© UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
to : Dr. Wetmore 
FROM : J. E. Graf 
subject: High priority items - Barro Colorado Island: 
DATE: February 21, 1951 
There are two items of very high priority concerned with Barro Colorado 
Island. (1) Laboratory-Storage Building and (2) the Cable. 
It is very difficult tc choose between these two items as regards absolute 
priority and it will probably be preferable to work them in on a basis of avail¬ 
ability of funds. If a smaller amount Is available, say about $15,000, it would 
be used for the laboratory-storage building but, if funds could be provided to 
the extent of about $85,000 to $ 90 > 000 , the cable should receive first considera¬ 
tion. Pending definite information regarding funds, plans for the laboratory- 
storage building should go forward as rapidly as practicable. 
The two projects are very closely related. While the cable must be given 
early consideration owing to the poor condition of the motor generators, its 
greatest use to the Island would be (a) in furnishing 24-hour service to the 
laboratory-storage building in order to be certain that equipment, specimens of 
all kinds, and the library are kept in top condition; (b) for use in operating 
precision equipment: and (c) for food’preservation. More specific statements 
relating to these two items follow: 
(1) The Laboratory-Storage Building 
This building has been urgently needed for sometime: 
(a) To give protection to equipment, specimens, and the library. 
(b) It would be so constructed that electrical dehydrators will keep the 
various rooms at a state of reasonably low humidity on a 24-hour basis. 
(c) It will tend to separate the scientists from the public visitors to 
the Island, not only as to their working area but as to shower baths, etc. 
(d) It will provide room for additional cases for the various items it 
will house, items which are now widely scattered. 
(e) It will assure us that scientific equipment of a wide variety is kept 
together where it will be protected adequately and safely from humidity 
and handling by casual visitors. 
(2) The Cable 
The cable is probably the most important basic addition that could be made 
to the Island. 
(a) It would provide 24-hour current and thus give full value to the 
laboratory-storage building. 
