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OFFICIAL BAND OF THE I. C. C.

During the month of September 1905, several of the employes of the Isthmian Canal Commission assembled at Cristobal and perfected plans for the organization of a brass band.

The object of the organization was to furnish recreation to those of the Commission employes who might become members, and later, when the band should have become proficient enough, that it might furnish recreation to the other employes, through the concerts which it would be able to play.

Owing to the expense incident to furnishing an equipment for the band, it was felt that the Commission should lend a hand to aid, so on September 30, Dr. B. R. LeRoy sent a communication to Charles E. Magoon, who was then governor of the Canal Zone, requesting his cooperation in securing a set of instruments. The Governor was favorably impressed with the project, and readily loaned his influence to its furtherance, and an order was soon placed for the instruments.

The first roster of the band contains 37 names. Dr. Allen H. Blake was elected its first president; Dr. B. R. Le Roy, vice-president; L. Larson, treasurer, and E. R. Robson, secretary. Dr. Sumner Coolidge was appointed Director, which position he held until after the reorganization was effected in February, 1907, when owing to the press of his professional duties he felt obliged to relinquish the po

sition.

Of the names on the first roster we find but three on the present one--L. Larson, C. E. Fendorf and Dr. D. J. Hale. Dr. Coolidge is Chairman of the Board of Managers, which supervises the work of the band.

It was

Through the enthusiasm of the members, the band soon acquired proficiency enough to give concerts. a labor of love, as those members from along the line soon found it anything but a pleasure to ride across the Isthmus at night, after a hard day's work, to attend a concert or rehearsal, and then arise early enough the next morning to take the train leaving at 5:27.

Through the efforts of Dr. Coolidge, the band was soon brought to a high degree of efficiency, but the diffi

JESUS A. LONDONO.

INGENIERO CONSTRUCTOR. SE ENCARGA DE TRABAJOS DE ALBAÑILERIA.

EMPERADOR, ZONA DEL CANAL.

JESUS A, LONDONO,

ENGINEER AND CONSTRUCTOR. WILL ALSO UNDERTAKE MASONRY WORK.

EMPIRE, CANAL ZONE.

culties under which the men labored made it hard to hold the organization together.

John F. Stevens, who was then the Chief Engineer and later Chairman of the Commission, took a deep interest in the welfare of the band and gave it his hearty support. Under his direction the plans for the reorganization were formulated and carried into execution, and on February 1, 1907, it became the official band of the Commission, the authorization providing that the band should have thirty-five paid members, besides a Musical Director and Librarian, the latter two to devote their entire time to the work of the band and be paid permanent salaries. The other members were to be paid a certain sum per each meeting attended.

This, of course, had a stimulating effect, and the attendance immediately increased. Many new members were added, some of them having had professional experience in the States.

June 1st, Charles E. Jennings, cornet soloist and assistant director, was appointed Musical Director, and since then has devoted his entire time to the band work, also to promoting musical interests in connection with the work in the club houses managed by the Y. M. C. A.

Dr. Allen H. Blake was appointed Librarian which position he filled effectively until he resigned in August to return to his home in the States.

At present the band numbers over 40 members and new men are continually applying for positions in it. Four rehearsals are held each month and four concerts given. The members are working with a will to increase the efficiency of the organization, and hope by the end of another six months to put it on a par with the best amateur bands in the States.

All above the thirty-five members who are carried on the payroll, beside the Musical Director and Librarian, are held on a reserve list, and as soon as they become proficient enough and there is a vacancy on the payroll, they are appointed to become bandsmen and their names placed on the payroll. Until then they serve through a probationary period.

Changes occur quite often in the membership. The men completing their service with the Commission or Panama Railroad, of course, cease to be members of the band, as it is specified in the authorization for the appointment of the band as the official band of the Commission, that the members shall be employes of the Commission, or Panama Railroad.

The membership is composed of all classes of help employed by the Commission and Panama Railroad, clerks, doctors, policemen, civil engineers, timekeepers, carpenters, superintendents, foremen, sanitary inspectors, machinists, etc. It is also very cosmopolitan in that at least a dozen nationalities are represented among its members.

The library of the band is made up of standard and popular selections and is being added to continually.

THE CLUB HOUSES OF THE ZONE.

The Young Men's Christian Association operates club houses at Culebra, Empire, Gorgona and Cristobal,

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