February 5, 1951 
Brig. General Emil C. Kiel, 
Commanding General, 
Caribbean Air Command, 
Albrook Air Force Base, Canal Zone. 
My dear General Kiel: 
Major General Willis H. Hale informs me that he has told 
you of some of the recent scientific work that I have carried on 
in Panama on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, together with 
something of the plans that I have had for the present season. 
Due to my necessity for appearing before appropriations 
committees in the Congress, I have been delayed in leaving for 
the south and, in fact, I am not certain as yet when I may be able 
to get away though I hope that this will be practicable before the 
end of the present month. This delay and the necessity that I am 
under this season of remaining in areas where I can have communica¬ 
tion with Washington have occasioned a definite change in the work 
that I had planned. 
Under existing circumstances, I will not be able to go over 
into the remote section of the Caribbean coast originally contemplated 
until another year, but instead wish to carry on studies and make 
collections at several points on the Pacific side that are accessible 
by road. 
I am writing to ask if under these conditions I may have the 
cooperation of the Air Force through the loan of a command car 
(without driver) for a period of approximately seven weeks 
beginning about February 28 for use in transportation for myself, 
my assistants and our field equipment. 
I now have some familiarity with the areas to be worked 
and know that they can be reached easily by this means through 
the principal carretera and the minor highways and secondary 
country roads that lead off from it. 
If a command car (without driver) can be assigned as a 
sonian Institution for approximately seven weeks 
the Smithsonian will provide gasoline, oil and any minor repairs 
necessary. My assistant* Mr. W. M. Perrygo, and I would drive 
the car, I would expect to take over the car in the Canal Zone and 
return it to the Zone when the work is completed. 
Such help in transportation will greatly increase the scope 
of our investigations and will practically double their scientific 
importance. The work will have the sanction of the Republic of 
Panama. 
