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FEBRUARY 1969 VV. P. Leber. Governor-President Morgan E. Goodwin, Press Offieei Publications Editors fiu-fea Louis R. Granger, Tomas A. Cupas R. S. H\ktline, Lieutenant-Governor 4Hk News Writers Eunice Richard, Tobi Bittel, Fannie P. Official Canal Publication Fhank A. Baldwin Hernandez, T. Tunon, and Published quarterly at Balboa Heights, C.Z. Jose Panama Ganal Information Officer Luis C. Noli Printed at the Printing Plant, La Boca, C.Z. Review articles may be reprinted in full or part without further clearance. Credit to the Review will be appreciated. Distributed free of charge to all Employees. Subscriptions, $1 a year; airmail $2 a year: mail and back copies (regular mail), 25 cents each. money orders made payable to the Panama Canal Company should be mailed to Box M. Balboa Heights. C.Z. Editorial Offices are located in the Administration Building. Balboa Heights, C.Z.

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A yellow grunt searches for food in a bed of brain coral and fire coral. Thousands of fish inhabit the stone-like formations in the sea.

2 February 1969 A TROPICAL sun cast golden shadows on the gentle rolling waves as the swim- mer suddenly broke the surface of the CORAL clear, placid sea off a small island of the San Bias Archipelago in the Carib- bean. Triumphant, she held up a greyish lettuce-like stony formation she had robbed from the fringing coral reef.

Carefully, she placed it in the boat be- side the machete she had used to pr\ LURES loose the flower-like coral from its parent attached to the rockhard reef. The swimmer, wearing mask and snorkel, fins and sturdy gloves, calls her- self a timid member of the Canal Zone

diving family. She is petite and comely Mrs. Lois Harrison, Clerk of Court, U.S. THEM District Court. She had just acquired another specimen to add to her already spectacular collection of corals, perhaps the most beautiful of tropical sea animals. Mrs. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mann, well-known divers and skilled UNDER underwater photographers, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Williams and geologist Robert Stew art, one of the first coral collectors. are among the Canal Zone residents who THE (See p. 4) Cover Story

OUR COYER shows a collection of treasures of the marine world, most of which are found in the waters that bathe the Isthmus. Decorative, graceful, lacy seafans, SEA lettuce coral, staghorns, and fire coral, exquisite stone- like blooms from the coral gardens on the fringing reefs found locally in the warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, dominate the display. Like porcelain sculpted by the expert hand of nature, the sea shells' delicate colors and variety of shapes and sea. The conchs Sndex designs add to the grandeur found in the shown are abundant in the area. Frequently, rare speci- mens are found by coral divers in the crevices of coral Coral Collectors 3 beds. The spiral shaped chambered nautilis is a native District ot South Pacific waters and belongs to U.S. Judge Canal Zone ROTC 6 Guthrie F. Crowe. sea urchins, starfish, sea Learning Espariol 9 A crystal clear fishnet float, horses/and beautifully barnacled old bottles, not usually which is Anniversaries 12 denizens of the sea. complete the composition Soper. actually table-top photographv created by Cleve Canal Abacus vs. Adding Machine 13 chief of the Laboratory Section of the Panama Graphic Branch. _ 16 Shipping, Statistics. Photographers may be interested to know that the on photograph was taken with a 4 x 5 Super Graphic Panama's Horatio Alger 18 K Ektachrome Film, type R. using 2 color corrected 3200 exposure was 3 seconds at f.5.6. Shipping Notes 21 lamps. The of marine life owned The displav is part of a collection Court. Ancon District. Canal History 23 bv Mrs. Lois Harrison. Clerk of

The Panama Canal Review Brain coral and staghorns with a background of gorgonian shown here are all common corals found in Isthmian waters.

(Continued from p. 3) forming corals that vary greatly in have been attracted by the two oceans TkeOcean s appearance and nature. that bathe the Isthmus. Corals forming living reefs must have On weekends, these divers head for 1 reasures sunlight and they grow beautifully with- the coral reefs in the areas of San Bias, in 90 feet of the surface. They are not Bocas del Toro, Las Perlas, Taboga Corals, which are living animals and found below 150 feet where light is Island, and near to pur- not plants as manv would believe, too weak to reach them. Low tempera- sue their hobby. Skin diving or snorkel- belong to the most primitive of multi- tures also kill corals. Though corals are ing, they explore the grandeur of the cellular and tissue-carrying creatures. found in all the world's oceans, coral world below the sun-washed seas off the They live in warm moving waters which reefs exist only in tropical waters. coasts of Panama. These diving excur- bring them food. The algae living in Reef corals are divided into a great sions have yielded scores of shells, sea the coral beds supplv them oxvgen. number of different species, divisions horses, starfish, a multitude of fishes A living coral is a colony of simple and sub-divisions. There are soft corals, and a myriad of marine crustaceans as animals called polyps. The skin covering like the graceful seafans and seawhips. fragile and beautiful as old porcelain, the lower part of the polyp forms into Seafans have the shape of a large laoe- and a variety of corals of breathtaking a stony layer much as the shell grown like leaf, consisting of numerous short beauty. by an oyster. The animals build skel- branches interlaced and fused together From time to time they come up with etons around themselves, producing new to form a filigree network. They may be unusual objects—large green glass fish- polyps. The skeleton of the polyp lavender, blue, or yellowish in color. The ing floats that have broken loose from is built by cells that extract calcium seawhip has skeletal arched branches

Japanese fishing nets in the Pacific or carbonate from the sea and deposit it whose surface is covered with polyps small multicolored ones that have as limestone, building from the bottom that are barely visible. These may reach slipped Portuguese nets in the Atlantic, upward. As the polyps grow, they con- enormous heights, forming a virtual a case of crystal champagne glasses struct their own limestone partitions, jungle in the sea.

(most of them in perfect condition) , ex- multiplying and forming branches up One specie known as the "black coral quisitely barnacled hand-blown bottles, and out, or growing sideways into of the Caribbean area," usually found and other articles which may have come lobes and eventually flower-shaped, or in depths below 100 meters, according from the remains of Morgan's pirating rounded as in the case of the brain to an expert of the Smithsonian Institu- 1 ships. Br ; t is corals that beckon them. coral. Polyps grow in complex ways tion, has been discovered by skin divers

February 1969 in the Atlantic near Cristobal at a depth of 70 feet. The hard corals include varieties such as the finger coral, like stubby fingers; leaf coral; staghorns and elkhoms, so named because they resemble antlers; star coral, closed up tight during the day with its polyps opening up at night; and brain coral, which gets its name from its amazing resemblance to the surface of the human brain. Each species has within its polyp the inherent ability to develop in a given manner. Isthmian divers collect corals at

Canal Zone divers select coral specimens.

Stewart has found at least five types hangs. Stewart has given a large coral of these solitarv corals attached to collection to the La Salle High School lock gates at Locks. He has Museum in . labeled more than 40 species of coral Petrified corals, which are prized by from the Atlantic— many of which are the local rockhounds for making jewel- not described in scientific literature and rv, book ends and table tops may be half as many from the Pacific Ocean. found in such areas as Rio Gatuncillo, beach, Monte Among his favorites is a beautiful ma- Madden Lake, Farfan genta coral found only in the inside of Lirio, Nuevo San Juan (near Cemento the mouth of caves or on coral over- (See p. 22)

Stone-white jewels from the gardens in the sea are these staghorns, fire corals and Atlantic and Pacific finger corals brought up from the deep by Mrs. Lois Harrison holding sea urchins.

Resembling a flower burst, a spiny sea worm nestles in a cluster of finger coral. Sea worms are among most common of marine organisms found near coral.

depths from a few feet to approximately 40 feet from the surface, encountering greater growths on the landward side of the outer reef. More varieties are found in the quieter lagoons behind the reef. Large coral reefs found on the Atlan- tic side of the Isthmus are the result of a small tidal variation and a nearly constant high water temperature. On the Pacific side, the growth of reef-type

corals is inhibited because of the yearly upwelling of the water in the bay that brings cold deep water to the surface, and the high tide differential. Solitary-type corals, much more re- sistant to cold water, are abundant in the Pacific. Geologist diver Robert

The Panama Canal Review 5 %!•# ; ¥/

4

Band commander Cadet Lt. Alfred L. Huish III, leads the ROTC band during "sound off" at the New Year Review. CANAL ZONE ROTC BUILDS OUTSTANDING TRADITION

A TRADITION of outstanding per- Zone ROTC Units—outstanding among displayed in front of the two schools. formance already marks the Reserve all— is a spirit of competition and This is a verv rigid and formal cere- Officers Training Corps (ROTC) pro- achievement that has been passed from mony conducted bv a uniformed cadet gram in the U.S. high schools in the class to class, something akin to the guard detail of six privates and one Canal Zone. tradition that inspires cadets at the U.S. commander immediately before the

Now in its 20th vear, the Balboa Military Academy, according to Maj. start of classes and just after the school- High School ROTC Unit has won the Hugh M. Fisher, U.S. Army, professor day ends. Two battalion staff officers— Honor Unit designation awarded bv of military science in the Canal Zone the duty officer and his assistant—ob- the Department of the Army for 19 Schools. serve the ceremony and grade the detail consecutive years. The Cristobal High That spirit has been fostered by the performing it. The guard details are School Unit, which is in its 18th year, ROTC program itself for the cadets assigned from the company which has has failed to win it only once—and that advance only by volunteering or by the duty for the week. The grades are its enrollment because was under the competing. Joining the ROTC is volun- posted and the detail with the highest required minimum strength of 100 with tary—it's a regular elective course score wins the Honor Guard Ribbon. cadets. one credit per semester—but the cadet- to-be has to meet age and physical Basic Goal Inspection standards set by the Army. Promotion The ROTC record in the Canal Zone The Honor Unit designation is not is competitive, and even in the cases is all the more impressive because the easy to attain. It is awarded on the where ranks have to be filled by appoint- student cadets run themselves, so to basis of a full-fledged inspection car- ment (particularly at the start of the speak. True, a cadre of two officers ried out bv a U.S. Army team of officers keep them school vear), the cadets and five noncommissioned officers of and noncommissioned officers who spe- if they stay at the top of their only the U.S. Army provides instruction and cialize in inspecting regular military respective groups. guidance and reviews important deci- units. It covers students' records, train- sions. But the initiative is left larger) ing schedules and equipment, and an Two Flags in the hands of the cadets, for a basic inspection of the cadets, usually by the A good example of the extent to Commanding General of U.S. Army which competition pervades ROTC goal of the program is character build- cadets Forces Southern Command. activities is the daily raising and lower- ing. The student themselves Behind the record of the two Canal ing of the Panamanian and U.S. flags solve their problems of personnel, of

6 February 1969 organization, of conduct, and of plan- are administered by the cadet non-

ning. Thus the leaders emerge. commissioned and commissioned offi- Established at the request of the cers. Merits or demerits can affect a Schools Division, the ROTC program cadet's final mark by one letter grade began at Balboa High School in 1948. in either direction. The system includes successful, that years It proved so 2 a review board to hear appeals. later it was extended to Cristobal High As a regular course, ROTC training— School. which is offered for 3 years—has a Each unit constitutes a battalion, the weekly schedule of one period every day- 1st at Balboa with 353 cadets and the devoted to drilling, instruction in basic 2d at Cristobal with 115. The respec- military subjects, physical training, or tive strengths of the two battalions are to inspection (every Friday). As with in proportion to the total enrollment any other course, there are quizzes and at each school and represent over 50 examinations. percent of the total number of eligible boys. Special Training both battalions have incidentally, A unique feature of the ROTC pro- tuition students, including non-U. S. gram in the Canal Zone is the avail- citizens in their ranks—31 at Balboa and ability of training facilities of all the at Cristobal. And at times special 11 components of the U.S. Southern Com- education students have been accepted mand. Such opportunity is not generally Balboa High School ROTC cadet S/Sgt. as cadets and have benefited greatly Ronald available to ROTC units in the United Romo cleans his rifle making sure from the program. the job is done to perfection. States. Canal Zone cadets, for example, Merits, Demerits have received tactical training at the U.S. Army's camp at Rio Hato, in Pan- portant part in making it strong and With its larger strength, the 1st ama; have gone through a shortened active over the years. Battalion is organized into four com- course at the Jungle Operations Train- Incidentally, not too panies, as compared with two for the many ROTC ing Center, and have attended orienta- units—even in the United States—have 2d Battalion. Each battalion has its own tion sessions at the Parachute Jump the distinction of being reviewed by a command and staff. The Army instruc- School. four-star general as have the Canal tors grade the cadets in class and inspec- Zone units. tion, assisted bv the cadet chain of The support provided by the U.S. command. The grading for drill per- Armed Forces to the ROTC program The reviews—there are four of them formance and the merit-demerit svstem in the Canal Zone has played an im- in the school year—provide the cadets with the opportunity of showing them- selves in public in full splendor. At two of these, in December and in March, the two battalions participate jointly as a brigade. Highlight of the December

review is the presentation of the Army and Navy Legion of Valor— the highest award that can be earned in the ROTC program. The award is sponsored by the Army and Navy Legion of Valor of the United States, Inc., an organization composed of winners of the Congres- sional Medal of Honor and the Distin- guished Service Cross. A U.S. Army- board selects the winner from among the two Canal Zone battalions.

Field Night

The March review is the annual Field Night, which is the climax of the com- petitive phase. It features competition

at all levels—individual, squad, platoon, company and, the most impressive of all. the head-on contest between the two battalions' drill teams. The teams, one in each battalion, actually are separate companies made up of successful volunteers from the leadership school conducted in late July. Sixteen cadets are chosen for the marching drills and are backed up by Cadet Pfc. Eric Runnestrand, representing the newly organized Balboa High School ROTC eight to ten alternates. The drill team Theodore Roosevelt Cavalry Troop (Rough Riders), demonstrates a jump for Maj. Hugh M. (See Fisher, PMS, left, and Maj. Gen. Chester L. Johnson, at the New Year Review. p. 8)

The Panama Canal Review Maj. Gen. Chester L. Johnson congratulates Cadet S/Sgt. Brett Patton, outstanding NCO for the first semester, during the New Year Review. From left beside Patton are: Cadet S/Sgt. Gregory Gillis, outstanding NCO for the second 9 weeks; Cadet Cpl. Edwin Murdock, outstanding first year cadet for second 9 weeks; Cadet S/Sgt. Harland V. Howard III, squad leader of the Honor Guard Squad for the second 9 weeks. At extreme left is Cadet Sgt. Maj. Donald St. John. Maj. Hugh M. Fisher, PMS for Canal Zone Schools, is standing next to General Johnson.

(Continued from p. 7) Balboa High School ROTC band plays members average some 12 hours of at battalion and brigade reviews. The extra practice every week to sharpen cadet musicians practice during the their spectacular precision marching. drill and phvsical training periods, held rest cadets, are This is the night also when the drill for the of the but teams, the pretty battalion and company required to pass inspection on Fridays. the cadet filled sponsors and the band and its majorettes Not too long ago, band shine. in for the 79th U.S. Army Band at at the U.S. There is a girl sponsor for each bat- a graduation ceremony talion and each company. They are Army Forces Southern Command's chosen by vote by the second-year Noncommissioned Officers Academv. cadets from among volunteers for serv- It also has serenaded the Governor of ice in the following school vear. Their the Canal Zone and the U.S. Southern duties are not limited to strutting in Command component commanders on reviews, for thev handle all the secre- special occasions. Last Christmas it tarial duties of their respective outfits provided a surprise carol concert at the throughout the school vear—and are Governor's reception. graded on it. Cavalry Cadet Band The Balboa battalion has added something a cavalry troop which Only the 1st Battalion has its own new— still is in the training stage. Composed band—understandably so because of its mounts, it large strength. A cadet with experience of five cadets and their has been designated appropriately the in instrument playing is automatically Theodore Roosevelt Cavalry Troop assigned to the band, which has an authorized strength of 28 members. The (See p. 22)

8 February 1969 Sau It in Spanljn:f

HAS IT EVER occurred to you why so many Americans in the Canal Zone are able to converse in Spanish?

One of the main reasons is the Spoken Spanish Program carried on within the Panama Canal organization by the Personnel Bureau. It is set up to guide the student from a basic course through intermediate and advanced stages utiliz- ing a streamlined method of language instruction developed by one of the instructors.

- The student is able to assimilate a greater quantity of instruction in a shorter period of time, as his progress

is noted throughout all phases of the program. Assurance is made that he has grasped the mechanics of the lan- guage while developing basic vocab- ularv, along with personal confidence in his ability to carry on a conversation in Spanish.

Started in 1957 The program was started in 1957 by the then Gov. William E. Potter The differences in the sounds of certain letters is pointed out by Carlos Garcia de Paredes, and Panama Canal Personnel Director who has been instructing in the Spoken Spanish Program since its inception in 1957. Edward A. Doolan. Doolan has taken an active interest in developing the pro- "By-Ear" System On the Atlantic side they are conducted from its modest gram over the years, This method was recendy modified at the Industrial Division and the beginning as an eight-member class bv Garcia de Paredes. He compares Civil Affairs Room. Assisting full-time its present level of some 100 students. to the change to the "by-ear" system instructors Carlos Garcia de Paredes These make up several classes daily. of teaching music: "In music, a student and Mrs. Frances Enyart at Balboa, When the Spoken Spanish Program who learns to play an instrument by and Rolando Linares at Cristobal, original class con- was initiated, the reading notes can later develop his skill are part-time instructors Antonio Lina- sisted of key executive personnel whose so he can play any sheet music but res (Balboa) and Dolores Suarez positions required frequent contact with usually he cannot adapt to playing by (Cristobal). persons who spoke little or no English. ear. With mv modification of the FSI It was taught by Carlos Garcia de student language training program, the Three Categories Paredes, who todav is chief of the Span- learns Spanish through association of The Spoken Spanish Program is divid- ish language program. Among the mem- sounds, along with basic oral skills, in three categories, depending on bers of his first class were Governor much the same way that an aspiring ed into the need for Spanish-on- Porter and Paul Runnestrand, Executive musician may learn to play an instru- several factors, foremost. level of Secretary of the Canal Zone. Through ment by ear," he says. the-job being The the years, as the success of the program for each student depends on This student, although unable to read training became more evident, it was expanded in the program. The cate- music, can later develop his musical his progress to include middle management and top Spanish Management ability to a degree whereby he is able gories are Spoken •nipervisory personnel. curriculum Groups (for The to play almost any composition by ear Trainee Program, Special 's patterned after the "guided imitation" alone. Similarly, the language student those requiring Spanish for job utiliza- Serv- resi- method developed by the Foreign is better able to adapt and is much more tion, such as hospital interns and

ice Institute of the Department of State flexible in this "by ear" method of learn- dents, admeasurers, and policemen ) and in 1953. The use of textbooks is mini- ing than the student who has learned Special Management Program. mized and the student must rely on strictly by reading. In the Special Groups category, hospi- acquiring knowledge through the use the Pacific side, classes are held On tal personnel participate in a program of sound patterns by imitating the at the Administration Building, the spoken words of the instructor. Training Center, and Gorgas Hospital. (See p. 10)

The Panama Canal Review 9 The Accents on Spanish

(Continued from p. 9) Phase II Phase III Upon returning to the Isthmus, Phase which early in the course introduces Phase II consists of a 2-week total III begins— consisting of a follow-up medical terms used in day-to-day con- immersion course in Spoken Spanish at refresher course in which the instructor tact with Spanish speaking patients. the Berlitz School in Guadalajara. evaluates the degree of proficiency at- Phrases such as. "Where does it hurt?" Mexico. There, the student is lectured tained In' the student and polishes up and "How long have you been feeling throughout the day by several instruc- any rough edges in the Litter's conver- this way?" would be some ot their first tors, in Spanish only. He must order sation. Thereafter, the student continues phrases. his meals, ask directions and, even after to receive further advanced instruction school is out, relv on his knowledge The third category, Special Man- until the desired degree of fluency is of conversational Spanish to see him agement Program, is designed for attained. through the 2-week stay in that city. personnel. in key This course, three The Special Management Program is student to phases, allows the train The Guadalajara school has a definite limited because ot the great expense in- while losing little of in quite rapidly the advantage over similar schools the volved. Expense, however, is one of the basic knowledge acquired in the pre- United States, since in Miami. New tew limiting factors. Rank is not always stages instruction. liminary of Students York or Washington the student would a determinant in whether or not an begin with a preparator) course ot revert to English to get along when he employee receives training in a partic- about 3 weeks duration in which thev was out ot school lor the da\ . In Mexico, ular category. The needs of the em- receive personal instruction in Spanish. it becomes a case of sink or swim. Hap- ployee tor language capability in job English is spoken onlv when neeessan pily, PanCanal students have been able utilization, and the particular level in this first phase of training. to swim and quite well at that. of proficiency of each student deter-

Illustrating a point in pronunciation is Mrs. Frances Enyart, instructor in the Spanish language program at Balboa Heights. The students are, left to right, Carroll B. Robertson and Willard Percy.

10 February 1969 Recitations nre an important part of learning any language. Here instructor Garcia de Paredes listens as Paul Ficzeri, 2d from right, recites from a lesson. Other students are, left to right, Henry Makibbin and Larry Corrigan.

mine where he will be placed. In addi- vantage of the Tuition Refund Plan and reduced the overall cost of the tion, personnel from each of the three and enroll in English courses at local program in terms of man-hours. Also,

categories form some groups in order institutions of higher learning. it has stimulated greater interest in the to utilize more effectively available Spanish is taught also in the Canal program on the part of the students. vacancies in each class. Zone's U.S. grade schools and high schools. Program A Success Largest Group Perhaps the best yardstick for meas- The largest single group of employees Bilingualism Increase uring the success of the program is enrolled in the Spoken Spanish Program Thus, bilingualism in normal opera- contained in the words of one of the is in the Management Trainee Program, tions of PanCanal is on the increase. students currently enrolled in the designed primarily for middle manage- An awareness of the need for better Spoken Spanish Program, who says: ment personnel employees who and communication, foreseen by top man- "Now that I can get along in Spanish. have direct contact with employees on start of agement, is what led to the I've found many things I can do with the job who speak little or no English. the program. It undoubtedly has been my friends in Panama that I was too English-speaking personnel unable to one of the most rewarding for employees shv to attempt when I couldn't com- attend day classes, because of job in the Canal organization. During the municate very well with them. Being requirements such as shift-work, are almost 11 years since it was started, able to carry on a conversation has encouraged to take evening courses at more than 1,500 Canal employees opened main doors for me, and per- the Canal Zone College or the Florida requiring Spanish in their jobs and all mitted me to participate in several State University Extension Branch un- of the organization's key management activities I greatly enjoy. And what I der the Personnel Bureau's Tuition personnel have been exposed to this consider to be the greatest compliment Refund Plan for Job-Related Courses. program— with gratifying results. paid me occurred recently at a party A large number of those eligible for Classes meet for an hour, 5 days a when I was introduced to a fellow, who. this training take advantage of it and week, on both sides of the Isthmus, immediately started talking to me in acquire a working knowledge of Span- and the original 3-year course of in- English. friends laughed, and told ish. Similarly, Spanish-speaking person- struction has been modified to cover My English. He nel in this 1 This modi- him. 'Don't talk to him in category who obviously do the same material in year. " not need Spanish instruction, take ad- fication has increased the effectiveness speaks better Spanish than you do.'

The Panama Canal Review 11 - ^ANNIVERSARIES^ (On the basis of total Federal Service)

OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER Clement C. Bell SUPPLY AND COMMUNITY Kenneth R. A. Booth Motor Launch Operator SERVICE BUREAU Supervisory Rates Analyst Calvin E. Bourne Carpenter George M. Standard MARINE BUREAU Laborer (Heavy) Clarence S. Spence Irwin S. Small Edward Rodvin Lead Foreman (Operations-Lock Wall) Time and Leave Clerk Arthur L. Shanyfelt High Lift Truck Operator Alfredo E. Gamett Towing Locomotive Operator— Locks Seabert Haynes Lead Foreman (Operations-Lock Wall) Conrado V. Brown Commissary Store Department Manager Leonard V. McLeod Carpenter, Marine Livingston W. White Motor Launch Operator Kenneth N. Sullivan Clerk Constant H. Claveau Alfred L. Bullen Lead Foreman (Operations-Lock Wall) Teletypist Hercules E. Searles Laborer (Cleaner) George Williams Seaman Vivian E. Brooks Linehandler (Deckhand) Extractor Gilbert S. Kirkaldy and Tumblerman William Davis Oiler (Floating Plant) Norbert M. Schommer Motor Launch Operator Supervisory Joseph F. S. Ford Operating Accountant TRANSPORTATION AND TERMINALS Seaman Adelaide U. Niceolls Sales Store Clerk ^JREAIL, Francis P. Washabaugh Admeasurer Rose W. Parker Leroy Chajj Rudy M. Wieland Clerk-Typist Cargo Leader Lock Operator Dora M. Lozano Simonf (Electrician) Wilfred Presser (Garment) Leal A. Alleyne Leader Linehandler ( Deckhand Alloric Earle Boatswain) Cargo Ch ENGINERING AND Fitzgerald Holder CONSTRUCTION BUREAU SUPPLY AND COMMUNITY Helper Machinist (Marine) Edmund R. MacVittie SERVICE BUREAU Charles Small Supervisory Architect Edward L. Inniss Leader Painter Edostido Andrades Retail Complex Manager Edward A. Cole aintenanceman William A. Thorns Towing Locomotive (Locks-Limited) Wood Lead Foreman High Lift Truck Operator Wilfred C. Adams Andrew Jackson Supervisory Supply Clerk Seaman ating Plant) ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION TRANSPORTATION AND T er BUREAU BU man Herman G. Edwards Lee Redman urns Time and Leave CI Operator Oiler Eliot Howell Sanchez CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU Automotive Mechanic Electrician (Lineman) Roy M. Walther Dunstan C. McCourty George S. Rachel Finance Branch Superintendent Truck Driver (Heavy) Electrician (Lineman) Jasper A. McLeod Joseph A. Husband Chauffeur Leader Carpenter Herman Providence Charles B. Springer PANAMA CANAL INFORMATION Truck Driver Laborer (Heavy) Eric Malcolm Wesley II. Bailey OFFICE Lead Foreman Dock Stevedoring Lead Foreman Pipefitter Robert J. Byrne Leopold Douglas Charles S. Howe Supervisory Canal Zone Guide Truck Driver Construction and Maintenance (Interpreter) Clyde D. Lashley Superintendent OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER Guard Lionel A. Perry Lionel Thorne Leader Seaman Winston V. Bell Motor Vehicle Dispatcher Emelio Archbold Supervisory Accounting Technician Hubert Brands Oiler (Floating Plant) PERSONNEL BUREAU Linehandler Elbert A. Belgrave Harold Gibbs Albert B. Collins Helper Armature Winder Service Tracer Lead Foreman Electrician Elwin C. W. Conliffe Philip A. Hale, MARINE BUREAU Jr. Seaman Assistant Freight Agent Isaac D. Clinton Clement Jackson James S. Williams Painter Helper Lock Operator Stevedore Joslyn C. Duncan Leopoldo Shepherd Miguel W. Oruitiner Leader Painter Carpenter Supervisory Cargo Checker Albert T. Smith James A. Jones Benjamin P. Soley Boiler Tender Leader Painter Chauffeur Lubin L. Theresia Ruben G. Cox Oscar W. Layne Carpenter Carpenter Truck Driver (Heavy Trailer) (See p. 23)

12 February 1969 AncieriT ABACUS IS Hey to moD6Rn mATH

MAN-MADE SATELLITES are rock- which loose counters of bone, glass or pebbles he used rods of bamboo. More eting into space, carrying astronauts metallic disks or rods were placed on a than a thousand vears after bamboo beyond the earth and to the moon—in ruled table drawn on the board. rods were used, the Chinese adopted large measure because of mathematics. There are several references to the the old Roman idea of having the cal- We live in a mathematized culture abacus in Roman literature. Cicero culi fastened to an abacus, known in today. There are uses for mathematics speaks of the counters as aera (bronzes) China as suan pan. The rod-and-bead that were unheard of or even thought but the common name was calculi- variety of abacus, is in use in schools, possible a few year ago. pebbles—or abaculi. banks and shops throughout China to dividing bar separates sets Chemists and physicists have found Fifteen hundred years ago, when this day. A of two beads and five beads on each new uses and interpretations for mathe- little Caius of Rome was learning to bar. Each bead above the bar has asso- matics; biologists are applying math- add: CCL VII and CCCL XIX (257+ ciated with it a value five times that of ematics to the study of genetics; 369) he drew lines on a bronze or wood the bead below the bar on the same rod. businessmen are using mathematics to board. Grooves were cut in the board active position for the beads is project production and sales. and small round pebbles, or calculi, The repre- toward the dividing bar. Today's technological advances have were placed in these grooves to his 300 vears ago, the Japanese im- opened up numerous opportunities for sent units, 10's and so on to get Some proved on the Chinese abacus and this the girl or boy with mathematical abil- answer: DC XXVI (626). time, in another part of instrument, known as the soroban, is still ity. Today's children talk about sets, At the same use in modern The soroban the binary number system, structural the world, a Chinese boy was employ- in Japan. similar but instead of (See p. 14) patterns and inverse operations— all part ing a system, of the mathematics taught in their schools.

It's different, indeed, from the mem- orizations their parents knew. But even with all this modernity, an ancient device known as the abacus, that was familiar to school children in Rome 1,500 year ago, is becoming well- known to Canal Zone sixth graders. It has returned to use in today's classroom.

Described as one of the first "digital

computers," the abacus is a simple instrument for performing rapid arith- metical calculation. It consists of an oblong wooden frame or board holding a number of vertically arranged rods on which wooden beads, balls, or coun- ters slide up and down. A beam running across the board divides the rods into two sections: upper and lower. The imperfect numerical notation and the scarcity of suitable writing materials in ancient times are presumed to have given rise to the need of devices of mechanical calculation. The first abacus probably was a slab or board on which a Babvlonian spread sand so he could trace letters. The word is believed derived from the Phoenician "abak" describing sand strewn on a surface for abacus, T. Lum of Casa Lum writing. As the abacus came to be used A member of the sixth generation in his family to use the W. use. "There s no need in Citv savs he finds the instrument practical for business counting computing, its Panama solelv for and expense, he says. As for paper, pens, or pencils. And there's no breakage or maintenance form was changed and improved. Wax- the beads of the nimble and effortless as the fingers of a pianist, his fingers swiftly fly over grandson covered boards were introduced, and abacus as he tackles adding, subtracting or dividing problems. Great-great-great 1906. later a counter abacus was devised in of a Viceroy of China, he has been a resident of Panama since

The Panama Canal Review 13 ABACUS

(Continued from p. 13) is very similar to the Chinese abacus except that instead of five-two bead arrangement on each rod, the Japanese model is generally of the four-one or five-one bead arrangement. About 400 years ago Robert Record was bom in England. When he went to school he was taught to use Roman numerals, and added, subtracted, mul- tiplied, and divided numbers very much as Caius had learned to compute with the aid of calculi about 1,500 years earlier. Two important changes had been made in that length of time. In- stead of having places on the computing table for only units, 10's, 100's, and so on, the spaces between the lines were used for 5's, 50's, 500's and similarly for all other 5's, and the lines were now horizontal. These changes came in what are called the Dark Ages.

Record wrote several books to in- Discovering patterns is a key activity in a modern program of arithmetic. The value of a fluence the English people to give up symbol depends on the place it occupies, says Don K. Miskovsky of the Diablo Elementary the Roman numerals. School faculty, who finds the abacus helpful in developing Sixth Graders' concept of place value. At left is Jeff F'iser, son of Major and Mrs. John Fiser of Albrook and at right is Shawn An expert in the use of the abacus Daniell, son of Senior M/Sgt. William James Daniell of . can compute with speed and accuracy that compares favorably with results ob- tained by an experienced operator of an electric calculating machine. This fact was proved in numerous tests and is well-documented by Takashi Kojima, author of The Japanese Abacus, Its Use and Theory. An interesting contest between the Japanese abacus and the electric cal- culating machine was held in Tokyo on November 12, 1946, under the sponsor- ship of the U.S. Army newspaper The Stars and Stripes, which remarked: "The machine age took a step backward yesterday at the Ernie Pvle Theatre as the abacus, centuries old, dealt defeat to the most up-to-date electric machine now being used by the U.S. Government

. . . the abacus victory was decisive." The Nippon Times reported the con- test as follows: "Civilization, on the threshold of the atomic age, tottered Monday afternoon as the 2,000-year- old abacus beat the electric calcu- lating machine in adding, subtracting,

dividing, and a problem including all three with multiplication thrown in, according to the United Press. Onlv in multiplication did the machine ." triumph. . . A mathematical race between abacus-wielding Joby Vanya, left, and Janet Howard at the The abacus is generally associated blackboard was easily won by Joby. Both girls are pupils in the Sixth Grade at Diablo with the Orient. Actually, the abacus Elementary School. Joby is the daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Joseph J. Vanya of Albrook. in one form or another was used Janet's parents are Col. and Mrs. Hubert C. Howard of .

14 February 1969 .

th€ winneR throughout Europe and Asia until peo- learning that this subject can be exciting This is where the age-old abacus comes ple came to know and aeeepted the and interesting. They are given oppor- into the modern-day' school picture. The Hindu-Arabic system of 9 figures and tunities to be creative and develop operations of addition, subtraction, mul- zero and associated methods of com- original solutions to problems . They tiplication, and division must be ex- putation. The abacus was last generally learn they can solve problems through perienced before they can be under- used in Spain and Italy in the 15th their own efforts, instead of relying on stood. The abacus board allows children century, in France in the 16th century. rigid techniques or memorized rules. to handle and see the processes for and in England and Germany in the More new mathematics has been themselves. 17th century. created in the 20th century than in all Abacus Advantages Changes didn't take place rapidl) previousl) recorded history. Entire fields abacus are hards There were those who favored the use of mathematics that used to be the Advantages of the portability, and ease of of other systems of numeration and the exclusive domain of a few experts just construction, latter a sim- use of the abacus in computation. These a half a century or so ago are now being operational methods, the were called the "abacists." Opposed to taught in high school; some are even plification of the four processes of these were the advocates of the Hindu- beginning to enter the junior high arithmetic. classrooms, thus making room at peculiar advantage of the abacus Arabic system with its algorithms, or school A of curriculum for sub- procedures, for computations. They the upper end the is that a problem in addition and some of the newer, contemporary math- right, were called the "algorists." The algorists traction is worked from left to ematics that modern society demands as in the case campaigned for approximately 500 instead of right to left, of its productive citizens. written arithmetic, and so har- years to gain general acceptance of with Aware that the people in tomorrow's with the normal way of read- techniques in computation. By the year monizes society will have to compete with auto- writing numbers. One disad- 1,600 thev achieved their goal and ing and mation as well as with other people, is that the instrument produces established the arithmetic techniques vantage the school programs of today endeavor only a final result without preserving which have remained in general use up to see that creative imagination and a record of the intermediate steps. If to the present time. in productive thinking are developed an error is made, the whole calculation Teaching Aid each of the students to the limits of must be done again from beginning his capacities. The abacus was then placed in a to end. K. Miskovskv, teacher at Diablo semi-retired status, but this ancient The modern mathematics program Don helps pupils learn to add, subtract, mul- Elementary School, has been giving his device is finding its way back into the tiply and divide through the study of Sixth Grade pupils some pointers on classrooms of todav. Teachers are find- numbers and relationships that exist how to use the abacus since he returned ing it a real aid in the teaching of place among numbers. Discovering patterns from military duty in Korea. It is used value, addition, and subtraction. is a key activity in a modern program widely there and Miskovskv became A significant goal of contemporary in arithmetic. A characteristic of the fascinated with its use. is develop a programs to help children decimal numeral system that must be His students have become so profi- wholesome attitude toward mathemat- understood by the pupil is place value, cient in using the oriental adding ma- ics. Traditionally, main' students regard and he must know that in our Hindu- chine that thev held a junior version of mathematics with considerable distaste, Arabic system the value of a symbol the Tokyo contest. The result was the but this is changing as children are depends upon the place it occupies. same now as then: The abacus won.

The Panama Canal Review- It CANAL COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC BY NATIONALITY OF VESSELS .

Central and the Santa Fe of the United PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES SHIPPED THROUGH THE CANAL States, have made proposals on the (All cargo figures in long tons) land-bridge movement of cargo across Pacific to Atlantic the United States and Canada and so far the results remain somewhat un- First half, fiscal year— certain. Commodity 1969 Details of the proposed land-bridge train between California ports and New Ores, various York were revealed by John Reed, Pres- Boards and planks ident of the Santa Fe Railroad. They Iron and steel plates, sheets called for an 80-car train capable of and coils Sugar carrying 160 40-foot or 320 20-foot Fishmeal Cal- containers between New York and Metals, various ifornia ports on a schedule of approxi- Iron and steel manufactures, mately 5 davs in each direction. Reed miscellaneous Food in refrigeration said that a similar service could be (excluding bananas) ports and offered between California Pulpwood Texas ports. Bananas- The Santa Fe would operate the train Plywood and veneers between California and Chicago and Potash Canned food products __ the Penn-Central between Chicago and Petroleum and products New York. Wire, bars and rods The Canadian National Railroad said All others the extremely low transcontinental rail TotaL rate required to promote land-bridge traffic could be obtained only by using all -container trains.

The traffic required to justify all-con- tainer trains, however, need onlv be a volume sufficient to utilize one set of rail equipment. As the round-trip cycle time between Halifax and Vancouver, for example, would be approximately 2 weeks, 200 to 220 20-foot containers every 2 weeks could initiate the land- bridge scheme immediately. A preliminary analysis made by the Federal Maritime Commission did show- that this type of proposal, if used between ports in the United States from Japan through the west coast to the east coast consignee or from the United Kingdom through the east coast to the west coast consignee, might result in lower landed costs. The report said "The savings in tran- sit time in these movements to and from the east and west coast as compared to a movement via the Panama Canal are significant. A land-bridge movement from the west coast to the United King- dom via the land-bridge takes 11 days. This represents a saving of 13 days over the all-water route with resultant economies such as those of a smaller inventory and lower warehousing and insurance charges." In any case the future of containeri- zation and the movement of cargo over- land bears watching especially in view of the possibilitv that there may be an early end to the hostilities in Southeast Asia. This would add to overcapacity and would push the containerships now engaged in the Far East traffic into other trade routes. FROM WATERBOY TO SUPERMARKET KING

MENTION THE name Tagaropulos in Colon Free Zone is today a mainstay of Panama and most people immediately economic activity in the country. will think of supermarkets. The reason At one time he operated a fleet of 14 is simple: For 57 years it has been coastwise schooners that picked up associated with the business of selling native products along the Atlantic coast food. for export. There were "tagua," a hard Today the Tagaropulos enterprises nut used for the manufacture of but- have expanded to other fields, but super- tons, tortoise shell and, of course, markets still are a substantial part of bananas. The advent of synthetics their business. finished the "tagua" and tortoise shell exports; the banana business— at The man who made the Tagaropulos which its peak reached a volume of name a household word in the country's 150,000 stems a week—eventually died two terminal cities—Don Antonio Taga- out on the Atlantic coast. While his boats ropulos— still keeps busy at 76, oversee- operated, Don Antonio was dubbed the ing the varied operations of the business "commodore of the mosquito fleet" in organization he created from one small the local press. grocery store in Colon. While Don Antonio won't even think Employ 1,500 of moving from Colon, the center of Seven separate firms with holdings operations of the Tagaropulos organi- valued at $6.5 million comprise the Ta- zation inevitably has shifted to Panama garopulos organization today. Three are City. Just last year, Empresa Tagaro- in the grocery business. Empresa Taga- pulos, S.A., Colon-Panama, moved into ropulos, S.A., Colon-Panama, handles its spacious new headquarters in La the wholesale end, supplying the chain Loceria, just off the Trans-Isthmian of 10 supermarkets in Panama City and Highway opposite the National Brew- one in Colon operated by La Economia. ery. The most impressive section is a S.A. and Internacional Tagaropulos cavernous warehouse with approximate- S.A., in the Colon Free Zone, which is ly 100,000 square feet of floor area. It the ship chandlering company. Then includes five cold storage rooms for there are Industrias Tagaropulos, S.A., perishables of all kinds in which tem- which operates a plant in Colon for the peratures are maintained at precise manufacture of products such as vanilla Don Antonio Tagaropulos levels. The warehouse, praised by State- concentrate, cleaning solutions and soy- side visitors as one of the most modern sauce, Inmobiliaria Tagaropulos, S.A., until they obtained parental in Latin America, has a capacity for consent- in the real estate field; Urbanizacion 3,400 tons of goods. given reluctantly—for the trip to Tagaropulos, S.A. which is developing Panama. a housing project in Sabanitas, near Modest Start That year the three cousins landed in Colon, and Fabrica Panameria de All this had modest beginnings. what was to become the city of Colon, Productos Sanitarios, S.A., which man- In a manner of speaking, the Taga- each with 7 napoleons— $3.5— in their ufactures sanitary products. ropulos enterprises owe their start to pockets. The seven companies emplov a total the Panama Canal. For Don Antonio, Young Antonio went to work with of 1,500 persons. then a lad of 15, came to the Isthmus the Isthmian Canal Commission as a Other Interests because in his native Greece he saw waterboy— hauling drinking water to evidence the ditch diggers. His pay: 21 cents an In addition to founding the Tagaro- of the wealth flowing on the Isthmus during Canal construction hour. pulos organization, Don Antonio also has days. played a leading role in the development It was the year 1908. Young Antonio Stays On of the bottling industry in two cousins, Panama. and then living in Chalkis, His cousins left the Isthmus for the Compaiiia Panamericana de Orange were impressed by the fact that an aunt United States within a few months, but Crush, S.A., bottles Orange Crush, always was supplied with to money buy young Antonio stuck it out. He had Pepsi Cola, Old Colony, and Squirt in them goodies. Thev knew her husband vowed to succeed or bust. Nine months its modern plant in Panama City. was in Panama and they suspected he after his arrival, he quit his job as water- was the source of her wealth. Their He also was among the first to envi- boy and went to work in a bakery in suspicions were confirmed bv a letter sion a free trade zone in Colon and as Colon owned by a countryman. Another which the trio far back as 1938, when he was president managed to purloin from 9 months went by before he had man- her. of the Colon Chamber of Commerce, aged to save $900—enough to open his became one of its prime advocates. The From that moment they did not stop own grocery shop.

18 February 1969 This is part of the cavernous warehouse of Empresa Tagaropulos, S.A., Colon-Panama, just off the Transisthmian Highway opposite the National Brewery- in Panama City. It has 100,000 square feet of floor area, five cold storage rooms and a capacity of 3,400 tons of goods.

"I've always liked food," he says by way of explanation for his choice of business. The shop was located in the present Colon Post Office building, then the public market. It had two employees besides young Antonio, the proprietor. "Business was so good," Don Antonio recalls with a hearty laugh, "that we didn't count the money—we weighed

it." Then the first of three conflagrations in Colon wiped him out—"lock, stock and barrel"—in 1915. But the day after the fire voung Antonio was at what was left of his place of business, selling hard-boiled eggs, burnt salt and every- thing else he could salvage from his stock. With the help of businessmen friends, he opened a new and larger grocery store, this time on Sixth Street. "This was a much better one," he recalls fondly. "We didn't wrap things in old newspapers like we used to; wc had decent paper." That store, too. was wiped out by Tagaropulos, center, founder of the Tagaropulos enterprises in Panama, reviews plans for a iq gre aboU t years later. But Don An- new supermarket with Alexander Psvchovos, right, president of Empresa Tagaropulos, S.A., j . „,„i.„ „„„tu„, ..... j' start <- i t> j » i tt 1 r .i_ l j r j- i \. ,u tonio managed to make another Colon-Panama, and Azael Hernando, secretary of the board of directors, at the company 6 !>ee headquarters in Panama City. \ V- M)

The Panama Canal Review 19 and returned with "fresh blood"— his Antonio remains active in the business. - "Ambition, three brothers-in-law— to reorganize the He goes every morning to his office in company, which then became Tagaro- Colon and periodically travels to Pan- Faith in God, pulos, S.A. ama City to keep in touch with opera- As he rose in business, Don Antonio tions of the Tagaropulos firms in the

extended his hand to the less fortunate. capital. Whenever possible, he spends - Love of Work" "One must help his fellow beings," is the afternoons on his farm near Colon his terse comment on his philanthropic where he is raising both beef and dairy

activities. He is known to be among the cattle. principal supporters of the Asilo Santa (Continued from p. 19) Luisa, a home for the aged, and of pro- Surprise and by 1940, when the third conflagra- jects for blind children. He is reticent Twice since 1908 he has returned this his activities. tion swept the Atlantic side city, he had about aspect of to his native Greece on extended visits. a chain of nine grocery stores going in On his second hip, he discovered a Official Honors it Tagaropulos, Colon. By that time, was savings account in his name in a Greek S.A., with two brothers and several Nevertheless, he has received official bank. It had been started by his father brothers-in-law as the company officers recognition, from both his native and with $25,000 Don Antonio had sent and major stockholders. The 1940 fire his adopted countries, for his achieve- him earlier as a gift. The account had caught the firm in the process of read- ments and contributions. Among others, grown to $35,000 because of the ac- justing its insurance coverage, so that he holds the Order of Vasco Nunez de cumulated interest. its losses were not covered. Practically Balboa, of Panama; Greece's Order of Sixty years after his arrival the entire chain of stores went up in King Paul, which was personally pre- in Pan-

abides ! smoke. It took a while for the Tagaro- sented by the sovereign, and the ama, Don Antonio firmly bv pulos organization to recover from that Christian Stewardship of the Greek the creed that kept him going in mis-

heavy blow, but recover it did to Orthodox Archdiocese of North and fortune and drove him to become a ! become the flourishing business complex South America. captain of industry in Panama—"ambi-

it is today. Don Antonio went to Greece At 76, a grandfather six times, Don tion, faith in God, and love of work."

The Tagaropulos enterprises employ 1,500 persons in Panama City and Colon. This is part of the office staff at the organization's headquarters. Tagaropulos, standing left, who resides in Colon where he started in business, periodically visits the Panama City office.

20 February 1969 SHIPPING Super Tanker Swedish Ships Converted ANOTHER MONSTER ship that will BY MAY 1969 all five of the Swedish be unable to use either the Panama Johnson Line vessels of the Rio de or Suez Canal was completed in Japan Janeiro class which transit the Panama recently and christened the Universe Canal on an average of one a month, Ireland by Gulf Oil Corp. The 312,000- will be lengthened to provide special ton ship will be the first of six which facilities for transportation of contain- will carry crude oil from Kuwait, ers. The vessels are in trade between the tiny Middle East country with the European ports and the west coast of big oil reserves, to new refineries in the United States and Canada. The Ireland and Okinawa. conversion is being carried out in The Universe Ireland is 1,135 feet Gothenburg, Sweden. long and 174 feet wide. She is 10 stories Each of the five 490-foot vessels is high and on each trip will haul 2.3 million barrels of oil. Gulf is chartering VNAMA CANAL TRAFFIC the big vessel on a long-term basis from STATISTICS FOR FIRST HALF Bantry Transportation Co., a Bermuda OF FISCAL YEAR 1969 subsidiary of National Bulk Carriers TRANSITS (Oceangoing Vessels) Inc., an American firm. J 969 1968 Caronia on New Service Commercial 6,706 6,506 U.S. Government 709 700 THE FORMER Cunard luxury liner Free _. 33 55 Caronia, which was' sold recently to Greek interests under the management Total 7,448 7,261 of A. Constantinides, has been fitted TOLLS' out for Caribbean cruising. She started Commercial $44,262,476 $41,098,630 her new service in December, sailing on U.S. Government. 4,471,272 4,339,125 a regular schedule from New York to Total— the Caribbean on high-class pleasure cruises. The crew is Italian and Greek and the commanding officer is a former British admiral. Under Cunard ownership the Caronia was one of the first of the luxury cruise liners. She was built for round-the- world cruising and made regular trips through the Panama Canal for many years. ROTC RAT6S

HIGH in eirmusiflsm

(Continued from p. 8)

(Rough Riders). It made its first public appearance at the December 13, 1968, brigade review which honored Gen.

Robert W. Porter, Jr., Commander-in- Chief, U.S. Southern Command. If the

troop becomes permanent, it will present equestrian demonstrations at the cadet reviews.

ROTC cadets also appear at com- munity functions, acting as ushers at official receptions, at athletic events, and participating in observances such as Memorial Dav and Veterans Dav.

foreground, brain coral, right, sea fans and a cluster of staghoms make up this Main Reasons underwater garden. "The thing that makes my job easv," says Major Fisher, a two-tour veteran of Vietnam, "is the very high enthusiasm Coral is Jewel of the Sea of the students themselves. Their atti- tude and performance are the primary (Continued from p. 5) and hundreds of other marine orga- reasons why the ROTC program has Panama) and the dredge dumps near nisms, in red, orange, purple, green been so very successful here." the Canal. —bright and muted— inhabit this glorious Right now, cadets of both battalions coral limestone community in the aqua Corals have been living in this area have their eves set on April 17. That's sea. Sharks and barracudas may swish for the past 50 or 60 million years. The the date for the 1969 inspection that by in search of prey. The mere possi- The natural bridge on the Rio Puente, will determine whether thev will add one of the tributaries of bility of their presence in the vicinity of Madden Lake, another Honor Unit designation to their is formed by an Eocene coral reef the coral reef is reason enough for the ahead) distinguished record. approximately 43 million years old. diver to keep a sharp lookout for the Additional reefs of early Miocene age boat above. (approximately 25 million years ago) Reef corals, most of which are sharp were formed along the banks of the as a knife, are firmly attached to the present Canal and can be seen in the formation and collectors are required sides of the new cuts at Las Cascadas to use a strong prving or hacking tool Hill, site of the present cut-widening to break them off. Some Isthmian coral project. collectors, like Mrs. Harrison, find that Different species of coral adapt to a machete does the job quite well. different sections of the reef and the Bad Odor conglomeration of the many varieties creates a seascape of spectacular beaut}'. While still in the water, corals are The combination of soft and hard greyish, brown, green or yellowish in corals and their helter-skelter position- color and have a rather disagreeable ing, plus the seaweed, sand and rock, odor. The polvps die soon after the produces a multitude of coves, crevices, coral is taken from the water. About gaps, nooks and corners providing a 1 month of good, strong sun is required haven for thousands of tiny brightly to get rid of the offensive odor after colored fishes and some not so tiny, the corals have been washed in fresh like 30 and 40-pound red snappers. clean water and dried. Some collectors groupers, jewfish, amberjack, and tuna. prefer to first keep the corals in a solu- tion of commercial laundry bleach for Marine Community 24 hours. Oners are sure to find at least one Bv either method the result is beau-

\ icious-looking moras eel lurking among tiful white corals— jewels from the flower the rocks. Turtles, shrimp, snails, crabs garden in the sea.

22 CANAL HISTORY

whole \ear although there was a full 50 IfearJ cngo One ljtear tao scale serious alert October 29 after in whose in progress THEODORE ROOSEVELT, reports of possible trouble along the LOCKS OVERHAUL at administration the United Gatun Locks 1 year ago moved into presidential Central American coast. Only one seri- the Panama the second phase the last of February States began work on ous situation arose to menace the secu- at his at Oyster Bay, with the east lane being flooded to Canal, died home rity of the Canal as a line of communi- years in January permit the floating crane Hercules to Long Island, 50 ago cation. This was increased activity of enter and replace miter gates \os. 13 employees of the Panama 1919. The enemy submarines in the Caribbean. and 14 on which overhaul had been their deep sym- Canal sent the family the end of the year a Colombian At completed. Miter gates 5 and 6 were held on pathy. Memorial services were vessels schooner and two U.S. were sunk removed the following week and set both sides of the Isthmus attended by and a Panamanian ship was reported on keel blocks within the locks chambers Acting Governor W. Douglas, Frank J. overdue. for overhaul. Feuille, Special Attorney for the Pan- A storm described as a norther closed The Panama Canal asked residents to Canal, and William Price, U.S. ama J. the new Transisthmian Highway to cut use of electricity. Continuing dry Minister to Panama. traffic 15 miles east of . weather had reduced water inflow into As World War I came to an end At one time more than 200 cars lined to a record low in January 50 years ago, the complete text of up waiting for the road to be cleared. and by February, it was imperative that Gov. Chester Harding's report to the During the storm a U.S. merchant shin water conservation policies be con- Secretary of War on the part played ran aground off Cristobal. tinued. Canal residents helped by using by the Panama Canal in the conflict large electric appliances prior to 10 a.m. in the Panama Canal and after 2 p.m. thus reducing the mid- was published 10 XjearA cAgo Record. The Governor reported the day peak load. THE BIGGEST single excavation job 10-cent and Canal was operated and maintained New 25-cent airmail and in the Canal Zone since the Canal was 6-cent ordinary postage stamps were during the period of the war without opened was read}' to start 10 years ago placed on sale at the Balboa Post Office mishap or delay to vessels using its in January. The job was the widening last year. facilities; that no acts of injury or de- of the channel in the Paraiso and Cuca- struction were committed and that there racha Reaches in Gaillard Cut from 300 were no strikes or other significant labor feet to 500 feet. It was one of the troubles. ANNIVERSARIES principal projects of the Short Range (Continued from p. 12) Improvement Plan developed and ap- 25 yeard cAgo proved by the Board of Directors the Eloy Arrocha previous Oiler SELECTIVE SERVICE registration in year. Bids for the remodeling of three large Carlos Hinojozo the Canal Zone and in Panama of U.S. former Navy barracks into a first-class Maintenanceman (Boats) citizens 18 to 44 years old was com- modem school plant were advertised Albert E. Johnson pleted. The number of C.Z. registrants in mid-December 1958. The school Motor Launch Operator as of December 1, 1943, totaled 2,744 became the new Cristobal Junior-Sen- Juan D. Lopez according to the Executive Secretary's ior High School. Seaman report. The largest single job in the project Samuel B. Goode for Canal Black days were ahead to place all frequency-sensitive equip- Painter years unless the Zone motorists 25 ago ment in the Canal Zone on 60-cycle Alsibades Escobar tires on their cars could be recapped power— the conversion of the Canal Seaman since the chance of obtaining new tires locks machinery—was started in De- CTVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU was very remote, said E. C. Lombard, cember 1958. The work was done Louis A. Austin then Chairman of the Canal Zone bv Consolidated International Electric Distribution and Window Clerk Rationing Board. The quota of new tires Company of New York at a cost of S2 William W. E. Hoyle million. alloted to the Canal Zone had been cut Supervisory Customs Inspector by two-thirds. Construction of the half-mile-long Ben B. Gupton approach to join the proposed high level Allied victories and the changing Customs Enforcement Officer bridge over the Canal with Thatcher fronts of World War II made themselves Alfhild Maedl Highway, began during the dry season felt on the Isthmus. The Canal, the most Teacher, Elementary U.S. Schools months 10 years ago. The official com- vital link in U.S. communications, grad- Carl F. Maedl mencement of actual construction of the ually moved into the background in the Principal, Senior High Schools bridge took place the last of December overall war picture. In December 1941, Glinton L. Parris when former President Ernesto de la the Isthmian situation had been de- Recreation Assistant, Sports Guardia and Former Governor W. E. scribed as precarious. For the first few Potter lifted the first spadesful of earth HEALTH BUREAU davs, no one knew whether an attack for the west approach. Members of the Cynthia S. Soberanis on the Canal would follow the raid on President's cabinet and other distin- Nursing Assistant Pearl Harbor. At the end of 194.3, no guished guests from Panama and the Ruby E. Radel sirens had sounded in the Zone for the Canal Zone attended. Supervisory Clinical Nurse

The Panama Canal Review 23 - 1 ?

Duo Wk. r

D»tin AMERICA 3 1262 00097 9053

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