because there was

no other hotel in Panama fit for a man

to live in. This could not be said today

because we have a hotel in Panama with more capacity and just as good accommodations as the Tivoli can offer." He

referred to the Hotel Central which had

recently been rebuilt at a cost which Mi". McEwen said was about $400,000.

While Mr. McEwen objected to the continued operation of the Tivoli under

any management, the Chamber of Commerce entered objections to its being

leased on the grounds that this would be

inimical to its interests. This question

got slightly involved in diplomatic channels, and Narciso Garay, then Secretary

of Foreign Affairs, addressed a letter of inquiry on the matter as a result of the Chamber of Commerce protest. He was

furnished a copy of the form of proposal

inviting bids by C. A. Mcllvaine, Executive Secretary.

These exchanges were made during the

latter part of May of that year and the involvement in diplomatic circles ended

when all proposals for leasing the hotels were rejected.

The differences in the amounts offered

foi' the two hotels stemmed apparently

from the fact that a bar (Set page W)
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

C. Z. Civil Defense Plans

Being Rapidly Developed

iConliniietl friim page I) commands ill the Canal Zone, the Republic of Panama, the United States Embassy, and The Panama

Canal. Several meetings of this advisory

committee have already been held to plan

coordinated civilian defense measures on

an Isthmus-wide scale. Members of this committee, of which Mr. Walker is Chair- man, are Governor Antonio T. De Reuter,

of Panama, Director General of Civil Defense in the Republic of Panama; Albert

E. Carter, First Secretary of the U. S. Embassy; and Lt. Col. Russell K. Brock,

representing the Armed Forces. During the latter part of 1950 both Mr. Walker and J. P. Smith, Sanitation Engineer of the Health Bureau, were

given official assignments in the United

States to familiarize themselves with the

civilian defense programs. Booklets Distributed As a means of educating the general

public on atomic warfare and the piotecti\'e measures which mav be taken

To The Employees

Mi'lvin K. Walker, ( 'ivil Defense Advisor among civilians, the Office of Civil Defense reprinted and distributed to all employees the booklet Survival Under

Atomic Attack. This information booklet tells in lay terms the dangers and best means of protection in atomic warfare. Two other important steps have been

taken in the civilian defense program. These are the first-aid training courses which are being offered and the on-the- job training for employees. The latter program will be conducted on a unit basis

for the Canal-Railroad with the training

being provided by supervisors, foremen,

and school teachers as a part of their regular duties. An objective of at least 5,000 residents trained in first aid within six months has been set for the first-aid training program

which was launched in January. The

instructors are all registered Red Cross

first-aid instructors, being selected pri- marily from the Fire Division, and sup- plemented by volunteers from the Police Division and others who have completed

advanced first-aid training.

It is planned to continue the first-aid training program on an ever-expanding

scale in all communities with those in the

first classes becoming instructors. Sirens To Be Installed As a further civil defense measure in the Canal Zone, it was decided in DecemThc past year icas, ivithout doubt, one

(if the most eventful and significant in the

histori/ of the Panama Canal since its completion. It was a year signalized by major

changes in the Canal-Rail- road organization; the

enactment of legislation of

far-reach ing ini portance to the Canal and its users; and world events which had a profound effect on

the average individual in

the Canal Zone. Under such conditions

it was natural to expect

that the organization and

the employees individually would be subject to stresses much greater than usual.

I have not been unaware

of these conditions nor of

the extra effort which has been required of

the majority of our employees.

It has been a source of great satisfaction

to me to have had loyal cooperation during

this period.

Under world conditions we face at the outset of 1951, the responsibilities which we

will be called upon to bear will he greater than ever before. Because of these conditions

it is a matter of utmost importance that each employee fully realize the importance of his or her job. In an organization as complex

as The Panama Canal the daily work ac- complished by each employee becomes an

important factor in the efficient functioning

of the waterway itself, xaliich is the basic reason why we all are employed here in the Canal Zone. Those in supervisory positions of whatever nature have an additional responsibility. Aside from their oivn ipork they arc

directly responsible for those whom they

supervise, whether it be one, ten, or a hundred. This additional duty does not always

begin and end with the accomplishment of

the job itself. It is entirely possible for a group of icorkers to perform a certain task

efficiently and well and yet have cause for

complaint.

The foreman or supervisor who fails to head off and rectify, whenever possible, a

justifiable complaint on the part of any of

his employees fails in the qualifications for a supervisor. By and large

'"~^' " the average employee believes he has a jiist cmise when he complains or

seeks an adjustment of any

nature. Even if the alleged wrong is fancied the employee has the right to expect a sympathetic

understanding from the man he calls "the boss."

There are comparatively

few grievances which can- not be satisfactorily

adjusted at the source. In

^,««=. many instances the lack of sympathetic understanding on the part of the supervisor becomes more important than the original

grievance. An attentive ear and sympathetic

attitude are the best antidotes for wrongs, fancied or othenoise. The employee with a real grievance has every right to expect

the support of his superior in righting the wrong since the supervisor is the guiding

factor in his daily work.

Under present conditions everyone has burden enough from the strai7is and stresses imposed by world conditions. It is unreasonable to expect to find loyalty and esprit

among those who fail to find sympathy and

understanding from their supervisors.

I have requested the variotis Bureau and

Division heads to give particular attention

to the attitude of the supervisors toward

their employees. It is an essential require- ment in any good organization. Its importance in the Canal-Railroad organization cannot be overstressed.

7-i(./^

Governor

ber to reinstall the general air raid siren system used during World War II. Approximately 25 sirens are to be placed,

at strategic locations in the various Canal Zone communities and this work is now

being done by the Building and Electrical Divisions. The sii-ens will be installed at the key

locations first and the entire system will have a single, central control. Full in- structions will be publicly announced

concerning the alert signal system at a

later date. The steps which have thus far been

taken in the civilian defense program are considered only as the primary and basic requirements. Plans are presently being

developed to provide shelter protection

to residents of strategic areas. Vai'ious other phases and plans for civilian protection are being studied and prepared.

The extent of the development of the program and the time within which vari- ous plans will be initiated will depend to a large degree on world conditions.

Zone Problems Different Those concerned with civilian defense

in the Canal Zone are aware of the differ- ence in the problem here and in the average city in the United States. As expressed by Mr. Walker, "There

are many phases of a civil defense pro- gram which are peculiar to the Canal

Zone. We have few massive structures, subways, basements, or other normal

underground shelters here which can be

quickly converted into places of refuge.

The light frame construction of most

houses would offer far less protection in event of an atomic explosion than a masonry building.

"There are, however, in all communities public buildings which provide a

greater degree of safety and it is the duty

of each individual, with the advice and

assistance of the Civil Defense OflSce, to determine which areas are safest in their immediate vicinity. With such knowledge and only a few minutes of warning,

the number of casualties could be greatly reduced.

"It is universally recognized that in present-day warfare little warning may

be given of an enemy attack which

might involve large numbers of civilians. There are many simple expedients which

can be adopted to minimize the dangers

from an atomic explosion even when out

in the open. Those are explained in some

detail in the booklets which have been

widely distributed and it is a matter for each individual to acquaint himself thor- oughly with those instructions."
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 195^

Plans For New Canal Company

StudiedJBy MDirectors

[Conlinved from page 1) daily locked through the Pmiama Canal?

No Simple Arithmetic

Governor Newcomer, Lieutenant Governor H. D. Vogel, Arnold Bruckner, Director of Finance, and W. H. Dunlop,

Chief of the Management Division, who

have been closest to this problem, all heartily agree that it is not a matter of simple arithmetic. So will a battery of Budget officials and representatives of the

Office of the Secretary of the Army who

have a part in the question and answer

session. The $64 question remains. Anyone with a simple answer acceptable to all interest^: concerned can become

a hero overnight. In making the simple

answer, however, he must be prepared to juggle many millions of dollars in one hand while tracing a clear, simple pattern

with the other which can be used perhaps

for the next half century to lock ships

through the Canal; provide schooling,

police and fire protection, and health services for the Canal Zone community; filter and furnish a pure water supply; build and maintain roads; construct and rent

houses; generate and supply electricity;

buy and s?ll supplies; finance and accomplish major improvement projects; and do

the other odd chores presently retiuired in administering the present Panama Canal

and its sister organization, the Panama

Railroad Company.

These problems were discussed in great

detail by the Governor and his advisors with Bureau of the Budget officials on

their trip to Washington, D. C, in December. However, in accordance with the

law, the Board of Directors of the Pan- ama Railroad Company, which will be- come a dominant factor in future CanalRailroad operations, must have an opportunity to consider the many questions

posed prior to the submission of the answers and an overall plan to the Presi- dent for his decision, which will be final. As a result. Governor Newcomer, as President of the Panama Railroad Company, has appointed a committee of three

to study at first hand here in the Canal Zone the problem.

Committee Is Appointed

This committee will be composed of Gen. Julian L. Schley, former (Jovernor

and President of the Panama Railroad

Company; Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler,

retired Chief of Engineers and former

Engineer of Maintenance and Vice Presi- dent of the Panama Railroad Company;

and T. Coleman Andrews, of Richmond,

Va., President of the American Institute

of Accountants, who was recently ap- pointed a member of the Board of Directors. General Schley is already on the Isth- mus, while General Wheeler and Mr. Andrews are expected to arrive February

12 to begin their deliberation. The infor- mation they will require is presently being

assembled by the various Canal-Railroad

units under the general direction of Lieutenant Governor Vogel.

The findings and recommendations of

this committee will be submitted to the Board of Directors at a meeting which

will probably be called early in Mai-ch. The Governor has notified the Bureau of the Budget that the plan evolved by the Board of Dii-ectors will be submitted

sometime before May 1 for President

FORTY YEARS AGO

In

October - November - December

Col. George W. Goethals, Chairman

and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal

Commission, returned to the Isthmus

eiU'ly in October 1910 after attending the wedding of his son, Lt. George R.

Goethals, in the United States.

"The esprit that one finds among the Canal employee?, and the enthui^iaMic,

intelligent and patriotie leadership that Colonel Goethals and his assistants show

at every turn and under every emergency, leave no doubt that the Canal will he fully complctel within the time guaranteed,

to wit. th\first of January 1915, and within

the estimate made by Colonel Goethals in I9Q8 of $375,000,000."

This quotation was a part of a prepared

statement by President William Howard

Taft upon his departure after a two-day

visit in November 1910. The President's

visit was one of the notable events of the year

in the Canal Zone.

and some of the material extended past the middle of the Canal. Several drill rigs were wrecked when a portion of the north shoulder

of Contractor's Hill broke away and covered about 320 feet of the main track.

The wreck of an old ship, believed to have been a Spanish galleon, was dis- covered buried in about 20 feet of sand

at Nombre de Dios where dredging operations were in progress to supply aggregate

for the construction of Gatun Locks.

The fall meeting of the Canal Zone Federation of Womens' Clubs ivas held in Gorgona. Among other business, the federation adopted a resolution to ban the common

drinking cup in the Canal Zone.

A Tea Room on the south veranda of the Hotel Tivoli was formally opened in October.

The ordinance providing for the licens- ing and regulation of motor vehicles in the Canal Zone became efi'ective 40 years

ago. It was i.ssued by the Isthmian Canal

Commission. It described motor vehicles

as being any vehicle "drawn or propelled

by means of steam, gas, naphtha, fluid, electricity, or any other similar motor

power."

Although the license plates cost only

$1 each, a tax of $25 a year was established for pi'ivately-owned cars, $150 for commercial vehicles, and $10 a year for motorcycles.

Three large landslides occurred in the Canal prism during the last quarter of 1910. They occurred at the famous Cucaracha

slide, on Contractor's Hill, and on the east bunk of the Canal opposite Las Cascadas. The latter carried away all the track on the

east side of the neic channel along the break

An official notice was issued in December

1910 that employees could again take vacations in Costa Rica as a result of improved

sanitary conditions there. To avoid a 5-day

quarantine in Cristobal on their return, however, they were required to go directly

from the train to the steamer upon arrival in Port Limon and to furnish a certificate from the American Consul in San Jose showing that they spent the last five days

of their vacation in that city.

Ancon Quarry was placed on a twoshift, 12-hour working day basis in Dec- ember to speed up production of aggre- gate for the concrete operations at Pedro

Miguel and Miraflores Locks.

A survey for the relocation of the Pan- ama Railroad between Gamboa and

Pedro Miguel sufficiently east of the Canal not to be affected by slides was

begun in December 1910.

Truman's action in tran.sferi'ing certain

facilities of the present Panama Canal to the new company.

In choosing the members of the committee from the Board of Directors to study the proposed plans, the Governor

selected two members of the Board who

have been intimately connected for many

years with affairs in the Canal Zone and

one of the leading public accountants of the United States. Mr. Andrews has a

distinguished record in both Government

and private accounting work and both

General Schley and General Wheeler

have an intimate and first-hand knowledge of the Canal-Railroad organization.

General Schley and General Wheeler

are the only two men ever prominently

connected with the Canal organization

who later attained the highest position

with the Corps of Engineers. The former

served a full term as Engineer of Mainte- nance and as Governor between the years 1928 and 1936. General Wheeler served

three years as Assistant Engineer of Maintenance, 1927-30, and was ap- pointed Engineer of Maintenance in June 1940. After 14 months of service he was recalled for active Army duty

elsewhere and established a distinguished

wai' record in the Far- Eastern theater.

CAMP BIERD CLUBHOUSE

MANAGER SETS RECORD

l^fes.

C. C. ROWE, M.\NAGER of Camp Bierd Clubhouse (above) has set an enviable record in the sale

of Panama Canal Reiiews since the publication was first started. His sales of the first issue were more than doubled when the second edition was

offered in August, and the circulation was again substantially increased on the November issue. He is a well-known resident of the .Atlantic side and has

the responsibility of running one of the largest of the local-rate clubhouses in the Canal Zone.
Februory 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

Funds Asked For Building Program

Next Year Total Over $1 1,000,000

(_i\l i<] nil M'l'^l i> '1 .' grading projects

in this fiscal year's quarters construction program

will be done in Ancon. The above aerial view gives a perspective of the extensive work to be done. It

is a comparatively simple project in comparison with

site work which will be required during the coming

fiscal year when it is planned to spend over $11,000- 000 in the development of new townsites or the extension of some of the existing towns. The circled numbers indicate some of the well-known features of

Plans for the $80,000,000 quarters construction program during the next seven

or eight years will be sufficiently trans- posed from paper into actuality within another year to give Canal employees some idea of the "new look" which the Canal Zone will have ten year? hence

providing all goes well. The building program actually sprang

to life at the beginning of this year as contracts and commitments to spend up- wards of $3,000,000 were made. The pro- gram will be accelerated after next July

if Congress approves the expenditure of approximately $11,000,000 for the coming

fiscal year as requested by the Governor. Not all the kinks have been ironed out

of the program which is the largest and most extensive ever planned in the Canal Zone to provide housing.

Many Questions Unsettled

Many questions concerning the new

Pacific side townsites remain unsettled.

It is expected, however, that the major

problems on this phase of the program

will be resolved shortly and actual field surveys of the new building sites will be undertaken within the next few months.

A large part of the money provided for the 1952 building program will be allotted

to the development of new townsites on

the Pacific side. The decision on the loca- tion of these sites might be easily reached

if the question of cost alone were involved. Since they are to be permanent improve-

''1 1 ' 1 Ihi^ are: (1) Annex to Gorgas Hospital Nurses Quart«rs; (2) Old Corral Area; (3) Motor

Transportation Division; (4) Section E of Gorgas

Hospital on Roosevelt Avenue which is now being

dismantled; and (5) the low service reservoir on Reservoir Hill. A considerable amount of grading will be required and this will be started soon by Municipal Division forces. The solid white line at the left shows the extent of the excavation required on the south side of Ancon Boulevard. The broken lines

ments and will affect the living and working conditions of a large segment of Canal-Railroad employees for perhaps

another half century, many other factors are involved. Of these, the problem of accessibility is one of the most important,

aside from costs. The average employee 25 years from now may fly to and from his job in the Administration Building or at the Balboa

docks in a helicopter, but planners of the new townsites must consider that the majority will still be going to work in automobiles, busses, and chivas in 1975. Several Townsites Considered

Presently the most likely areas for ex- pansion or new development appear to be Summit, Paraiso, Cocoli, Chiva Chiva,

or land north of the Immigration Station

in Corozal. All possible locations are being studied and given serious consideration. The existing good townsites will be improved and practically rebuilt, but

in order to accomplish this, and to pro- vide sufficient quarters, new townsites

will be required.

The quarters construction program for

this fiscal year is already well underway

and should be completed, or nearly so, by

next December. The new building pro- gram moved into high gear with remarkably few groans and creaks, giving additional evidence of the efficiency of the Canal-Railroad organization. All work

contemplated during 1951 has actually

indicate the new alignment of streets in the area. Ancon Boulevard will be slightly realigned and the

grade lowered. Chagres Street in the center will be

practically a new thoroughfare. Venado Street, upper

right, will be extended to provide a new thoroughfare between Ancon and Balboa. Reservoir Road, with

the traffic circle superimposed on the existing women's bachelor quarters, will be a straight street connecting with Ancon Boulevard.

been started by contractors or Panama

Canal Divisions responsible, and good

progress is being made.

Among the units which have an important part in the planning and prosecution

of the program from designing to renting houses are the Engineering, Municipal,

Building, and Electrical Divisions, and

the Engineering and Construction, Community Services, Finance, and Supply and

Service Bureaus. Contracts are Awarded

Contracts totaling approximately one and three-quarter millions of dollars were awarded early in January to three

local firms. These were: SILVER CITY, site development and

construction of 182 masonry apartments,

$935,550, to Framorco, Inc., of Panama.

DIABLO HEIGHTS, site preparation

and construction of 30 masonry apartments, $442,921, Isthmian Constructors,

Inc.MARGARITA, construction of 23 composite-type quarters, $343,645, Panpacific

Construction Company.

In addition to the work to be performed

by contractors, the Municipal, Electrical, and Building Divisions have several projects of major proportions in this year's program. The work to be done by these

divisions includes the following projects:

ANCON, grading and site preparation

of the area between Chagres Street and

Ancon Boulevard from the iSee page 16)
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

INCOMI 1 \\ pi ilil. 111. (,m lie taken to ll.i!H L l'ii'^,^l\, lk'put\ Cnllict,.! Iii-luMm , . Inliii L

Phillips, Deput} C'ullectui inght), who were assinneil t(i the t'an,il Ziine fnim the IKirida Distiiet Thej are shown above in then office on the second fJoor of Balboa Clubhouse which is opened daily from Monday

through Friday. The Atlantic side office, in Room 300 of the Cristobal Administration Building, is open

every Monday.

Internal Revenue Office Provides

Complete Service on Income Taxes

All Employees Urged

To Present Problems

On All Tax Matters

Canal and Railroad employees got the

full impact and significance of income

taxes when they received their two January pay checks with the withholding tax deducted from them.

Academic discussions about readjusting

the household budgets were transformed

into actualities after the first pay receipts were cashed on January 16. Such terms

as withholding tax, exemptions, estimated

tax declarations, and final returns became

familiar and household words in the aver- age Canal Zone home.

While most employees have resigned themselves to the requirement of paying

ing the 1951 income tax, the great majority are hopeful that the retroactive taxes

for 1950 will be revoked by Congress.

Bills for revoking the retroactive feature were introduced in both Houses of Congress before the close of the 81st Session and have since been introduced in the 82d

Congress.

Branch Office Established

A branch office of the Internal Revenue

Bureau was established in the Canal Zone

at the beginning of the year to assist local residents with their income tax problems.

Miller T. HoUingsworth, Chief Field Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue in the

Florida District, accompanied by Harry

L. Pressly, Deputy Collector Instructor, and John A. Phillips, Deputy Collector, arrived in the Canal Zone on New Year's Day to open the new office. Mr. HoUingsworth returned after a few

days and the office is presently headed

by Mr. Pressly who has had many years

of service with the Bureau. The Pacific

side office is located on the second floor of the Balboa Clubhouse and is open daily

from Monday through Friday. Office hours are from 8:30 until 5 o'clock, with

a 30-minute period for lunch from 11:45

until 12:15 o'clock. Cristobal Office Hours

The Atlantic side office, which is opened

on Mondays, is located in Room 300, of the Administration Building in Cristobal.

It is open from 8:30 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock in the afternoon, with

a 30-minut« lunch period at the same time

as on the Pacific side. Mr. Pressly has emphasized that his

office is ready and willing to give a complete service to local residents which mcludes consultation and information on

individual income tax problems, as well as assistance in filling out income tax

forms. Both he and Mr. Phillips have

been busy men since their arrival a month

ago and most of the time there has been

a waiting list of inquirers.

Many of the questions raised soon after the offices were opened concerned the re- quirement of filing a declaration of esti- mated tax for the taxable year 1950. The

requirement for filing this declaration was

rendered practically nil during December

by an annoimcement from the Internal Revenue Bureau in Washington, D. C. that no penalties would be assessed for

failure to do so. This announcement was

later formalized by a Treasury Department decision. No. 5825, which extended

the due date for filing such declarations. This decision, however, applies only to the 1950 income tax. Canal and Railroad

employees, in certain categories, who are subject to income tax are required by law

to file a declaration of estimated tax for 1951 by March 15. Estimated Tax Declarations

Generally, those required to file an esti- mated tax declaration include the ones who have an income outside their salaries amounting to more than $100 a year and

those whose income from wages exceed

$4,500 annually after subtracting all their exemptions at $600 each. Those employees who are in doubt concerning this and other provisions of the law have been urged to consult Mr.

Pressly or Mr. Phillips.

Although March 15 is the date for filing

final income tax returns, employees in the Canal Zone have an extra three months

in which to file their returns providing

they pay a six percent interest charge for that period. There will be no other penalty assessed for delaying until June 15

to file a final return for 1950. Some confusion on this point was

caused about two weeks ago when the Treasury Department decision, No. 5825, was rendered which extended the date for

filing of estimated tax declarations for 1950. In effect, this decision simply ren- dered unnecessary the filing of the declar- ations of estimated tax declarations for 1950, since the final returns will be made

on the due date. Due Date For Final Returns The decision in no way affected the due

date for the filing of final returns which is March 15, or June 15, for those CanalRailroad employees who desire to delay

filing final returns until that time and pay

the interest charges involved.

It is believed probable now that final Congressional action on the measures to

kill the retroactive features will not be taken before March 15, in which case per- haps a majority of employees will prefer to delay imtil June 15 the filing of their

final returns for the taxable year of 1950

in hopes that the retroactive feature will be eliminated or at least materially

altered. Mr. Pressly has urged that all employees fill out their income tax return forms for 1950 on or before March 15 even though they elect to delay filing the

final returns until June 15. The required forms for final income tax

returns and estimated tax for this year

are available at the Internal Revenue

offices or at the various Canal Zone Post

Offices. Employees have been requested,

however, not to make inquiries concerning income tax matters at the post offices. In event the retroactive feature of the law is not repealed or is altered to include the last three months of 1950, employees

will be furnished a statement of their earnings by the Finance Bureau, according to a recent announcement by Arnold

Bruckner, Finance Director. These state- ments will be furnished employees indi- vidually early this month in ample time

for them to file their final returns by

March 15 in event they do not elect to take advantage of the three-month extension granted for the filing of the final returns.Permanent Office, If Needed

The length of time in which the local Internal Revenue Office will remain open

is presently indefinite and will depend,

according to Mr. Pressly, upon the de- mands. Although his plans are still dependent on circumstances, Mr. Pressly

expects to return to the Florida District within about two months. The office will be established, however, on a permanent

basis if needed and it is expected that Mr. Phillips will remain after his present

temporary assignment is ended. Because of the many complexities of income tax laws, all employees have been

urged to acquaint themselves thoroughly

with the requirements affecting them personally. If they are unable to find the answers to their special questions or problems, they should visit the local Internal Revenue offices and make a personal

inquiry of either Mr. Pressly or Mr.

Phillips, who will gladly assist them.
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

An Official Panama Canal Publication

Published Quarterly at BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE

Printed by the Panama Railroad Press Mount Hope, Canal Zone

F. K. NEWCOMER

Governor HERBERT D. VOGEL

Lieutenant Governor

E. C. LOMBARD

Executive Secretary

J. RUFUS HARDY

Editor On sale at commissaries, clubhouses

and hotels in the Canal Zone at five cents a copy.

The printing of this publication has

been approved by the Director of the

Budget on March 9, 1950. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters containing inquiries, suggestions, criticisms or opinions of a general nature will be accepted. In all cases

possible, letters to the Review will be answered individually. Those of suffi- cient general interest will be published

in this paper. Letters must be authentic and be signed although signatures

will not be published unless requested

and names of authors will be kept confidential. Return address should be

given but the Review will not undertake to return correspondence of any

nature.

Canal Review Envelopes

and Binders Now on Sale

Special envelopes for mailing The

Panama Canal Review are on

sale in all commissaries, clubhouses,

and the two hotels. Three different Canal Zone scenes are used for your

choice. The use of the attractively

printed envelopes permits the mailing

of the Canal Review for three cents a copy to any address in the Postal Union. The envelopes sell for three

cents each or two for five cents. Fold your copy once, insert in envelope with

string fastener, and mail unsealed. Copies of The Review mailed to your family or friends save much letr

ter writing.

Binders for your permanent file of The Canal Review are also available

in the larger commissaries and club- houses for 50 cents each. Speciallymade imitation leather or genuine

leather with your name in gold leaf may be ordered direct from the Pan- ama Railroad Press. The imitation

leather binders cost $2 each and genuine leather binders may be obtained

for $6 each.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Mail subscriptions for four issues of "The Panama Canal Review" will be accepted at 40 cents each.

if subscriptions are to include this issue they must be received no later than February 15. Subscriptions should be mailed to the Editor, "The Panama Clanal Review," Balboa Heights, Canal Zone.

Postal money orders included with the

order should be made payable to the

Treasurer, The Panama Canal.

Committee Chairman Visits Governor

united states REPRESEXTATI\'E Donald L. O'Toole (rijAO, Chairman of The Panama Canal Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, conferred with Governor Newcomer

on various Canal matters during his visit to the Isthmus last month. He visited the Isthmus on official business during the latter part of 1949. Mrs. O'Toole and his secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth McGee, were visitors to

the Canal Zone early in December. YOUR HEALTH

Editor's Note

YOUR HEALTH, published monthly and distributed to thousands of Canal-Railroad employees, makes

its first appearance as a regular fea- ture of THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW in this issue. The publication, written in a down-to-earth

style, has been published since September 1944. Credit for the founding and editing of the popular

health periodical is due Dr. Kenneth O. Courtney, Chief of the Divi- sion of Preventive Medicine, who

recently submitted his resignation

after many years of outstanding

service in the Health Bureau. MODERN MOTHERHOOD

The present outlook concerning the understanding care of the expectant

mother has evolved from the "Dark

Ages," and society has advanced appreciably from the time when women expecting to bear children accepted pregnancy and its attendant discomforts and haz-

- SAYS -

"Folks are funny!" Yes, sir, it is diffi- cult to explain or understand the various

reactions of people at times. How often it is that people become

concerned over situations about which

they can do nothing, and, on the other hand, ignore problems whose solutions are

largely in their own hands. For example,

when "polio" strikes a state or area, many

folks become panicky and demand action, even though specific measures are not known. Yet, in the case of such childhood

diseases as diphtheria, whooping cough,

and tetanus—which are preventable by

immunization—thousands of cases occur annually in the United States because

parents have failed to have their children

protected.

A case in point: Each year there occur

in the United States about 25,000 cases

of whooping cough, approximately 5,000

of which result in death. Now these deaths from, and even the (See page it)

ards of childbirth as a "natural" event. In the old days, fortunately past, woman's acceptance of these discomforts and her blind faith in an ultimate, happy

solution of her pregnancy made her un- aware of the many detectable minor pre- liminary symptoms of some approaching

difficulty. In many instances she found

herself in desperate straits when it was

frequently too late to undo permanent

damage.

Obstetrics, as a science and a specialty, has had a slow-growing, painful, step-bystep evolution over many generations. It has had to overcome superstition and

tradition which have always surrounded

pregnancy. Old wives' tales handed down

by word of mouth from generation to generation had cast about the facts of pregnancy an aura of misconception, fear, and ignorance which only after many generations are beginning to dissipate.

Process of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a physiologic process in which the female carries a growing fetus within her, with the ultimate hope that

it will be born to live a long and healthy

life, and, in the process of bu-th itself, leave her in possession of good health. During the process of growth in the

uterus, many changes take place in the mother's body as a result of the presence

of a new and growing baby which needs nourishment, protection, and an avenue

for the elimination of its wastes through

the mother's organs. Occasionally, the

course of pregnancy becomes stormy as a result of abnormal {Seepage 18)
THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

nk CLUBHOUSE DIVISION

of the Community SemGes Bureau offers

for your ConvenlenGe:

Soda founiains,

RESTAURANTS & CAFETEB/AS:

( GOOD FOOD

THEATERS

MOTION PICTURES

REASONABLE

PRices

/ L/TTLE THEATER

/ SW MM NG POOLS

EXERCISE

THEATER GUILD

SCHOOL PLAYS

/ /

/ / RECREATION

YOUR CLUBHOUSE,

The hub of

COMMUNITY life/

BOWLING CENTERS

PHONOQR/IPH RECORDS

MERCHANDISE & MAGAZINES

COMMUNITY MEETING ROOMS

& AUDITORIUMS USED FOR'.

FUN

NECESSITIPS

Sportsmanship

EDUCATIONAL

ENTERTAINING

CIVIC & FRATERNAL

GATHERINGS

BINGO & CARDS

CHURCH SERVICES

DANCES & PARTIES

This page is devoted exclusively to news of the Clubhouses and Theaters prepared by the Panama Canal Clubhouses
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

ROTC Program In Canal Schools

Supported By Parents And Students

No single phase of the Canal Zone

school program has been more heartily

endorsed and supported than the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program

which was initiated in the Fall school term

of 1948 at Balboa High School. The ROTC program was extended last September to the students of Cristobal High School and the respons3 exceeded all expectations. More than 90 percent of the eligible boys, or 115 students, enrolled

for the training with the entire freshman

class joining.

According to the officers in charge of the training, this enthusiasm on the part

of the Cristobal cadets has been reflected

in the training periods and drills and they

give promise of providing strong competition when drill awards are made on the

first joint Field Day, to be held in April.

Junior ROTC training met with an

enthusiastic response when it was first offered in Balboa High School and the enthusiasm has not lessened. During the

first year about 200 cadets enrolled from

the four high school classes. The enroll- ment dropped the following year when

the training was limited to the sophomore,

junior, and senior classes, but the present cadet corps has 165 student members.

Value of ROTC Recognized

Many civic leaders of the Canal Zone

have long recognized the value and desir- ability of Junior ROTC training. The

program was finally initiated in 1948 by

Canal Zone school and local military

authorities. With the Junior ROTC firmly established in both Balboa and Cristobal High

Schools, the students have an opportunity

to receive valuable training which will be

highly beneficial if they are called into

service. This training is available in only a relatively few high schools in the United

States. A cadet who completes three years of Junior ROTC training may be given

credit for the first year of his Senior ROTC work in any college or university

where he enrolls.

Zone Boys Are Apt Pupils

The local students have shown remarkable aptitude for ROTC work, according

to the regular Army commissioned and

noncommissioned officers who are assigned

to the two units. The history of cadet training for boys

of high school and college age dates back

to the period immediately following the

Civil War. ROTC training was widely used in universities and colleges during

the first World War and the National Defense Act of 1920, which provided for the organized Reserve Corps, also provided

for the ROTC.

Reserve Officer Training Corps consists

of three main divisions: The Junior ROTC,

a three-year basic course for high school

students; the Senior ROTC, a two-year

course for college freshmen and sophomores; and Senior Advanced ROTC, a two-year course for college men who have

completed the Senior Basic couise. Generally, the Junior Division course, now

offered in Balboa and Cristobal High

Schools, is considered the equivalent to the first year of the Senior Basic course

ofTered in college.

( A 1)1 I ()i H( I |{-^i)f Halijoi Ili„h N KKil hiriKii Ii(.)TC pro cnt j bii^k militii\ appparanco Abuvi m the back low. lefl to rit/hl, aie C'adBt Officers; J'u-st Lt. Romas Passamante. iirst Lt. Richard

Abbott, Second Lt. Robert Blakely, Second Lt. Kenneth Pitman, Second Lt. William Altman, First Lt. Miguel

Bursr-t, Second Lt. -Jacob Plicet, and Second Lt. Thomaj Thomp3on.

Ranking officers in the front row, left lo right, are: Capt. Thomas Tucker, Capt. Louis Celerier, Capt. William Joyce, Lt. Col. Frank Mayo, Maj. Edward Browder, Capt. Richard Maguire, and Capt. Sam Maphis.

Missing from the gi-oup of cadet officers when this pecture was taken was Second Lt. Michael McNevin.

('l!li"~ 111!', \|, ;| \lnK RUK (.<ideli liui. luti. ti nil i tliui Liairun^ uit'i griMt enthusiasm since the

unit was organized last hall. Shown above in the front row, left to right, are; Patricia Geddes, Unit Sponsor; Cadet Second Lt. Richard

L. Sullivan; Paul L. Beck, Principal of Cristobal High School; Cadet Fu-st Lt. Richard Ducote; Cadet Second

Lt. Raymond Pinto; and Helen Kissam, E Company Sponsor. Back row, left to right, are: Cadet Sgts. Isaac Ostrowiak, Henry Wachtel, ,lohn Townshend, .John Dumhauld, .\ndrew Lim, Francisco Wong, and Carl Pinto. Not present when this picture was taken were Cadet Capt. Edward Bringas, Second Lt. Thomas Kelley, and Sandra Hammond, Sponsor of D Company.

Clubhouses To Give Prizes For Best Name

And Color Scheme Of New Recreational Spot

An additional recreational facility for which the general public is being asked

to supply a name and color scheme for substantial prizes will be opened at the Diablo Heights Clubhouse about the

first of March.

The new entertainment spot is designed

to fill what the Clubhouse Division believes is a real need on the local social scene and one which has become more

acute with the advent of the income tax. That is, a cozy place for dancing and

refi'eshments with soft lights and prices that are in keeping with reformed budgets

for both teen-agers and grown-ups. The prizes for furnishing the best name

of the entertainment room and suggesting

the color scheme which will be adopted,

are a "night on the house"—including all the refreshments which the lucky winners

and one guest each can consume at the Diablo Heights Clubhouse on one night,

and two movie tickets for each winner

good at any Clubhouse theater. New Room Is Planned

The new room will be located in the former soda fountain area in the Clubhouse and will bo separated by wood partitions topped by opaque glass. The enclosed area will be suflnciently large for a

1 7- by 35-foot dance floor, and plenty of tables and chairs. It will be equipped

with a nickelodeon and space will be pro- vided for an orchestra so that arrange- ments can be made to engage the room

for private parties.

Contestants may inspect the area, which is expected to become a real community gathering jjlace, for ideas as to the manner in which it can be most

attractively decorated and painted.

Those contestants who present entries

in the color scheme contest have been

requested to tell where each color is to be used for the walls and Venetian blinds and to present samples of each color suggested. Color samples may be cut from

colored picture magazines, paint company / color charts, or colors may be presented on cards in oil or water colors.

Entries in the conte-st will be accepted

by the General Manager of the Clubhouse

Division, Ancon, up through February 15.
10 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

Many Employees Pay Scant Attention

To Complexities of Retirement Plan

Retirement annuities—one of the

most important but least understood

phases of Federal Government service—is a baffling problem to the

average employee who attempts to wade through the mass of retirement

regulations.

Most employees become enmeshed

by the legal phraseology and give up

before arriving at an answer to the

vital question of how much they will receive after they retire from service. In most instances, younger employees put aside the question until some

more convenient date and those

approaching retirement become agitated or concerned about how much

they will have to support them after

it is too late to supplement or alter the results. The overwhelming majority of

Canal and Railroad employees retire because of age or disabilit}-, and the

computation of their annuities arc

the same. In fact, all retirement

annuities are computed under a basic

formula. They are based on the

average basic salary earned in the

highest five consecutive years. If

this average is $5,000 or below, at one percent of the average ($50.00 if $5,000) plus $25.00, this sum is then

multiplied by the number of years of

ser\-ice. If the average is above $5,000

the annuity is computed at one and

one-half percent (as example, $90.00

for $6,000) multiplied by the number

of years of service. The maximum

annuity can not be more than 80

percent of the five-year average. The Civil Service Retirement

plan, under which Canal and Railroad employees are now retired, pro- vides that employees may accept a lower retirement annuity which will be paid to them or to their husbands

or wives until their death or remarriage by the survivor annuitant. In

these cases, the annuity is reduced

by 5 percent of the first $1,500

($75.00) and 10 percent on all above

$1,500. Thus, if the full annuity is $2,500, the reduced annuity would

be $175.00 a year less. There is a further reduction if the

designated survivor annuitant is under 60 years of age at the time

the employee retires. This amounts

to three-fourths of one percent of

the annuity multiplied by the number of years under 60 the designated

survivor annuitant is at the time the

employee retires. However, the total reduction in no case is more than 25

percent of the annuity.

The accompan\-ing table will pro- vide a convenient means for practically all employees to calculate

the exact amount of their annuity

when they leave the service at the

statutory age limit of 62 years or because of disabilit}'. Those whose

total service years differ from those

shown in the chart need only to multiply the number of years of service by the basic annual annuity

shown in the top line to compute

their full annual annuit}'. In a later issue of The Panama

Canal Review, an article will be

printed discussing some of the more

technical aspects of retirement and

particularly the regulations pertaining to that small minority of employees whose retirement is optional

or under the discontinued service

retirement plan.

Highest Average

Five-Year Salary $4,000.00 $5,000.00 $6,000.00 $7,000.00 $8,000.00

Basic Annual

Annuity $65.00 $75.00 $90.00 $105.00 $120.00

Full Annuity

Reduced

Annuity*

Full AnnuityReduced

.Annuity*

Full AnnuityReduced

Annuity*

Full AnnuityReduced

Annuity*

Full AnnuityReduced

Annuity*

S Years $325.00 $308.75 $375.00 $356.25 $450.00 $427.50 $525.00 $498.75 $600.00 $570.00

10 Years 650.00 617.50 750.00 712.00 900.00 855.00 1,050.00 997.50 1,200.00 1,140.00

15 Years 975.00 926.25 1,125.00 1,068.75 1,350.00 1,282.50 1,575.00 1,492.50 1,800.00 1,695.00

20 Years 1,300.00 1,235.00 1,500.00 1,425.00 1,800.00 1,695.00 2,100.00 1,965.00 2,400.00 2,235.00

25 Years 1,625.00 1,537.50 1,875.00 1,762.50 2,250.00 2,100.00 2,625.00 2,437.50 3,000.00 2,775.00

30 Years 1-,95C.00 1,830.00 2,250.00 2,100.00 2,700.00 2,505.00 3,150.00 2,910.00 3,600.00 3.315.00

35 Years _.. 2,275.00 2,122.50 2,625.00 2,437.50 3,150.00 2,910.00 3,675.00 3,382.50 4,200.00 3,855.00

40 Years 2,600.00 2,415.00 3,000.00 2,775.00 3,600.00 3,315.00 4,200.00 3,855.00 4,800.00 4,395.00

If the designated survivor annuitant is 60 years of age or older.

Plans To Lease Hotel Tivoli

30 Years Ago Are Recalled

(Continued from page 2) COUld be opened

in the Hotel Washington if it were leased

to private interests. At that time the United States was dry and neither the Washington nor the Tivoli served intoxi- cating liquors or "booze" as it was called by Mr. McUvaine in one of his penciled notes in the official files. The only serious inquiry from hotel

interests in the United States for leasing the hotels in 1922 was received from W.

E. LaFon, a hotel man of Perryton, Tex. He made no offer at the time the proposals were advertised but nearly ten years later he wrote to his friend, Senator Tom Connally, asking if there was still a

possibility of leasing the two buildings

and buying the furnishings. The letter was referred to Governor Harry Biu-gess,

who wrote to the Senator that "no further consideration has been given to leasing the hotels" after the abortive attempt in 1922.

Offer Made for Washington

The question of renting the Hotel

Washington was not finally settled and

official Panama Canal files contain a considerable amount of correspondence in 1934 on a proposal of the late Henry De

Jan, Manager of the Atlantic Brewing and

Refrigerating Co., to rent the hotel for $25,000 a year. The offer was later re- jected in a long report on the hotel's operations and expected business which was signed by Roy R. Watson, Chief

Quartermaster, W. H. ICromer, Comptroller, and Mr. Mcllvaine, Executive

Secretary.

There have since been a few inquiries

concerning the leasing of the two hotels but no firm offei-s were ever proposed

and in all cases the replies were so negative that they chilled any further offers. One of these inquiries came from a Brooklyn, New York, hotel man, and another was made by F. A. Mitchell-Hedges, who

for many years was a frequent visitor to the Isthmus, and who was known as an

adventurer, raconteur, explorer, romancer, and discoverer of the famous "white

Indians" of the San Bias region.

The last faint nibble for renting or sell- ing either the Hotel Tivoli or Washington was made in 1946 when the "Club Menaco," S. A. asked about buying the Hotel

Washington. The reply to that inquiry was made by Governor Newcomer, then Engineer of Maintenance and Second

Vice President of the Panama Railroad

Company, who said that the Panama

Railroad Company had no authority,

without the authorization of Congress,

to sell the hotel. Since that time, however, Congress has vested title of the property in the Panama Railroad Company with authority to sell the property.
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 11 Make These Simple Rules Instinctive

THROW AWAY food or water in open containers after an

atomic explosion because of the

possibility of contamination by ra- dioactivity. Water from your faucet and food in your refrigerator generally will not be affected. If any doubt e.xists about food or water, use bottled water or canned

Like most of the civilized world elsewhere, Isthmian residents must

live with the knowledge that atomic warfare is a posibility. In an'- heavily populated area where an atomic explosion might

occur, thousands of serious casualties could be minimized and many

thousands of minor injuries could be avoided completely by simple

precautions.

An atomic explosion begins—for the person at some distance—by

a tremendous flash of light. This is followed seconds later over a wide area by heat and shock waves of great violence. In the fleeting instant between your view of the flash and the shock or heat waves you must act instantaneusly and instinctively to protect yourself.

Experts generally agree that your chances of survival of an atomic

explosion are only about one in ten if you are within a half mile of the explosion. You have about a 50-50 chance of survival between

one-half and one mile away. Beyond one mile your chances increase rapidly but you still may be badly hurt if you fail to take the simple precautions possible in your home, at your oflice, in the commissaries or clubhouses, walking along the street, or driving your car. Remember, blast and heat are the two great dangers from atomic

weapons outside a one-mile circle. Radioactivity loses its lethal powers in slightly less ihan a mile. A pretty young woman employee in the Administration Building

acted out a few of the simple precautions you can take in the Canal

Zone. Study the pictures and instructions. Fix in your mind now

what you would do to protect yourself in event of an atomic attack without warning.

Do them instinctively. The one or two precious seconds you have

could mean the diflierence between death or comparative safety.

FLATTEN YOURSELF

against a concrete wall if no

better protection is quickly available. Bury your face in one arm

and cover the exposed part of your neck with the other. Such

a position will lessen serious

injury from shock or intensa heat.

.-Vet without hesitation for you

will have onlv a moment's time.

AN OPEN DITCH ..tfi-r? giH«i refuiif if ynu ai..

in the open. A curb along the street where you may

be walking will offer some protection. Protect your

face and neck to the greatest extent possible.

CROUCH UNDER a tabk- ,., U.l at linmr. .,!

a desk at your oflice. They will provide protection from heat and shock and help prevent injuries from

falling debris.

FALL PRONE on th. Cnmmissary or Clubhouse

floor if you are shopping and have no time to take

other refuge. A handbag held over your neck will give protection from heat or falling objects.

STOP YOUR CAR luumjiatelyifyou are driving. Turn off the ignition switch and crouch as low as

possible on the floor of the car. Drive quickly home

after the heat and shock waves pass and do not use your car except for emergencies.

SEEK SAFETY behind a bush, a hedge, or a

large tree. Fall fiat on the ground on the opposite

side of the protective shield from the direction of the brilliant flash of light.

DON'T TALK on the telephone or spread rumors

after a disaster. The communications system will be

urgently needed for vital messages, and rumors can

easily cause a panic that w-ill cost more lives and

injuries.

The Family Doctor Says

(Continued from page 7) caseS of, whooping cough are inexcusable, in that they

could be prevented if parents would only

have their children immunized against

this disease. Likewise, with adequate

immunization of our children against

diphtheria and tetanus, there need be no

deaths from these diseases. Indeed! It is the opinion of many medical authorities that the disease diphtheria could be completely eradicated if all children were

properly vaccinated. In order to give oiu- children a more

healthful life, the following schedule of immunizations is recommended:

Smallpox

Have your baby vaccinated at approximately 3 months of age, and every 3 years

thereafter. Diphtheria, Tetanus, and

Whooping Cough

Between 4-5 months of age, have your baby started on the combmed-vaccine

series. This consists of 3 injections at 1- raonth intervals. Have booster injection given approximately 1 year after completion of the

series, and again before entering school. Have Schick test done 6 months after completion of series to determine whether

immunity against diphtheria has been

successful.

Have Schick test repeated just before your child enters the first grade of school. Typhoid Fever Sometime during the second year of

life, have your baby immunized against

typhoid fever. This consists of 3 injec- tions 1 week apart. Have booster injection given every year. Yellow Fever

All persons 6 months or more of age

living in this area should be unmunized

against yellow fever. Immunization

should be repeated at 4-year intervals. Yes, sir, this is a problem about which

each of us can do something. You can

protect not only yourself, but also your

neighbor. K. 0. Courtney, M.D.
12 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

NEWS OF YOUR COMMISSARY STORES

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMISSARY SALES DOLLAR FIRST 5 MONTHS, FISCAL YEAR 1951

F.taMTi 75 FARMER- MANUFACTURER^IMLAND CARRIERS

BEANS

IMTtREST ON INVESTMENT 11* WAREHOUSES -RETAIL STORES - PAYROLL

ONE SALES DOLLAR

re

IBoboOaEToo ooUeloo ootj 6* OTHER LOCAL EXPENSES (Eircipicirr Waho PipoiciATiohEic) 2^ IN TEREST ON INVESTMENT

COMMISSARY PRICE COMPARISON

Although the Commissary Division has never made an effort to adjust local prices to those of any particular area in the States, nevertheless there is constant observation of States markets and

price trends, in the retail as well as the wholesale markets. Keeping in touch with the wholesale market is vital in that it is therebypossible to gauge the proper time at which to make seasonal large

quantity purchases at best values; knowing how the retail market

stands furnishes a check on the relative efficiency of local operations. One very valuable source of comparative price information, from an unbiased agency which merely records the facts without

prejtidice, is the l'. S. Department of Labor's "Consumers' Price Index," published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and

which is now used as the basis for wage contracts by a number

of the larger labor unions in the States. The Department of Labor figures are collected by regular shoppers from a number of stores in each of 56 large cities throughout

the United States (Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston,

Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Cedar Rapids, Charleston, S. C,

Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester^ Memphis, Milwaukee, Minncapois, Mobile, Newark,

New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria,

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Me., Portland, Ore., Provi- dence. Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City. San Prancisco, Savannah, Scranton, Seattle, Springlield, Washington, D. C, Wichita, Winston-Salem) averaged for a nation- wide index tigure. Individual city prices are not furnished in the report, but in some instances are much greater than the average and in other

cases considerably less. An important factor in comparing these

prices is, of course, the fact that most of the Slates retailers are reasonably close to the producing areas whereas the Canal Zone

is over 2,000 water miles awa\' from the market. As an example

of what this means to the consuming Zonian, lettuce is shown as averaging U.,S cents a head in the 56 U. S. cities against 18 cents

here, while bananas can be had for 4j cents in the Commissar\-

retail stores but cost three times as much in the States (10 cents

each in a Montana chain store two years ago). States prices are

for the brands, sizes, and grades sold in largest volume in the

particular store and city and are priced during the lirst three da\ s of the week to avoid week-end "loss leader" distortion, while the

Zoni' prices are for the items which would be included by the Department of Labor's shoppers if the Zone were included in the composite group of cities. The totals indicated, and which do not

include the non-comparable items marked with an asteri.sk (*), are for comparison only in that no housewife would ever consistently purchase exactly one of each item listed; they do provide

a basis for determining the trend of food prices as a group. Current Zone retail prices are based on wholesale costs of about two months ago for most non-perishable staples because that is when

contracts were made with suppliers, so that, in general, a comparison of the latest local ligures with the Department of Labor

averages provides a more accurate comparison than is furnished by prices on the identical comparison date. On the other hand,

eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, and other highly perishable foods

are purchased for immediate delivery and latest Stales prices are considerably higher than they were in November.

The following tabulation, brought up to tlate and without the explanation gi\-en above in detail, will appear in subsequent issues

of the Review, possibly as a regular feature, if it is considered

that there is sufficient general interest in the data to warrant

use of the space:

FOOD AND UNIT

Stales Coinmissary Average Price

Price 11-15-50 1-15-51 11-15-50

This page is devoted exclusively to news of the Retail Stores prepared

by the Cotnmissary Division

Cereals and Bakery Proilucts: Flour, wheat, 5-lb. (Comsy., 4-lb. sisk basis)-.- Corn flakes, 11-oz Corn flakes, 8-oz. (see foot-note) Cornmeal, lb Rice, lb. (Comsy., 4-lh. sack basis) Rolled oats, 20-oz. paper pack

Rolled oats, 20-oz. tin _ Bread, white, lb. (Comsy., 14-oz. loaf basis) Vanilla cookies, lb. (Comsy., 7-oz. pack basis) -

.

Meals:

Beef: Round steak, lb. Rib roast, lb. (Comsy., first 5 ribs) Chuck roast, lb HatDbiu-ger, lb Veal: Cutlets, lb Pork: Chops, center cut (Comsy., loin chops) . -. Bacon, sliced, lb Ham, whole, lb. (skinned, smoked, tenderized).

Salt pork, lb. (dry salt belly). Lamb: Leg, lb.- Poultry: Fryei'S, N. Y. dressed (undrawn)

Fryers, dressed and drawn

Fish: .Salmon, pink, Iti-oz. can

Dairy Products:

Butter, lb Cheese, lb. (processed Cheddar). .-- Milk, fresh (del.), qt Milk, fresh (groo, qt Milk, evaporated . 1 4—oz. can

Eggs, fresh, doz. (States: Size and grade sold in volume; Comsy., Consumer Grade A, large) _.

Fruits and Vegetables:

Fresh: .Apples, lb. Bananas, lb Oranges, size 200, doz. (Comsy., Boquete

small) _ .-. Beans, green, lb - Cabbage, lb Canots, bunch (Comsy., pound price) Lettuce, head

Onions, lb Potatoes, 1 5-lb Sweet potatoes, lb Tomatoes, lb Canned:

Peaches, halves, No. 2 can (States: Grade

B, Choice; Comsy.: Grade A, Fancy)

Pineapple, No. 2 can '. Corn, No. 2 can- - Tomatoes. No. 2 can

Peas, No. 303 can (Comsy., No. 2 can, larger). Dried: Prunes, lb Navy beans, lb.- Coffee, lb. ("Commissary" blend)

Fats and Oils: Lard, lb Shortening, hydrogenated, lb. (Comsy., 1-lb. tin) Salad dressing, pt. i Comsy., on qt-jar basis) Margai'ine, uncolored, lb Margarine, colored, lb Sugar, 5-lbTotals of comparable items

$0,495 $0 43S $0 438

ISO- Not carried Not priced 22* .22* .034 09 .09 .175 108 115

.167' Not carried Not priced 23* .24* .147 126 .126

.474 457 .434

.968 41 .41 .767 35 .35 .650 33 .33 .606 3S .38 1121 1 31 1.44

.730 60 .62 .665 55 56

.601 70 .65

.380 36 .36

.761 52 .52

.4.54 50 46

.5.83* Not carried ,584 50 .57

.746 64 .66 .522 46 .46 .218 25 .25 .206 22 9'7

130 14 .14

.715 84 .88

.039 15 .15

.161 045 045

500 42 42

.246 11 .11 046 07 .09 .103 09 .08 .145 18 .18

.0.53 055 .06 .560 675 .75 .084 08 .12 .259 16 .16

.321 33 .35 .383 38 .36 .187 17 .17 .154 18 .18 .214 17 .17 .266 20 .23

.161 16 .16 .836 75 .78

.212 27 .27 .350 29 .35 .360 245 245

3.32* Not carried .325 30 .33 .502 54 54 18.742 16.299 16.763

Isthmian price of corn flakes is out of line idth U. S. average herause of high

ocean freight, due to bulk of the product causing it to be carried on cubage basis,

rather than by weight.
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 13

PEOPLE YOU KNOW

GROWN-UP CANAL ZONE GIRLS

Many of the girls who grew up and are educated in the Canal Zone elect to re- main on the Isthmus and make their careers in Government service, in the

business world, or as housewives. The

wives of many top Canal-Railroad executives were born here or have spent most

of their lives in the Canal Zone.

In a previous issue of The Canal Review, the pictures and brief biographical sketches of three well-known grown-up

Canal Zone boys were presented. This

issue of PEOPLE YOU KNOW is devoted to three attractive members of the other sex who grew up in the Canal

Zone. They are:

VIRGINIA KEENAN, Physical Education Teacher in Cristobal, and one of the leading woman golfers on the Isthmus. Born at Colon Hospital, Virginia spent

her early life in Gatun where her father, William H. Keenan, was employed for more than 35 years at the Atlantic Locks

before his retirement in 1946. Her father and mother have made their home at Santa Clara since his retirement. Although Virginia is best known for her

ability in several different athletic fields, she is also an accomplished musician and

helped pay her own way during high

school and college days by playing the piano in dance orchestras. She attended Gatun elementary school and finished Cristobal junior and senior high schools, and the Canal Zone Junior

College. Her education was completed

with two years at Colorado State College.

She showed her aptitude in athletics all during her school days on the Isthmus.

Aside from being one of the outstanding

swimmers and divers among the girl stars

of several years ago, she was adept enough

at bowling to play in the adult leagues while still in high school. Virginia has won an armful of trophies

in golf since her return to the Isthmus

after finishing her college education. Among other titles and trophies, she won

the Isthmian women's championship in 1948 and again last year. She was also crowned the Panama Women's Golf

Association handicap champion in 1950. She manages to crowd into her full schedule time for training as a Naval Reservist. She joined the WAVE Reserve

unit when it was first formed on the Isth- mus in 1949 and regularly makes the trip to the Pacific side to the weekly training

periods every Tuesday night.

MRS. CHARLOTTE LIERMAN is one of the many Canal Zone girls who

finds time to run a household and take an active part in many community affairs. Her household duties include looking after her husband, William J. Lierman, who

recently was made head of the Property

Accounting Section in the Finance Bureau,

her 11-year-old daughter, Sandra, and

young "Bill" who is now five years old. Charlotte was born in Ancon (now

Gorgas) Hospital, the daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Charles A. McGlade, well-known

Pacific side residents for about 30 years. Charlotte is a graduate of Balboa High

School and the University of Illinois. She met her future husband while in col- lege. After graduating from the university she was employed for sometime as a

Miss Virrinia Keenan, Physical Ediioatiun Teai-iier Mrs. Charlotte Lierman, of Diablo Heights

Miss \'irginia Willett, Employee in the Civil Intelligence Office model for the famous Marshall Field and

Company in Chicago. She returned to the Isthmus in 1937 and was married

soon after Mr. Lierman was employed by

the Canal. Apart from her busy household life in Diablo Heights, Charlotte finds time to take an active part in work of the Orchid

Chapter of the Eastern Star, help in the

Girl Scouts' program in Diablo Heights,

and play the piano for the children's choir

at the Balboa Union Church.

VIRGINIA WILLETT, petite and

red-haired employee in the Civil Intelli- gence Branch at Balboa Heights, has

lived in most of the Canal Zone towns,

including Balboa, Ancon, Gamboa, Margarita, and Cristobal. She presently lives with her father and mother at Diablo

Heights.

Although born in Roberta, Ky., she came to the Isthmus more than 20 years ago when her father, W. K. Willett, was

first employed by The Panama Canal. She spent most of her first years in the Isthmus in Cristobal and finished grade

school there. Her high school education was divided between Balboa and Cristobal with three years in the former and her senior year

in Cristobal High. Virginia first became a permanent Canal employee in 1940. Like most other Canal Zone children who grow

up here she learned Spanish and her first job was as an interpreter.

When a branch of the Civil Intelligence

Office was established in Cristobal during

the early part of the war, Virginia again

moved to the Atlantic side. She returned

to the office at Balboa Heights in 1946. Unlike many girls who grow up in the Canal Zone, Virginia never took an active part in swimming or other outdoor sports. One of her main outside interests is active membership in Beta Sigma Phi, a sorority

for young business women which formed

a local chapter a few years ago.
14 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

Pedro Miguel Clubhouse, Landmark

Since 1914, Soon To Be Demolished

One of the most familiar featui'es of Pedro Miguel, the rambling, two-story

Clubhouse which stands on an eminence

looking down the Prado in the Pacific Locks town is soon to be demolished.

The building was opened with a formal program just 35 years ago, January 27, 1914, which was attended by more than 400 residents of Pedro Miguel and Paraiso, with a sprinkling of people from

other Pacific side towns. The feature of the program was an address by the Honorable Herman A. Gudger, then Chief

Justice of the Canal Zone. Although the building was then already seven years old, having been built in (lorgona in 1907, its removal and reopening in Pedro Miguel was an extra special occasion for the residents. It was one of several buildings originally erected in Gorgona which were dismantled and re- built in Pedro Miguel.

The old landmark will not entirely be removed from its present site although

the main building will be torn down. It is planned to move the essential Clubhouse

services and facilities, including the barber shop, to the building now occupied

by the Post Office and Housing Manager.

The swimming pool, bath house, and a

tailor and shoe shop will be retained at

the present site and considerable altera- tions are planned to improve the bath

house facilities. Location Never Popular

The location of the Pedro Miguel Clubhouse was never a particularly popular one with the townspeople, and a protest

as to the location was voiced even before the building was rebuilt there. That protest was lodged by W. G. Comber, Resi- dent Engineer of the Sixth Division, who

later became head of the Dredging Division. He stated that the location would

PEDRO MIGUEL CLUBHOUSE, one of the oldest public l.uildinKs in tlie Canal Z,m. «ill soon be

demolished. It stands on a hill at the eastern end of the Pacific Locks town. The building was originally erected in 1907 in Gorgona and was moved to Pedro Miguel and reopened in January 1914.

be inconvenient for residents of Pedro

Miguel but especially residents of Paraiso, which was then being established as a permanent headquarters for the Dredging Division. Another protest on the location was made by the residents of Pedro Miguel

in 1925. This resulted in a study to de- termine the cost of relocating the club- house on the site of the baseball park.

The project died a sudden death when

an estimate of ,$40,000 for the relocation was given to C. A. Mcllvaine, then Executive Secretary, who penciled a curt "nothing doing" across the face of the

written proposal.

Although the Pedro Miguel Clubhouse

is one of the most imposing of all the

older Clubhouse buildings, it has been a

"white elephant" in many respects during most of its history since its removal from

the rousing shops town of Gorgona.

Even the addition of the swimming pool, at about the time the proposed transfer

of the Clubhouse was disapproved, failed to make it an overwhelmingly popular

spot. The Clubhouse had a sort of revival during the early part of World War II and shortly before the outbreak of war

an expenditure of $60,000 was authorized

to construct and equip a kitchen and

otherwise modernize the building. Since the end of the war the Clubhouse

business has dwindled back to its former

lethargic state and late last year it was

agreed to consolidate the principal facili- ties at the new and more central location. TEN YEARS AGO

In

October - November - December

a two-story frame nurses quarters at Gorgas Hospital. The first patients were moved into Section E during the latter part of the year.

Dr. Arnulfo Arias took oath of office as President of Panama ten years ago in October in an impressive and colorful ceremony held in the National Stadium.

Much of the news in the Canal Zone

during the last quarter of 1940 had the same tenor as that for the last quarter of 1950: The quarters construction program teas in full swing in the new Third Locks towns

. . . civilian defense and bomb shelters were muck in the public mind . . . prominent visitors were abundant . . . most Canal-Railroad employees were upset by news that Representative Clare E. Hoffman,

of Michigan, had introduced a measure to cut Government employees' salaries from 10

to 35 percent . . . and the subject of Canal

tolls was in the limelight as the result of a

proposal by a group of shipping interests

to lower rates of toll.

Daniel E. McGrath, who had recently

been appointed United States District Attorney in the Canal Zone, arrived early

in October 1940 to assume his new duties. He succeeded J. J. McGuigan, who retired

after many years of service as District Attorney.

The old sister ships Ancon and Cristobal were sold to the highest bidder, the Per- manente Company, of Oakland, California, who offered $150,000 for the Ancon

and $75,000 for the Cristobal. The ships were then laid up in Gatun Lake. The

Permanente Company took delivery

shortly after the award was made and

the old Panama Railroad ships left in December.

Personnel notes of the last quarter of I94O: G. C.Lockridge was appointed Director of the Playgrounds Section in the Division of Schools; A. C. Schmidt was named

Chief Clerk in the Supply Department; and

Sigurd E. Esser urns named to succeed Dr. Fred W. Hosier as Principal of Balboa High School.

Charles F. Wahl was reelected in De- cember to head the Metal Trades Council

and to continue as legislative representative in Washington, D. C.

Public buildings under construction ten years ago included the second unit of the Canal Zone Junior College and Balboa

High School, Section E of Gorgas Hospital, the Diablo Heights Clubhouse, and

Isthmian visitors during the last three months of 194O included Secretary of Navy

Frank Knox; Senator Robert M.LaFollette,

Jr., of Wisconsin; Governor Sam Houston,

of Louisiana; William C. Hushing, Chair- man of the Legislative Committee of the A. F. of L.; Cole Porter, famous song

writer; .John Gunther, author; and Paul

Gallico, author and sports writer.

Daily airmail service between the United

States and the Canal Zone was inaugurated

December 1, 1940.

One of the biggest social events of or- ganized labor in the Canal Zone was a banquet held in Cristobal on December

14 to observe the thirtieth birthday of Local Union 677, International Brother- hood of Electrical Workers. J. A. Seville, the President of the Local, was toast- master.

Hans Heinrich Shackrow and Ernst Kuhrig, who served two-year terms in the Gamboa Penitentiary on espionage sentences, were released and deported to Germany.

They were originally arrested for taking

pictures of gun emplacements and other

restricted features on the Fort Randolph

reservation.
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 15

October - November - December duced a series of stories for the local press

in December.

In

1950

In a year filled with happenings of great local interest, the last quarter of 1950 produced its full share of headline news for the Isthmian press. Following

the precedent set at the very beginning

of the year, not all of the news was good.

The first of several pay raises for groups

of Canal- Railroad employees was an- nounced by Governor Newcomer on October

I . It was a pay increase for a group of more than 50 postal employees. On the same date it icas announced that 18 new

probationary policemen were to be appointed as a result of the establishment of the 1,0-hour work week for the Canal Zone

Police.

A reminder of income tax was given

during the first month of the quarter

when withholding exemption certificates were distributed. Income tax continued

uppermost in most employees' minds

throughout the three-month period and

ended on the doleful note that Congress

had failed to take action on a measure

to kill the retroactive tax for 1950.

The Canal's $80,000,000 building pro- gram leas in the news throughoid most of

the quarter. Bids were opened on all of the major projects for this fiscal year during

the latter part of December. Meanwhile,

the large residential area bounded by

Chagres Street and Ancon Boulevard was

being cleared for the coming year's program. Old houses lohich have stood for 30 years or more were being torn doum and by the close

of 1950 the area was a beehive of activity. The Housing Division was able to announce

shortly before the turn of the year that the

restrictions on family quarters' assignments

ivere lifted. Grading and site work in the area will be done during the present dry

season by the Municipal Division.

Senator Richard B. Russell, of Georgia,

Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, spent several days' vacation on

the Isthmus during August. Several Congressional parties were entertained during

the last three months of the year while Congress was in recess and shortly before the 81st Congress adjourned sine die.

Several changes of personnel in key jobs

of the Canal and Railroad occurred during

the last quarter of 1950. The Supply and

Services and the Community Services Bureaus furnished most neics of this nature. Lewis B. Moore became Director of the Supply and Service Bureau, and F. R. "Bob" .Johnson was transferred from his position as Assistant Director of the Community Services Bureau to become Mr.

Moore's right-hand man. R. L. Sullivan was appointed General Manager of the Commissary Division in October, after the departure of Vincent J. Clarke for Neiv

York to take charge of purchasing in the Panama Railroad office there. Douglas S. Johnston was promoted to Assistant to the Director of the Community Services Bureau,

and J. H. Chase, formerly with the Clubhouse Division, icas moved to the Community Services headquarters as Administrative

Assistant. Jerome F. Prager was moved to the top position in the Storehouse Division following the retirement of Walter R. Smith.

Miss Beatrice H. Simonis, Assistant Chief Nurse, became Chief Nurse atGorgas Hospital, and Miss Lucille Hearn was pro- moted to Assistant Chief Nurse.

Distinguished former employees made

news of much local interest during the past three months. Former Governor

Julian L. Schley, T. H. Rossbottom, re- tired Vice President of the Panama Rail- road Company, and former Police Chief

Guy Johannes, all arrived in December

for a visit. Mrs. Dove L. Prather, retired school teacher was given a formal fare- well and a word of praise for her dis- tinguished record as a teacher and public

spirited citizen by Acting Governor Herbert D. Vogel in Decembei.

Governor Newcomer made his sixth trip

of the year to Washington during the last month of the year. The frequency of his

visits to the national capital was indicative of the extensive legislative program affecting

the Canal-Railroad iphich was before Congress. He had a double-barrelled objective on his last trip—to straighten out the complexities of the incorporation of the Canal

operations next July and to appear before

the Bureau of the Budget on financial arrangements for the coming fiscal year.

A Christmas present in the form of a two-cent-an-hour raise for about 1,500 truckers and stowers in the Terminals

Division was announced during the holi- day season.

Announcement of the formal agreement

between Panama and Canal Zone authorities that only one license plate would be

required on automobiles in 1951, proNot even the oldest employees in the Administration Building and other CanalRailroad offices could remember the Christ- mas gaiety which prevailed at the 1950

Yuletide season. Office parties were the rule as employees counterbalanced depressing news from Korea, the income tax, and the polio outbreak, with old-fashioned Christ- mas good cheer.

Package Boy And Humorist Combined

Serves Ancon Commissary Customers

If R. L. Sullivan, General Manager of the Commissary Division, could staff all of his retail stores with help of the same

caliber of Santos Secaida, who works in the Ancon Commissary, many of his public relations problems would be solved and

he could devote his time to worry about

spiraling food prices. Santos, now 17 years old, is package

boy, philosopher, and humorist. He began work at the Ancon store four years ago when he was first employed by

J. L. Evans, then manager in Ancon.

Since that time the Ancon customers have

become accustomed to Santos' ready

smile and helpfulness with packages,

prices, and location of items in the store. Santos is a native-born Canal Zonian,

his home town being Frijoles, although he

presently lives with his family in Gamboa.

His father, Ernesto Secaida, has been employed for the past 20 years as a section- gang member by the Panama Railroad. Although his actual duties at the Ancon

store are simple—helping customers with

bulky packages—Santos actually covers much more territory and with thanks

from the customers. He usually keeps

track of the price variations as well as the location of all items in the grocery

section.Philosophy Helps Customers

His humorous and philosophical re- marks many times help take away the

sting of a price-jump on some item. Recently, he remarked to one of his favorite customers during an especially

bad period when food prices were being

upped frequently: "You know, Mrs. X, we sleep at night but the people at Mount

Hope work."

On another occasion at Christmas:, time

a customer asked Santos what the average customer was giving him for Christmas

presents. "Mostly, Merry Christmas!" he replied.

Aside from his ability to keep abreast

of prices and location of food items in the Ancon store, Santos rarely forgets the car

Package-boy and philosopher

and license plate number of any customer

he assists. Charles P. Shay, present manager in Ancon, says that complaints of packages being put in the wrong car are exceedingly rare. Santos notices and feels keenly when

some regular customer in Ancon starts to trade elsewhere. He usually manages to keep track of where they are buying their supplies and gently reminds them they

are missed in Ancon, upon an occasional

return. Santos' main ambition right at present

is to join the United States Navy. He

has several reasons for this, one of the

principal ones being the old slogan of "Join the Navy and See the World." He

believes also that war is almost a certainty

and he is anxious to do his part when that time comes.
16 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

New Silver City Swimming Pool

Is Rapidly Nearing Completion

Rapid progress is now being made on

the construction of a swimming pool at

Silver City, which with the adjacent bath- house and luncheonette, will prove a wel- come and attractive addition in the town.

It is expected that the new recreational

facilities can be opened within the next few weeks, although some difficulty has

been experienced in delivery of some of the luncheonette equipment. The luncheonette, bathhouse, and swimming pool

are being constructed by the Isthmian

Constructors, Inc., bids for this work having been opened several months ago.

Electrical and municipal work is being

done by Panama Canal forces.

Conveniently Located

The new facilities ai-e conveniently

located in the playground area immediately east of the Vocational School. The

pool, 60 by 100 feet, is somewhat larger

than the Pedro Miguel pool. It is being

constructed of reinforced concrete and

will be lined with ceramic tile. It will be surrounded by a concrete platform and

seats for spectators will be provided along one side. The luncheonette building is now practically completed. The work was done in two phases with the luncheonette being

built first. When the above pictures were

taken in the middle of January, the exca- vation for the pool was nearing compleSILVER CITY SWIMMING POOL is now being rushed to completion. Ttie picture above shows the

progress of its construction in mid-January. It and

the adjoining bathhouse and luncheonette will prove

a welcome addition to the town's recreational facilities. A front view of the luncheonette is shown at

the right.

tion and much of the reinforced concrete had been placed.

The luncheonette and bathhouse, im- mediately adjacent to the swimming pool, are of concrete block construction. The

luncheonette is 26 by 72 feet and has a

tiled floor. Space is provided for a soda

fountain, kitchen, merchandise and pas-

"i-'^j''**~'x-:?; -"-^

-^^-*j.;

try cases, and about ten tables. The side

of the building facing the swimming pool

is open to permit a partial view of the

pool.

Over $11,000,000 Requested

For 1952 Building Program

(Continued from page .5) Ancon Theater

to the old Corral area, and the site preparation and construction of four composite-type apartments on Guayacan Terrace. BALBOA, grading and site preparation on Morgan Avenue and Pyle Street. DIABLO HEIGHTS, site work and

construction of ten apartments of the composite type.

GATUN, site work and construction of eight composite-type apartments.

MARGARITA, site preparation for the building program in the fi.scal year 1952. Plan Nearly 150 Buildings

In all, the 1951 building program will provide 49 new buildings with 77 apart- ments for U. S.-rate employees and 91 buildings with 182 apartments for local- rate employees. These figures are subject

to some modification depending on the economies which may be effected. The three successful bidders on work in this year's building program are all well- known local firms. Results of the bidding

tended to bear out the obseivation made

by consultants on the overall quarters

construction program that local contracting firms together with Canal forces are capable of handling the $80,000,000 pro- gram. The Isthmian Constructors, Inc., was

the contractor for construction of some

of the masonry houses in Margarita and

Diablo Heights which were built during

the past three years. They are the only

outside contractors to build Canal quarters since the completion of the extensive

building programs in Gamboa and Gatun

more than 15 years ago, most of the

FRONT VIEW of the new three-bedroom masonry quarters. This is one of two new type houses which

is included in the permanent quarters construction program which began this fiscal year. The house has a ranch-type appearance from the front. Floor plans were shown in a previous issue of The CANAL REVIEW.

The living and sleeping quarters are joined by a wide porch or breezeway.

quarters construction since that time

having been done by the Building Division. Framorco, Inc., is headed by Francisco

Morales, of Panama. Mr. Morales was

the successful bidder on the construction

of the new Obstetrical and Gynecological

Building at Gorgas Hospital which was

opened last year. The Panpacific Construction Company

which was awarded the contract for the

erection of the composite-type houses at MargiU'ita has been active in building and

contract work in the Canal Zone for several years although this is the first major

contract project it has done for the Canal.

Building Costs To Be Analyzed

To those closely concerned with the long-range building program the bid

price', on the various types of houses was

of great interest since the comparative

costs on building composite and masonrytype quarters for U. S.-rate personnel will have an important bearing on future planning.

A major grading program is scheduled

in Ancon where the last of the old buildings erected 30 or more years ago are being demolished. This work is scheduled

to be started within the next few weeks

by the Municipal Division and approximately 70 large new building lots will be

provided.

Major Development In Ancon

Most of the heavy grading on this site

will be required on Reservoir Hill, site of the first Canal Zone high school, and on

the south side of Ancon Boulevard. The

material taken from Reservoir Hill will be

used as fill material in the lower areas along Chagres Street which is to be rebuilt and realigned. Reservoir Road will also be straightened but will still be a dead-end

street connecting with Ancon Boulevard.

It will be necessary to close Ancon Boulevard to all traffic in the construction area when the heavy grading is begun.

The street itself will be slightly realigned

and the grade lowered. The material taken from the high slopes along the south side of the street will be moved

across the existing street to bring those

sections up to grade so that building sites on both sides of the streets will be at the same level.
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 17

STATISTICS ON CANAL TRAFFIC

For the purpose of comparison between pre-war and post-war traffic through the Panama Canal, statistics for the fiscal year 1938 are used in this section, as being more nearly normal for peace-time than those for 1939. Overhaul Work At Gatun Locks Begins

Nearly 1,000 extra workers swarmed into the Gatun Locks enclosure early in .January to begin

the quadrennial overhaul—the Canal's biggest and most spectacular maintenance job. .^n overhaul of the Panama Canal Locks, Atlantic

or Pacific, nowadays costs more than a million dollars and under normal operations each of the three

sets is given a thorough going-over once every four

years. The gigantic task is made to look relatively easy and simple by the Locks Division employees who

have had long experience in doing the work. This year, four of the miter-gate leaves at Gatun

Locks which weigh 735 tons each will be unhinged. The lifting job is done by 12 hydraulic jacks of 100

tons capacity each. The lifting of the big gate leaves

off their nickle-steel pintles is now a comparatively

routine operation but when one of the leaves was

first unhinged at Pedro Miguel Locks in 1929 many

weeks were spent by the engineering forces, both

office and field, in preparing plans and actually doing

the job. The first real overhaul of the Canal Locks was

done during the early 1920's although the lock chambers at both Mirafiores and Gatun Locks were emptied in 191.5 to make an inspection of any under- water damage to the parts and machinery. The

same was done at Pedro Miguel two years later. The above picture of the gates in the lower, west chamber of Gatun Locks was taken in mid-January

before all of the water had been pumped out. Any person dissatisfied with his present job could

doubtless make an even swap with any one of these

chippers shown scaling the accumulation of sea shells and marine life from the lock gates. The work being done by the men shown on the scaffolding is one of the least complicated jobs. The gates will be re- painted after the scaling work is completed. The work at Gatun is being done this year on a

six-day week basis and the overhaul of the west chambers is expected to be completed during the

latter part of this month. The entire overhaul job is scheduled for completion before May 1 aft«r which

two-lane ship traffic through Gatun Locks will be

resumed.

Commodity Movements

Through Canal Below

Figures of Year Ago

Commodity shipments through the Panama Canal

during the last quarter of the calendar year I'.t.'iO were slightly under those during the last three months

of 1949, although they exceeded the 1938 totals by

approximately l.'jn,000 long tons, according to statistics announced during the past month at Balboa

Heights. The shipment of various commodities through the Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific during the

last quarter of 19.50 were more than a half million tons over the 1949 figures, but the commodity ship- ments in the opposite direction fell by slightly over 600,000 tons. The three leading commodities, in tonnage, in the

Atlantic to Pacific movement during October, November, and December of last year were mineral oils, manufactures of iron and steel, and coal and coke. The leaders in the Pacific to Atlantic trade were

various ores, lumber, and nitrate.

Mineral Oil Shipments An indication of Canal traffic trends was given in the tonnage of mineral oil moved from the Pacific to the .Atlantic. The tonnage of mineral oil during the

last quarter of 1949 exceeded 850,000 long tons, as compared with approximately 250,000 long tons during the last three months of 1950. The mineral oil shipments were the second largest on the commodity

list a year ago, but dropped to fifth place during the

last quarter of 1950. The most significant change in commodity ship- ments from the Atlantic to the Pacific shown in comparative figures for the last quarter of 1949 and 1950

occurred in ammonium compounds. Shipments of ammonium compounds from the Atlantic to the

Pacific wei'e third on the list with over 21)5,000 long tons in the last quarter of 1949, while this commodity

was tenth on the list for the last quarter of 1950

with shipments totaling slightly less than 60,000 tons.

Sugar Shipments Increase Sugar shipments through the Canal from the

Atlantic to the Pacific have grown in importance

during recent years and during the last three months

of 1950 they totaled nearly 140,000 tons, as compared with less than 10,000 tons during the comparable period for 1949 and less than 2,000 tons in the

last quarter of 1938. Comparative figures for the last quarter of 1949 and 1950 commodity shipments showed decreases in the tonnage of sulphur ores and various metals, while

increases were shown in coal and coke, canned food

products, automobiles and parts, machinery, cement,

tinplate, paper and paper products, phosphates, and

raw cotton. The tonnage of most of the leading commodity

shipments through the Canal from the Pacific to the

.\tlantic was lower during the last quarter of 1950 than the last three months of 1949. Increased ton- nage figures were shown in ores, lumber, metals, raw

cotton, fresh fruits, scrap metal, and copra.

CARGO HANDLED OVER PIERS

(In short tons)

Last Quarter, Calendar year 1950

Average

quarter, 1949

Average

quarter, 1938

Cristobal Balboa Total All piers All piers

Local cargo received 76,955 31,112 108,067 104,205 87,968

Local cargo forwarded 12,892 9.791 22,683 26,608 9,388

Transfer cargo received 88,043 4,177 92,220 72,250 138,386

Total incoming cargo handled 177,890 45,080 222,970 205,053 235,742

Rehandled cargo 3,276 116 3,392 3,435 1,584

Transfer cargo forwarded 87,264 3,107 90,371 73,245 136,127

Total cargo handled and

transferred 268,430 48,303 316,733 281,733 373,453
18 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951

Canal Zone Museum Is Established;

Many Historical Items On Display

A Canal Zone museum -subject of suggestion and discussion for many yearshas finally become a reality.

Young visitors in the lobby of the Civil

Affairs Building in Ancon, where the museum is located, display their interest

in the new institution with pertinent and

impertinent questions and remarks, especially about the animal exhibits. They

dub the ocelot a "big pussy cat," want to know if sloths have tails, ad infinitum. Their elders, many of whom have been Canal Zone residents for many years, re- mark that they learn a lot of things about

the Isthmus they didn't know before when they visit the museum.

Other visitors, age and identity un- known, just have to try out the ship's

bell in the museum which came from the

original S. S. Ancon. Office workers in the building who are jarred by the bell's clang, vow there is no sound like it. Various Models Displayed

Two types of material are included in the new museum. Artifacts and items of

local and historical interest which have

been collected from various locations on

the Isthmus are on display in the lobby

of the building. On the second floor, in The Panama Canal Library, is a notable

collection of documents and maps which

form the Panama Collection. Mrs. Eleanor Burnham, as Librarian, has supervised many of the acquisitions

which form the Panama Collection of the

Library, and the museum materials have

been assembled over a period of many

years. Probably the single most important

event in the series of little noticed discussions and happenings which led, over a period of years, to the establishment of the museum was the move of The Panama

Canal Library and other offices included

in the new Civil Affairs Bureau to the former air terminal building in November

1949. Display Area Is Provided

The new building, vacated when commercial air operations were transferred to Tocumen Airport, provided for the first time sufficient space and a good location

for a museum. Soon after the move was

made, the transfer of various small his- torical collections from different locations

to the lobby of the building began.

An occurrence of equaJ significance to the Panama Collection of the Library was

the transfer about two years before of French Canal archives to the National

Archives in Washington. When the Canal

documents were moved from the base- ment of the Administration Building at Balboa Heights, selections were made of personnel files, maps, health reports, and

other Canal papers which were to be re- tained locally. That group of French

Canal documents now forms an important

part of the present Panama Collection. The items now in the museum melude

four main collections: A group of models

of equipment used in the construction of the Canal which formerly were located

in the Administration Building at Balboa

Heights; a collection of stuffed animals

and birds which were transferred from the

school at La Boca; a group of artifacti and other diverse items of interest which were formerly a part of the Balboa High

School Museum; and the Isthmian Canal

A TREASURED ADDITION tu the new Canal Zjtie museum is the flag shown above which was used

to cover the caskets of those Americans who died during the early Canal construction period. It contains

only 45 stars. Until about two years ago when it was presented to The Panama Canal Society of Florida the

flag had been in possession of ^Iiss .Anna R. Turner, of Carbondale, Pa., one of three nurses who came to the Isthmus during 1904 and were thus eligible as members of the famous Inca Society. The flag was presented

to the museum by W. C. Raskins, himself an Inca and the oldest ex-employee of the Isthmian Canal Commission in point of service, now living on the Isthmus. The flag was accepted by Col. Richardson Selee (right), Civil Affairs Director.

models which were transferred from the former Special Engineering Division at Diablo Heights.

Private Donations Help

Private donations have already enlarged the original collections and are expected to increase in the future. Typical was the presentation to the museum

of a flag with 4.5 stars used to drape the

caskets of construction workers, a gift from The Panama Canal Society of Florida. Another presentation of Isthmian

artifacts was made by Fred W. Morrill, President of the Panama Society for the Advancement of Archaelogy and Natural

Science.

Modern Motherhood

(Cimiinued from page 7) changes in either the

child or the mother, and symptoms

occur -sometimes with tragic suddenness—which, when diagnosed early and

properly interpreted, may be corrected and the child delivered normally at term. The proper evaluation of these abnormal

signs and symptoms during the prenatal

period is the basic reason for obstetricians

insisting upon frequent visits by their

patients.

Purpose of Prenatal Visits At the first or second visit, a complete

history of the patient is taken. Facts

ascertained at this visit will help to focus attention upon the blood, heart, lungs, or kidneys, which may have been affected by a previous illness. A complete physical examination will determine freedom

from, or the presence of, damaged organs

(such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or

liver) which might be adversely affected by the extra strain on the expectant mother. Measurements of various sorts are taken to determine far in advance of delivery the capacity of the bony pelvis

through which the baby must pass. Blood tests are made to determine any

presence in the blood of specific diseases which, in the past, have taken such a toll in the lives and the health of the newborn. The urine is examined at every

visit to determine the presence of dia- betes or early kidney disease. When evi- dence of disease is found, proper treatment given early will almost invariably

assure the delivery of a healthy child. At each visit the weight is taken, for a sudden increase in weight may be the

first evidence that the kidneys are not

eliminating certain poisonous substances This might indicate a condition which

previously has caused premature deaths

of many mothers and even more infants,

but which now can be corrected if early treatment is received. Likewise, at each

visit there is a discussion of any unusual

symptoms which the patient may consider trivial, but which in reality may be

very important as an early diagnostic

sign.

The whole purpose behind these re- peated prenatal visits is to prevent major

illness by making prompt diagnoses. Deviations from the normal which have been

spotted early and treated vigorously have

consistently lowered the mortality rates from year to year. Although there is a

long way yet to go, good obstetrics, by means of careful and adequate prenatal

observation, has made it possible for the expectant mother to enter this critical period in her life with the confident expectation that both she and her unborn child

will be well after delivery. Her cooperation, combined with the efforts of her

obstetrician, will help to make the goal

of a happy convalescence practical and

attainable end.

{This article was contributed by Dr. Jack

Sirumpf, Chief, Obstetrics-Gynecology Service, Gorgas Hospital)
February 2, 1951 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 19

Canal Traffic Affected By Tanker Trade

Both ocean-going commercial traffic and tolls of

of the Panama Canal during the first half of this

fiscal year exceeded comparative figures in the fiscal years 1938 and 1950 despite a considerable drop in tanker traffic through the Canal from the west coast

of the United States.

Statistics for the entire calendar year of 1950 show

that Canal business was at the highest level since

1930. During the 12-month period ending in December the net tonnage of commercial vessels was re- ported as 2S,742,56S as compared with 28,013,236 net tons during the fiscal year 1950, which was a

record high in Canal operations. Tolls collected during the past calendar year amounted to $25,124,000 or nearly three million dollars over the amount in 1949, but short by about one

million dollars of the figures for the calendar year 1930 when Canal traffic was at a high peak. Cargo shipments through the Canal during the

past 12 months were near the all-time records set during the peacetime opei'ations in the late 1920's. A total of 29,962,896 tons of cargo were shipped through the Panama Canal during the past calendar

year, as compared with slightly over 30,000,000 tons

in the calendar year 1930.

Tanker Trade Drops Most notable feature of Panama Canal traffic during the past year was the drop in the tanker traffic from the west coast of the United States. This was

revealed in the comparative figures of the intercoastal trade for the last quarter of 1949 and 1950. There

were 253 large commercial vessels listed on this trade

route in the last quarter of the calendar year 1949,

largely the result of heavy oil shipments from the west coast. During the last three months of 19.50 there were only 168 ships on the intercoastal run

through the Canal. This considerable drop was partially offset by an

increase in traffic from the east coast of the United

States to South America. The number of large commercial vessels in this trade increased from 229 during the last quarter of the calendar year 1949 to 296

during the quarter ending last December.

There were no significant variations in traffic over

the other main trade routes through the Canal in these two periods.

. High Traffic Expected

Unless there is a serious disruption of traffic through

the Canal during the coming six months, the figures on tolls, number of transits, and cargo probably will be about as high as any fiscal year since 1930. The

number of transits for the first half of this fiscal year, beginning last .July, totaled 2,790 while the amount

of tolls was nearly $12,500,000. These figiu'es were

slightly in excess of the comparable figures in the

Gen. William C. Gorgas

Elected To Hall Of Fame

GEN. WILLIAM CRAWFORD GORGAS, one

of the great leaders in the Panama Canal enterprise, was elected to the Hall of Fame late last year. He

received the highest number of votes received by any

nominee in the elections held last year. General

Gorgas, a native of Alabama, served as Chief Sanitary Officer throughout the Canal construction period and was appointed Chief Health Officer when

the permanent operating organization was formed

in 1914.

first half of the fiscal year 1938, the last year of nor- ember of the past two years despite the virtual dis- mal peacetime operations of the Canal before the appearance of tanker traffic. This traffic which was

beginning of World War II. heavy trom September 1949 through last July

This trend in commercial traffic was shown in com- dropped from 55 last -July to only four each in the

parative figures for October, November, and Dec- months of November and December.

CANAL TRANSITS—TOLLS PAYING AND FREE

October-November- Decembe r

1950 1949 1938

Atlantic

to

Pacific

Pacific to Atlantic

Total Total Total

Tolls-paying vessels: Ocean-going 706 672 1,378 1,367 1,508

*Small 121 98 219 280 225

Total, tolls-paying 827 770 1,597 1,647 1,733

**Free transits 77 82 159 251 104

Total tolls-paying and free 904 852 1,756 1,898 1,837

* Vessels under 300 net tons or 500 displacement tons. ** Exclusive of Panama Canal equipment.

TRAFFIC MOVEMENT OVER MAIN TRADE ROUTES

Tlie following table shows the number of transits of large, commercial vessels (300 net

tons or over) segregated into eight main trade routes:

October- November-December

1950 1949 1938

168 253 308

296 229 106

121 136 34

East Coast of U. S. and Far East 151 153 130

41 40 43

Europe and west coast of U. S.-Canada 122 126 211

Europe and South America 88 80 163

Europe and Australasia 60 53 53

All other routes 331 297 460

Total traffic 1,378 1,367 1,508

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND TOLLS

Vessels of 300 tons net or over By fiscal years

Month

Transits

(In thoL

Tolls sands of dollars)

1951 1950 1938 1951 1950 1938

Julv 513 430 457 $2,373 $1,892 $2,030

August 453

446

388 505 2,093 1,733 2,195

September 401 444 1,982 1,794 1,936

October 480 440 461 2,068 1,985 1,981

November . . 446 439 435 1,844 1,964 1,893

December -. 452 488 439 1,886 2,185 1,845

483 444 2,207 1,838

457 436 2,121 1,787

March - 522 506 2,327 2,016

April - 459 487 1,959 1,961

488 465 2,169 1,887

June 453 445 2,093 1.801

lijtals for first si.\ months

of each fiscal year 2,790 2,586 2,741 $12,246 $11,553 811,880
20 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 2, 1951 ^=

Park Is Dedicated

To George W. Green E- A. Efbc, ExCCUtivC Asslstant

To The Governor, Retires

A \V.'\'iSlDl!; P.\KK located uii the Madden Knad

which was built under his direction, was dedicated

last month to George W. Green, Municipal Engineer

of The Panama Canal for more than 25 years. The

ceremony was attended by people from all walks of

life and were representative of every major unit of the Canal-Railroad organization. The park is at the site

of the waterfalls on Madden Road. The monument

to Mr. Green, built of stone from the Sosa Hill Quarry, was unveiled by Governor Newcomer after an

address by Frank H. Lerchen, who succeeded Mr.

Green as Municipal Engineer. The ceremony was

opened and closed by the Very Reverend Raymond T.

Ferris, Dean of St. Luke's Cathedral in Ancon.

Cash Sales To Start

In Ancon Commissary

Customs sometimes change and one of 45 years' standing in the Canal Zone

use of coupons for purchases in the Commissary Division's retail stores—is to be

altered in one store on an experimental

basis early next month.

Ancon Commissary has been selected

for the trial balloon and during the next few weeks it will be rearranged and refitted for cash sales, thus modifying a

practice which began August 21, 1905,

when the use of coupon books was first inaugurated.

The plan for ca.sh sales in the Commissary stores has been a subject of discus- sion and debate for many years and has been under serious consideration for several months. The trial in Ancon is being

made principally as a customer convenience and Commissary Division officials do not presently believe that administrative and operating costs will be materially

affected. Old - fashioned "company book" cou- pons were used when this sales system was first adopted. The commissaries then had just undergone a series of changes.

The present Commissary Division had its beginnings in 1883 when a small store was

started in Colon to sell articles needed by

Panama Railroad personnel. The stores were kept under the Company management until February 15, 1905, when the system was transferred to the Isthmian

Canal Commission. It was transferred back to the Railroad only two and a half months later and at that time a system was adopted of requiring all employees to make a cash deposit in advance for arti- cles bought in the stores. This system

did not prove satisfactory and in August

of that year the coupon system was

adopted and has been used exclusively

since, except for a two-month trial of cash sales in the Cristobal Commissary

in the early 1920's.

o»i

0) =

ERNST A. ERBE. Executive Asbi.stant to the Governor, ended more than .3tj years of service with

the Isthmian Canal Commis.sion and The Panama

Canal at the end of January. Except for his service

in the .Army during the first World War, Mr. Erbe had served continously since .June 1, 1912. He has had an important part in forming the administrative

policies of the Canal for many years. Aside from his

important Canal duties, Mr. Erbe, a native of

.Altoona, Kansas, took an active part in community

affairs of the Isthmus. He and Mrs. Erbe have not

definitely chosen their future residences in the United

States and do not plan to leave the Isthmus until sometime in March. Mr. Erbe has been succeeded in

his position by Forrest G. Dunsmoor, who has had many years Canal service.

Principal commodities shipped through the Canal

(All figures in long tons)

Figures in parenthesis in 1938 and 1949 columns indicate

relative positions in those years ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC

Commoditv

Mineral Manufactures of iron and stee Coal and coke Sugar

Paper and paper products

Sulphur

Raw cotton Phospha les Automobiles and parts Ammonium compounds

Metals, various Machinery ' Tinplate ^ _. Cement

Caiuied food products

All others

Total

Last Quarter, Calendar Year

1950

416.682 410.886

216.151 139,782

104,888

84,634

82,597 82,313

62,271 59,646

53,326

52,261 48,019

45,757

32,924

782,257

2,674,394

1949

331,669 (1) 242,914 (2) 59,866 (7) 8.214 (12) 94.751 (5) 95,506 (6) 33,723 (8) 42,437 (4) 54,975 (11) 268,482 (3) 12,646 (15) 46,591 (9) 36,808 (10) 32,105 (13) 27,788 (14) 758,573

2,147,048

1938

254.647 (3) 377,601 (1) 47,897 (14) 1,855 (31) 110,130 (5) 68,649 (7) 68,593 (13) 39,235 (6) 52,273 (9) 12,811 (22) 145,664 (4) 42,390 (10) 51,796 (8) 40,285 (11) 34.640 (15) 968,102

2,316,568

PACIFIC TO ATLANTIC

Commodity

I^st Quarter, Calendar Year

1950 1949 1938

Ores various 897.932 831,250

342,214

320,969

251,9.^0 105.103

159.754

151.442 135,714

92,358

74.618 42.089

41.807 40.206

38,842

638,865

761,268 (1) 787,628 (3) 357,421 (5) 361,037 (6) 855.281 (2) 381.125 (t) 130.428 (9) 259.391 (7) 142.426 (10)

107,265 (8) 52,285 (13) 37,646 (14) 65.516 (15) 51.316 (12)

12,.?81 (17) 503,894

513,787 (3) Lumber 728,016 (2) Nitrate - -- 361,556 (5) Canned food products. 368,409 (6) Mineral oils Wheat -

678.078 (1) 339.739 (7) 180.284 (8) 277.989 (4) 20,686 (29) Refrigerated food products (ex- 67,413 (10) Copra

Raw cotton - -

39.579 (18) 34,063 (20) 142,413 (12) ColTee . - . - 36,696 (16) 3,549 (_-)

All others 676,668

Total.. 4,255,093 4,866,308 4,471,925