SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
Washington 25, D. C. 
January 19, 1955 
Alii MAIL 
Dr, A. Wetmore 
Juan Mina 
Ganal Zone 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
Since receiving your letter of January 12, 1955* if would appear 
from nevrspa.per accounts that some of the existing tension in the 
Republic of Panama has been alleviated by the arrest of certain 
implicated individuals. I trust that situation there will improve 
and that you may be granted permission to make the coiba Island trip. 
I have written to Dr. Carl Johnson and expressed our willing¬ 
ness to continue the arrangement for identification of mammals obtained 
by the staff of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory. David Johnson is 
quite anxious to receive additional mamals from the laboratory since 
the specimens received from Dr. Herbert Clark materially improved the 
usefulness of our own collections. 
Judging from your success at the Juan Mina field station, unanti— 
eip&ted discoveries may be expected in many of the Panamanian locali¬ 
ties. Goldman once remarked that he would have welcomed an opportunity 
to collect on the headwaters of the Rfo Chagres. 
At the Regents dinner last week. Ted Bayer described his under¬ 
water observations on the coral reefs near Miami, and Switzer discussed 
the applied uses of crystals. As you are well aware, the Rational 
Geographic Society notified me that I had been appointed to the research 
committee. 
The structural work on the Indian Hall (Ro. II), the bird nail and 
the east side of the mammal hall has been about completed. The prepara— 
tors should commence installation of exhibits in the near future. 
Sincerely yours, 
Director 
