SECRETARY'S REPORT 135 



Haskins library building is in excellent condition, but should have 

 better humidity controls. 



The resident manager's house is in excellent condition, and the Bar- 

 bour cottage, the Z-M-A house below the main building, and the house 

 formerly occupied by the foreman are all in satisfactory condition for 

 the present. They should be provided with dry closets, but our pres- 

 ent supply of electric current is not sufficient for this. 



The kitchen and storeroom, though somewhat small for present 

 needs, are in good shape but still remain a fire hazard. It is proposed 

 to rebuild this unit of concrete blocks. The two buildings for the cook 

 and laborers are serviceable. 



All the generators are in bad shape and cannot be operated on a 

 24-hour basis. This is a serious handicap to our food refrigeration. 



The floating equipment is in good condition. 



MOST URGENT NEED 



The generation of electric current on the island is not only expensive, 

 but it is impossible to insure an adequate and constant supply. To 

 the high cost of the necessary daily attention to the generators, the 

 constant hauling of fuel, and periodic overhaul and repairs must be 

 added the loss incurred by spoilage of food, damage to books, and 

 deterioration of scientific equipment due to a drop in the voltage or 

 complete failure of the supply of current. Also, because of the 

 deterioration and corrosion caused by the high humidity in the Trop- 

 ics, the life of a generator on the island is, at best, only 8 or 9 years. 

 The present installation is urgently in need of new units ; but new gen- 

 erators will not solve the problem, as the high operating cost will 

 continue, and in 8 years new units will again be required. 



A very careful study of the problem has been made, in consultation 

 with electrical engineers of the Panama Canal and the armed forces. 

 The logical solution would be to tap the transmission line of the 

 Panama Canal, install transformers at Frijoles, lay an underwater 

 cable to the island, and there install transformers to step down the 

 voltage to 115-230. This would insure the island an adequate and 

 dependable supply of electricity at a cost of 2 cents for the first 100 

 kilowatts and ll^ cents for each additional 100 kilowatts. At this 

 very substantial reduction in the cost of current, the system would 

 pay for itself in 10 or 12 years. 



SCIENTISTS AND THEIR STUDIES 



During the year 33 scientists came to the island. High cost of 

 transportation to the Canal Zone still deters many from coming to the 

 Area. 



981445—52 10 



