W-hA05H) Gift ofthe Panama Canal Museum WE Vol. 5, No. 5 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, DECEMBER 3, 1954 5 cents COMPANY'S OPERATING RESULTS FOR 1954 TERMED TRIBUTE TO MEN, WOMEN OF CANAL ORGANIZATION "Operating results of the "&nb #lorj» ;£>fione Srounb" Panama Canal Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1954, further demonstrate the loyal and* efficient service of the men and women of the Canal organization," Gov. John S. Seybold declared this week. The Governor's declaration was made in connection with the release of con- densed financial statements "covering," he pointed out, "a period of internal changes and realignments during which the Canal, with a considerably reduced force, handled a record volume of com- mercial shipping." Total net income of the Company as tentatively recorded for the year was $4,160,010. On a comparable basis this figure represents a decline of $1,729,440 from 1953 when the corresponding amount of net income (adjusted to reflect prior year adjustments recorded in fiscal year 1954) was $5,889,450. The continued high volume of Canal traffic and reduction of working forces served largely to offset the effect of increases in wage rates, cost of materials, and interest costs that have taken place concurrently and which account principally for the current decline in net income. Commercial Tolls Increase ( )NK of the most beautiful of the Christmas themes—the Shepherd and the Angel— appeared last Christ- mas at the end of Santa Claus Lane. It was arranged by Richard R. Potter of the Electrical Division. Giving results of operations for the third year of the Canal's administration as an incorporated Federal agency, the condensed financial statements snowed Musical Christmas Card From Canal Zone that although total Canal transits were slightly under the overall 1953 fiscal year To Be Broadcast Over CBS On December 20 figure, more ocean-going ships of com- merce transited the waterway than in any previous single year. Tolls derived from Music, which has always played a William K. Harrison, Jr., Commander- commercial vessels amounted to $33,302,- prominent part in the celebration of in-Chief of the Caribbean Command. 149, an increase of four percent over the Christmas in the Canal Zone, will be In a message commending the "meticu- previous year, while tolls credited from shared this year with fellow citizens at lous manner in which the whole project U. S. Government vessels amounted to home in the form of a musical Christmas was handled." James H. Fassett, Super- $3,888,957, a decline of 30 percent from Card. The Christmas Card will be visor of Music for CBS Radio, wrote Lt. the previous year. The decline is attri- broadcast at 11:15 p. m. EST on Decem- Gov. H. 0. Paxson, "it is a bit premature butable to the falling off of the abnorm- ber 20 by the Columbia Broadcasting to do so but I do extend to you and all ally large volume of traffic through the Company over a nation-wide hook-up, who cooperated in the production of this Canal that had resulted from the war right after the late news broadcast. program from the Panama Canal Zone in Korea. heartiest best wishes for a very The special program of Christmas Merry The level of all other operations of the music and carols was recorded here by Christmas." Company remained at a volume sub- the combined band and chorus of the Local Broadcast Decembsr 23 stantially consistent with that of the Cristobal and Balboa High Schools under The entire program will be broadcast proceeding year. Gross income of allied the direction of Victor A. Herr, Director locally the evening of December 23, maritime operations amounted to $9,407,- of Music in Balboa, and Oswald E. which is also the anniversary of the open- 270, which, added to $37,191,106 from Jorstad, Director of Music in Cristobal. ing of the Balboa Theater. The local tolls, brought total gross income of the The traditional Christmas music sung broadcast will be at 8 p. m. Canal itself to $46,598,376. and played by High School students, will Community Service Bureau officials Net operating income of the Canal and be highlighted by Christmas messages to have made plans to have the broadcast allied maritime operations totaled $25,- the folks back home from Gov. J. S. piped into the theater itself and, follow- 781,861, after direct expenses and sup- Seybold of the Canal Zone and Lt. Gen. ing the program on the air, (See pagi to) porting services amounting (See page 16) THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW December 3, 1954 Mr. Fix-It Comes To Town other mothers with cars full of youngsters, people working in their yards and Diablo's younger generation all have a big "hello" for him. Sometimes the housewives have a new problem for him to work on, but more often than not when someone hails him down it is to tell him: "I can close the windows now," or, "Haven't seen a termite since you were here last." As residents of the various communities become better acquainted with what pre- ventive maintenance can do for them, they will undoubtedly use the team's services even more than they are already doing. And that will mean money saved for everyone, when a series of little jobs replace a big repair project. In the meantime, Diablo husbands are finding life a lot more pleasant, as we said before. It's a lot easier to say, "Call Bill." than it is to unlimber the old wrench or hammer, any day. Special Stamp To Honor Centennial Of Railroad Mrs. JACK SMITH (if Davis Street tells "Bill," more formally W. G. Mummaw, foreman of Diablo's Preventive Maintenance Team, that the outside of her quarters needs repainting. A special three-cent stamp, commem- orating the iooth anniversary o/ the Diablo Heights husbands have a new limited, by its very name, to those cor- completion of the Panama Railroad on January 28, will be issued by the attitude these days -and a new friend. rective measures which prevent the need 1855, Canal Zone Postal Service early in the for major repair work. Occasion- When the little woman suggests that any coming calendar year. the kitchen faucets need new washers or ally, the preventive maintenance foreman The commemorative stamp, of the that somebody 'd better do something, finds a situation which has developed same purple as United States and Canal Zone stamps of the three-cent denom- pretty mmn, about the automatic door li-wmd his scope. In such cases the ination, will picture one of the first loco- closer quit conditions are reported in detail to the which has being automatic, motives in use on the Panama Railroad. the Diablo husband just looks smug Maintenance Division for correction. The stamp was designed by Leo C. Page, Chief of the Architect .ral Branch. and says: "Call Bill." Accompanying the foreman of a pre- The iooth Anniversary Stamp, which And Bill doesn't mind being called at Diablo ventive maintenance crew through will be an event in philatelic circles, will all. It's his job if thinks that not and he Heights, for instance, is an experience in be printed in the United States. It will enough people know that he and his men human relations. He is now an ace ot sd be the first special Canal Zone issue since the West Indian Commemorative are the local Mr. Fix-It, he is apt to drop figure in daily living. As he makes his Stamp in August 1051. around to see if maybe there isn't a rounds, mothers wheeling baby carriages, little job or two that needs doing. Bill, on Panama Canal records, is William G. Mummaw, foreman of the Diablo Heights preventive maintenance CARE In The Commissaries team. Working on the theory than an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the Canal Company, about a year ago, began its own preventive maintenance program. The idea was that future major maintenance cost could be elimi- nated through advance inspection of quarters. This would allow corrective measures to be taken in the early stages of deterioration or damage. After slightly over a year's trial in Diablo Heights, the preventive mainte- nance program has proved so successful and so popular with residents of that area, that the program has been extended gradually to other Canal Zone communi- ties. Preventive maintenance teams are now working in Margarita, Balboa, and Gamboa. Housing people and engineers knew, from past experience, that most of the houses in the Canal Zone were given maintenance attention only when a defect or problem was called to thi' alt 'ii- tion of the Housing Division by the people living in the quarters. Generally, by this time, the damag i had gotten to a point where expensive corrective measures were needed. This, naturally meant increased maintenance costs. And, in the long run, maintenance CAREpackage eai Canal Zone's commissaries. F. R. Johnson, Supply Director, costs affect rent. who has been sending Norway for some time, 1 | makes a purchase from Mrs. Florence lemers, Of course, preventive is maintenance Balboa Commissary cashier, while Manager J. F, Evans watches. December 3, 1954 THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW Quarters Construction Program Nears End; 111 Apartments Will Be Ready In 60 Days The Panama Canal Company's quar- ters construction program is rapidly drawing to a close. Within th" next (ill days, 111 U. S.-rate apartments will have been made available to Company-Govern- ment families. Some of these families are living in the 120 buildings which ate to be vacated and demolished before the end of the present fiscal year.