COLLECTIOM Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/panamacanalrevie1976pana Of JL« CANAL EVIE CENTENNIAI EDITION 1976 I -.''• V From the Governor of the fanal Zone on the 200th anniversary of the United States Governor Harold R. Parfitt IN 1976, AS WE CELEBRATE nental Divide; constructing the largest This outstanding record was made the Bicentennial of the United earth dam ever built up to that time; possible by a dedicated work force States, the construction of the Panama designing and building the most of Americans and Panamanians, who - Canal stands out as one of the greatest massive canal locks ever envisioned; continue today, as the} have done milestones in the history of the nation. constructing the largest gates ever in the past, to operate this vital swung; conquering devastating utility for the benefit of all the It not only opened the way for landslides; and solving environmental nations of the world. westward expansion, it also gave the and health problems of enormous maritime world one of its most proportions. important links in the lanes of international commerce. As we look back over 200 years of history, it is fitting that we pay tribute Among the great peaceful endeavors to the builders of the Canal, to those of mankind that have contributed men and women of many nationalities significantly to progress in the world, whose initiative, determination, and the construction of the Canal stands devotion to duty were responsible for as an awe-inspiring achievement. its successful completion. 7^6-l9lfe To fullv appreciate the magnitude Since it opened on August 15, 1914, At left: of this unprecedented engineering the Canal has become a main A giant container ship passes through feat, it is necessary to remember that thoroughfare of world commerce with Caillard Cut, site of devastating half a million vessels making its successful completion in 1914 over slides during construction of involved digging through the Conti- the interoceanic transit. the Vanama Canal. The Panama Canal Review Our Cover The ditch grows wider each day Roosevelt Medal silver colored one on the front cover, The ditch grows longer they say Theodore Roosevelt had seen this were issued to 320 volunteer firemen pride, this great esprit de corps who supplemented the regular force of The slides and the floods, the rain and when 27 paid members. the sun he visited the Isthmus in 1906 and had said, "I shall see if it is not possible Athletic Medals Are obstacles big in the race we Ixave to provide for some little memorial run which will always distinguish the man At Ancon on the Fourth of July, who has done his work well on the 1908, gold, silver, and bronze medals But the end of the job is in view Isthmus." So in 1908, copper pipe col- were awarded in each athletic event. Our dreams all soon will come true lected from old French excavators, The one lying on the program was for the bronze bearings and 200 pounds of tin pole vault. But what of the town found in an old French warehouse were Commemorative Medal That the waters will drown sent to the Philadelphia Mint to be cast into "Roosevelt Medals." "The Panama Canal Opened 1914 Oh, what tvill become you, Gateway of of you? The Roosevelt Medal on the front to World Commerce" is engraved the cover was presented to Robert W. on face of the silver com- memorative THIS SONG, WHICH WAS Glaw for service between 1904 and coin-medal in the upper 1914. was one of the left comer of the front cover. It was printed in the Fourth of July He few men to privately struck by the National Com- program that appears in the center of earn the medal and the maximum num- memorative Society. On the reverse is the front cover expressed the feelings ber of 2-year bars, having served the entire a portrait of Goethals. of thousands of workers in 1913 as the construction period. day drew near when Other items on the front cover are the Canal would Souvenir Shovel be completed. postage stamps honoring Stevens, Goe- Another farewell function marking The song was about Gorgona, a thals, and Gorgas, a matchbook cover the closing of the Gorgona shops was advertising the Tivoli construction-day town, doomed to be and Washington a smoker where souvenir shovels were "drowned in a day by the world's hotels, a snapshot of a group visiting given as favors. These shovels and the highway" as the chorus of the song Gaillard Cut; and a box of damp proof star-shaped device which is inscribed matches in said. The employees marked their last made Sweden "expresslv for "The I.C.C. Won't Let Me" were cast Independence Day in Gorgona with a the Panama Canal," a brand still sold from scrap at the Gorgona foundry. banquet at which Col. George W. in the Canal retail stores. I.C.C. stands for Isthmian Canal Com- Goethals was the guest of honor. The mission. The I.C.C. Band dinner featured roast duck and a varied musical program including a song called Identification Tags The I.C.C. Band was organized in 1905 and the insignia at lower left on "Patriotism, Politics and Possibilities." Scattered over both sides of the the front cover was worn the khaki Morale was high as everyone had a cover are brass identification tags which on uniforms. well justified feeling of great accom- were issued by the Accounting Depart- Concerts were given once a month. plishment. They had tackled a job that ment of the I.C.C. Employees presented had stvmied men for centuries. They these to receive their pay and to gain The Locks had succeeded and they were enjoying access to various construction sites. The yellowed photograph on the fold their triumph but there was a certain Even Fido had his own identification is described on the back as "Gatun sadness at the passing of the little tag. The dog license at lower left on Locks during construction—bridge and towns along the line. the front cover was issued at Empire, crane used for gate erection." another construction-day town. The photo type identification disc attached Commissary Books Special recognition is given to Nan to the key ring was issued in 1918. S. Chong, Panama Collection Librarian Also on the fold is a commissary and Beverly C. Williams. Chief of Fire Department book. These coupon books were used Readers' Services at the Canal Zone The first paid fire company was es- in lieu of money in commissaries, Library, for research assistance. tablished in 1906 and badges, like the hotels and clubhouses during and after Spring 1976 HAROLD R. PARFITT WILLIE K. FRIAR Governor-President Editor, English Edition PANAMA ggg CANAL RICHARD L. HUNT JOSE T. TUSION H. Lieutenant Governor Rtvitv/ Editor, Spanish Edition FRANK A. BALDWIN Writers Panama Canal Information Officer Official Panama Canal Publication Vic Canel, Fannie P. Hernandez Review articles may be reprinted without further clearance. Credit to the Review will he appreciated. The Panama Canal Review is published twice a year. Yearly subscription: regular mail $1.50, airmail $3, single copies 75 cents. For subscription, send check or money order, made payable to the Panama Canal Company, to Panama Canal Review, Box M, Balboa Heights, C.Z. Editorial Office is located in Room 100, Administration Building, Balboa Heights, C.Z. Printed at the Panama Canal Printing Plant, La Boca, C.Z. the construction of the Canal. An open the game is to roll each of three small book showing the coupons is at bottom balls through the gates of the locks. Tiny metal strips represent the Contents left on the back cover. locks. Ashtray Patent Medicine Governor's Bicentennial "WE DONE OUR DAM'DEST" is "Two worldwide wonders, the Pan- Message 3 inscribed on the right rim of the ama Canal for universal commerce and ash- tray and "The Society of the Chagres Hostetter's Stomach Bitters for dyspep- Col. George W. Goethals' Address Annual Dinner, 1915" on the left rim. sia, indigestion and malaria" is the ad- at Cristobal, July 4, 1911 6 This society was composed of I.C.C. vertisement on the postcard, at the top and Panama Railroad Company Fourth of of the back cover, which was typical em- July Programs 8 ployees who had earned the Roosevelt of patent medicine promotion during From aquatic wrestling Medal with two bars prior to the construction days. to submarine rides, opening of the Canal. celebrations Opium Bottle reflect Postcard changing times The small bottle, called an "opium The tinted postcard shows members bottle," contained a Chinese medica- of the Third Isthmian Canal Commis- The Panama Railroad 10 tion which still can be bought today. sion. From left to right (with Goethals Without the railroad The bottle dates from the late 1800's, in center) are: Lt. Col. William L. there would have been no the French Canal construction period. Sibert, Joseph C. S. Blackbum, Rear Panama Canal Ancon Cemetery Adm. Harry Harwood Rousseau, Joseph Bucklin Bishop, Col. Harrv F. Hodges, A Diverse Labor Force 17 Also illustrative of the ravages of Col. William C. Gorgas, and Lt. Col. An efficient operation disease on the Isthmus is the snapshot, David Gaillard. on the back cover, of the Ancon Ceme- made possible by tery, which was later relocated. French Coin far-sighted engineers and long valiant trained The Swill Ticket A reminder of the hard carefully personnel years of digging by the French is the Malaria and yellow fever are well Bridge 22 French coin at top right on back cover.