Drawer C 
Balboa, Canal Zone 
December, 1954 
GREETINGS. This brief note refers mostly to Barro Colorado 
Island and myself, about the only way I have of letting all know 
that I am very much alive. I hope I never again will face the 
trying times of the past four years. Federal appropriations were 
severely cut and despite heroic efforts, the Bureau of Entomology 
and Plant Quarantine had to close its laboratory and field station. 
Barro Colorado Island was able to draw upon B. E„ P. Q. to consider 
able extent, so when this sincere helping hand was no more, it 
meant that sooner than expected I would be an orphan, alone, with 
no office or other help. 
And yet, during those trying times the island prospered. 
It is now better than ever, except that we could have done 
much more if we had more funds. We built a splendid laboratory 
building 3 ^ x 6I4. feet. It has many new features, such as the 
control of humidity. We built a large water storage tank of 
concrete. We acquired two International Harvester diesels with 
15 KV generators. We eliminated all under-ground cables and put 
in an overhead distribution system. As I write this, thanks to 
Dr. Soper's help, we have 110-220 Volts A. C. 60 cycle current 
at all hours of day and night. The kitchen has an electric 
stove. 
Very soon we will have dehumidifiers, a hot water instal¬ 
lation in the kitchen, several dry rooms. We also expect to 
have our new big building wired up, and have ready the photo¬ 
graphic darkroom, with air-conditioning, we hope. If we can 
get the funds, we will get bookcases, and move the library to 
the new building, as also the species index and the herbarium. 
Then we will convert the Haskins Library into a fire-proof 
kitchen. The old kitchen will then be for shower baths and 
toilets; those in the old big building will be removed. But 
it will take more than just moral support. 
As each year nears its end, cards and letters start 
pouring in, never less than five hundred, and I want to 
answer each and every one, but it just is not done. As much 
as I do not relish the December tT News Letters, 11 this year I 
will give it a trial,--pardon me, I would prefer to write 
Individual letters. 
What I told you of the improvements on the island, means that 
the Smithsonian Institution, from its Secretary, Assistant Secre¬ 
taries down to all of its divisions and dependencies, believe in 
