l§ij 
COPT 
CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 
(Formerly Barro Colorado Island Biological Laboratory) 
Personal Drawer C, Balboa, Canal Zone. 
March 9, 1941. 
My dear Dr. Wetmore: 
Since you WERE on BCI, I am sure you will be glad 
to know that I have on BCI Dr. Irving and a group of eight, 
working on the physiology of respiration (principally) of sloths, 
anteaters, iguanas, etc. with a great array of apparatus, diligent, 
hard-workers, doing splendid work. I am glad of foresaw needs and 
have almost an unlimited water supply and better sanitary facilities,- 
JUST WHAT THET NEED. 
Our papers announced that the House Appropriations 
Committee DISAPPROVED the $10,000. 
I just wrote Toni Barbour and suggested that a con¬ 
ference be had with FDR not to fight for this $10,000 but to ask for 
an additional $20,000, the estimate made by the Panama Canal for 
transformers and underwater cable from Frijoles to BCI, - as I who 
really knows, there is nothing we need more right now than this 
ample, 24-hr a day electricity. WE NEED IT, and if pushed by FDR 
v<e will get it. Let's make a 100$ try. 
I am sick at heart about the $10,000 failure. 
Since the new set-up will involve much more paper work, 
much more details, much more time, after weighing all carefully, I 
TODAY sent by airmail to Tom my resignation, retaining only the 
scientific chores and the USDA interests on BCI. I know what this 
means, Since TB is the only one to receive this decision, you have 
it sub-rosa and you know nothing till he tells you. He may not, but 
certainly something must be done. 
Under the old set-up we had table subscriptions, fees, 
donations, etc. Under the new set-up we stand to lose some table 
subscriptions since some will say Uncle is support5.ng us. We should 
get $10,000 but we actually get nothing, so with the added details in¬ 
volved under the new set-up we have lost a lot and are worse off than 
ever. Unless I have money pdq I will have to fold up anyway. All we 
get from heaven is sunshine and rain and the will to continue our 
struggles under adversity. 
My warmest and best as always - from one who is 
Very sincerely yours - 
(Signed) Zetek 
busier than ever. 
