UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARIES Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/panamacanalrevie128pana £ _L His First 30 Days 4 Gray Ladies Go International. 8 New Cristobal Schedules 15 What CARNAVAL Is All About. 10 •ol. 12, No. 8 March 8, 1962 Robert J. Fleming, Jr., Governor-President N. D. Christensen, Press Officer VV*. P. Leber, Lieutenant Governor Joseph Connor, Publications Editor Editorial Assistants: Will Arey Official Panama Canal Ctmpany Publication Eunice Richard and Tobi Bittel Panama Canal Information Officer Published Monthly at Balboa Heights, C. Z. William Burns, Official Photographer Printid at the Printing Plant, Mount Hopc,Canal Zont On sale at all Panama Canal Service Centers, Retail Stores, and the Tivoli Guest House for 10 days after publication date at 5 cents each. Subscriptions, {1 a year; mall and back copies, 10 cents each. Postal 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 Buildinc. Balboa Heights, C. Z. $60,000,000 In This Issue Statu* of Major Smprovement* Canal THIS MONTH is Carnival time in Panama and the first few days of March will be devoted to the gay, pie-Lenten festival. The origins of the holiday, its GAILLARD CUT: All widening work on the WIDENING OF legends, and the manner in which it is observed all Empire Reach section of Gaillard Cut will be completed by are described in the article which starts on page 10 December 1962. The contract for widening of Las Cascadas and of this issue. Bus Obispo Reaches is scheduled for award in June of this year The cover picture on this months issue is a clever and for completion early in fiscal year 1966. At that time die bit of photography bv Jerry Stec, owner and oper- entire 8-mile Gaillard Cut will have been widened from the ator of the El Halcon photographic shop in Panama. Jerry admits that there is a bit of fakery involved original 300 feet to at least 500 feet. in the picture, which was taken, intentionally, as a double exposure. He first took a time exposure of LIGHTING BANKS OF GAILLARD CUT AND CANAL Carnival fireworks, then saved the film to shoot the scene of Miss Marcela de Janon, now Mrs. James A. APPROACHES: All lights have been installed along the banks Reid, climbing from the treasure chest. <>f the Cut except for certain sections on the west bank where widening work is in progress. Lights in the Locks are complete and operating. Lighting of the approaches from Balboa to Mira- flores and from Cristobal to Gatun is scheduled for completion next month. first six of the NEW LOCOMOTIVES FOB LOCKS: The new Canal Zone Wage Rates 3 towing locomotives being built by Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., Busy, Busy Month _- 4 in Japan arrived early in January and are undergoing tests on the East lane of Gatun Locks. (See article on page 6 of this issue.) New Machines for Old Job _ - __ 6 Ladies in Gray 8 SYSTEM: Specifications for the MABINE TBAFFIC CONTBOL This Is Carnaval- - 10 new electronic system designed by Gibbs & Hill, Inc., of New Schedule of Cristobal Revised _ 15 York now are being prepared and will be advertised for bids in 16 June of this year. The contract for the project is to be awarded Worth Knowing in October 1962 and installation is scheduled for completion in People 18 January 1964. Anniversaries. 20 Promotions and Transfers 21 NEW LOCKS MAINTENANCE METHOD: Plans are in the Retirements 22 final stages for procurement of material to be used in Lock scheduled for 1963 and 1964. The material will be used Canal History _ . 22 to modify Lock gates and other appurtenances so that in future Safety 22 rhauls, no Lock lane will be out of service for more than Budding Artists __ 23 24 hours at any one time. The method to be used is being planned with the help of the Corps of Engineers. Shipping .. 24 2 March 2, 1962 CANAL ZONE WAGE RATES A Significant New Policy A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE in the 1. Adjustment of Canal Zone policy governing pay increases for wage base pav schedules, begin- Canal Zone wage base employees was ning on July 1, 1963, whenever made last month with announcement of U.S. wage base schedules are a two-fold plan to give greater recogni- adjusted on or after that date. tion for skills, provide more incentive 2. A series of administrative for employees, and to narrow the gap wage increases for the upper grade between area-based wage rates and levels of Canal Zone wage base U.S. -based rates. positions as funds become avail- The new policy, for the first time in able over the next 3 years. the history of U.S. Government agencies The first increases under the new on the Zone, provides a direct tie policy will become effective April 1, between the rates paid to workers in when approximately 10,000 employees U.S. wage base positions and those in of the Panama Canal Company/Canal Canal Zone wage base positions. Zone Government will receive increases To be fully implemented on July 1, ranging from 3 to 29 percent as a result 1964, the new wage policy provides for of the new policy. two major benefits: The new policy resulted from a study Changes in Pay Rates To Be Made April 1, 1962 Level 1 9 Busy, Busy Month Many duties and obligations face Canal Zone Chief Executive during first month in office Gov. Robert J. Fleming, Jr. THE DUTIES of a Governor of the Canal Zone are many and diverse at all times, and for a new Governor there are many obligations which must be met in a very short time, as Gov. Robert Fleming, found during his first J. Jr., busy, busy month as Governor of the Canal Zone and President of the Panama Canal Company. Arriving in the Canal Zone on the evening of February 2 aboard the same plane which brought U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to the J. Isthmus for one in a series of overseas Governor Fleming conferences with local military com- is greeted by manders, Governor Fleming found him- fast-paced schedule Lieutenant self launched on a of conferences, official calls, receptions, Governor Leber and work-a-day decisions. upon arrival at Having been sworn into office by Secretary of the Army Elvis Stahr, jr., Tocumen Airport. J. in Washington the day before his Looking on is arrival on the Isthmus, Governor llaydcn Williams, Fleming said upon his arrival that he was "delighted" with his new assignment. Deputy Assistant "During my service," the new Gov- Secretary of Defense. ernor said, "I have had, from time to time, assignments which were some- what different from those normally con- sidered usual. In retrospect, it now seems there must have been a design in these unusual assignments, for they have certainly been excellent training for this new challenge. I believe that because of these past experiences, I am more concerned with social and human March 2, 1962 Panama President Roberto F. Chiari welcomes Governor to Presidencia. Antonio Caballero. one of two honorary aides assigned to Governor during visit to Colegio Javier Fair. stands at attention as Governor greets him. factors than with the material and the the visiting Burgomeister of Oslo, which he again voiced his concern with finite. And I hope that I can bring to Norway, called on President Roberto problems involving people, while point- this new assignment a sincere apprecia- F. Chiari at the Presidencia, attended a ing out that getting ships from one tion of the problems involved in human press reception at the home of Informa- ocean to the other continues to be the relationships." tion Officer Will Arev, received a num- primary mission here. As the second His first weekend was largely devoted ber of courtesy calls, was host to retired week ended, he visited the Industrial to the conference held by the Defense Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther on a partial Division at Mount Hope and, while Secretary, but early Monday morning transit of Gaillard Cut, and attended there, presented a gold watch to Porter the new Governor held his first weekly the Colegio Javier Fair. McHan, a foreman in the division, for staff meeting, at which he outlined some The start of the second week found making the most valuable employee of his basic viewpoints and working him beginning a series of calls on diplo- suggestion submitted during 1961. methods. During his first "work daw' matic representatives of other countries On Saturday, February 17, with his he also visited the Latin American in Panama and attending the monthly third week as Governor getting under schools in Paraiso and called on U.S. meeting of the Isthmian Historical way, he visited some of the housing Ambassador Joseph S. Farland. Societv. During the week, he also held projects being carried out in Panama During that first week, he also par- his first meeting with the Zone's Latin through Development Loan Fund fi- ticipated in the Panama Open, greeted American Civic Council officers, during nancing and the following day was a guest at the World Friendship Tea of Governor Fleming and Lieutenant Governor Leber talk with delegation from Rainbow the Canal Zone Council, Girl Scouts Latin American Civic Councils at Santa Cruz in City Civic Council during meeting of of the U.S.A., at Quarry Heights.