THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 1, 1952 Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone Celebrate 42D Anniversary of Their Founding
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
— 1 ^- -)!(,-. (C ^\ Gift ofthe Panama Canal Museum THE Vol. 2, No. 7 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, FEBRUARY 1, 1952 5 cents CANAL COMPANY TO GO ON BREAK EVEN BASIS WITH FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN FISCAL STATUS A realignment of Panama Canal Company activities into three main categories- Canal, Service, and Commercial— and the adoption of a new formula for the apportion- Demolition Program ment of Canal Zone Government costs are the most significant developments in the Company's fiscal affairs since its incorporation last July. The two changes, embodied in the President's budget to Congress last week, Slowed By Transfer are of major interest to the Canal Company's "customers," whether employees or others, as they will vitally affect rate structures. The new policies governing the Com- decision of the Board of Directors last pany's financial operations were approved Of Cocoli Townsite June to delay rate changes until more late last year by the President and were definite information could be obtained reviewed by the Board of Directors at under actual operating conditions. in the meeting here last month. Regulations The demolition of quarters connec- The budget revision for this fiscal year precluded announcement of the proposed tion with the Canal Company's construc- does not provide for the recovery of defi- changes until they were made public in tion program is expected to slow down to cits incurred during the first eight months the President's budget message. a walk and many householders who have of this fiscal year during the last four been notified to be prepared to move may "Break-Even" Basis months. However, the increased revenues present have, an extra year or two in their Of more immediate interest to employ- for the last four months of this fiscal year quarters. ees and other buyers of goods and services and next fiscal year are estimated to be demolition is ex- No large-scale now from the Company is that the Panama sufficient to meet operating expenses after pected for at least two years and prior to Canal Company, in accordance with in- next March 1. The Panama Canal In- that only scattered houses will be torn structions from the Bureau of the Budget, corporation Act provided that deficits in- down as they become vacant and can be will be placed on a "break even" basis curred in one year be covered by earnings spared, according to L. Donovan, H. effective March 1. This action results in subsequent years unless forgiven by act Community Services Director. from the application of the two funda- of Congress. The transfer of the Third Locks town mental changes to the Company's budgets Chart Is Shown of Cocoli to the Navy is one of the princi- for this fiscal year and for the 1953 fiscal The accompanying chart at the bottom pal factors in slowing down the demolition year. Both were revised accordingly. of this page shows the principal units or program on the Pacific side. Although a Up to now the Company has been operations in each of the main categories. relatively small percentage of family and operating at a deficit, principally in the Under the original alignment of functions bachelor quarters there were assigned to commercial units. This was due to the all of the units now in the Services group, Canal personnel, the town, with 356 with the exception of quarters, were in family apartments, 24 bachelors' apart- The 195.5 Panama Canal Company and the commercial column. Also previously Canal Zone Government budget in ments, and 160 bachelor rooms, would figures and understandable language listed as a commercial activity was the See Page 6. have provided a large reservoir during Industrial Bureau which is now in the What the Board of Directors did at the the construction program. meeting here—See pictures on Pages 12 Canal Activities group. and \i and story on Page 12. Quarters on the Atlantic side are pres- The Panama Canal — the world's best The basic premise of the new division of lighted waterway. Read how it's done ently in short supply and the situation activities is that the operation of the by the Aids to Navigation Division men. there will not be eased until completion of See Pages 10 and 11. waterway would require not only those A new feature. Commissary Talk, with new houses this year. The situation on chatty, useful information about what units listed in Canal Activities but also goes on and what is being sold in the the Pacific side is somewhat different. the services rendered by units in the Ser- Commissaries—See Page 9. While there are sufficient quarters for The Boy Scouts, a special February vice category. Since these services are feature — See Page 2. Canal employees, the {Seepage/, also required by units (See page IS) PANAMA CANAL COMPANY Canal Activity Service Activity Commercial Activity NAVIGATION CONSTRUCTION AND HOTELS DREDGING MAINTENANCE CLUBHOUSES (Building, Electrical and Municipal Work) LOCKS COMMISSARY DIVISION MOTOR TRANSPORTATION FERRIES PANAMA LINE PRINTING PLANT METEOROLOGY AND RAILROAD POWER SYSTEM HYDROGRAPHY TERMINALS ENGINEERING TELEPHONE SYSTEM (Docks and Piers) BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS WATER SYSTEM MARINE BUNKERING INDUSTRIAL BUREAU STOREHOUSES QUARTERS THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW February 1, 1952 Boy Scouts In The Canal Zone Celebrate 42d Anniversary Of Their Founding Remember Little Black Sambo? He ate check over the camp and make sure it in that decade the camps were held for 169 pancakes, all by himself, because he was ready for the four-week session several years in Costa Rica. During the was so hungry. which opens this year on July 14. war years the Scouts camped at Rio Hato. He would have fitted well with the Boy Registration for the boys will begin Founded in 1910 and with a Canal Zone Scouts of the Canal— Zone. later. Each will be required to have a branch set up that same year, the Scouts Mateo Cubillo "Cubi" to the boys— physical examination before his applica- were a feature of early Canal Zone life. never starts pancakes out of his kitchen at tion is accepted. He gets other physical Two of the first troops were formed at the Scout Camp, El Volcan, until he has examinations at camp, one when he ar- Corozal and Gorgona. 400 in reserve. And even then he and his rives, and the other just before he leaves. Late in 1911 each of the six Scout kitchen crew have to keep production Plans for emergencies will also be made troops then on the Canal Zone was going for at least an hour. with the First Rescue Squadron. In past granted a piece of land on which to build To be sure, Cubi is feeding some 50 years the Squadron has agreed to fly out a Scout Shack. The boys cleared their boys, average age about 13, and a dozen from the camp, during the daytime, or own land and built their own Shacks, of or so adults. And what a group of 'teen from David, day or night, any boy who lumber furnished by the Isthmian Canal age boys can do to food when their appe- might be injured or be critically ill. Commission. tites are whetted by temperatures between Camping Not New Today there are nine Cub Scout Packs, 50 and 75 degrees—or almost any other with a total enrollment of for boys Like Boy Scouting on the Isthmus, 354, time- -is almost unbelievable. from eight to 11; 11 Boy Scout Troops, camping is not new. Local Scouts camped When Cubi bakes apple pies, he figures with a total enrollment of 201, from boys in Boquete as long ago as 1924, going on half a pie per boy; the Scouts eat at older than 11; and for the 119 Explorers from the Canal Zone to Chiriqui aboard least four eggs apiece for breakfast. Six in the older age brackets there are two the tug Favorite. Nowadays they fly or dozen large loaves of bread are purchased Sea Explorer Ships and one Air Explorer go by road. The 1924 campers included from a nearby German bakery every Squadron. several well-known local names; among morning but before the day is over they them were James F. Burgoon, Robert A. Each Unit Sponsored usually have to be supplemented by corn Engelke, and Thomas Locken. Early in Each unit is registered with Scout head - bread or biscuits. One dinner means 60 1931 the Scouts camped for three days at quarters and each is sponsored by a group pounds of beef. Three beeves and one Alhajuela, up the Chagres River. Later of individuals or by (S« page /,) large hog are butchered monthly for the boys and these are in addition to the hams and sides of bacon in the camp's big refrigerators. Milk and vegetables, in quantities, are obtained in the Volcan area for campers. The sole camp restriction on food is that the boys must eat everything on their plates; they may have as many servings as they want. They Need Food! Food consumption like that of the boys, though, is about what one would expect of a group of energetic young men-in-the- making who get up at 6 a. m., police the camp and do other chores, and do about everything—except skiing—that there is in the sports line. Located at El Hato, in Chiriqui Prov- ince, Camp El Volcan is the pride of the CENTER OF ACTIVITIES at the Boy Scout Camp El Volcan is the Messhall, its 674 Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Ex- with big fireplace, long tables and benches. Here the Scouts stow away amazing quantities of food, watch an oc- plorer Scouts and their 206 leaders now casional movie, hold their camp sings and make plans for the next day.