This will create a n append only file, not a directory. The usual way to initialised cron for a user is auth/cron -c (similarly for mail type mail -c) when you have first logged in as that user.
if you run /sys/lib/newuser when you first login (i.e. the very first time, do this only once) then these commands are run for you (cat /sys/lib/newuser for more info). -Steve
