Friday , Au,g u s t 5 , 195 8 
Promptly at 1030,*?- today* the President disembarked from 
the Houston for a tour of inspection of the Canal Zone and 
environs* He was accompanied by the President of Panama and 
by various Civ i 1, Military and Naval Officials. The forenoon 
automobile ride on the West side of the Canal, across the Pedro 
Miguel locks, and through Ancon revived the spirits of the 
"six-man formation" of the Presidential Party - whose spirits 
were a bit on the droopy side at the outset of the drive* 
A delicious luncheon tendered the President by the 
Governor and Mrs. Ridley was enjoyed thoroughly by all hands. 
The spirits mentioned in above paragraph as being a bit droopy 
were restored practically to normalcy by the succulent dishes 
which comprised the various courses of the luncheon. 
Embarkation on the special Trans-Isthmuthian Train was 
completed at 1436. Everyone was intensely interested in 
the various Canal points of importance pointed out during the 
train ride. At 1620, the President and his party disembarked 
at Colon and entered waiting automobiles. A drive through 
the fo 7 loving points was then taken: Colon, Prance Field, 
Naval Air Station, Submarine Base, Fort Randolph, Fort Davis 
and finally to the upper Gatun Locks where at 1800, the President 
re -embarked on the Houston. The latter and the escort ship 
McDougal then proceeded through the remaining Gatun Locks, and, 
at 1920, passed -he Colon breakwater and set course for Old 
Providence Island. 
f d6o/r 
As a reulst of his tour of inspection in the Canal Zone 
