South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-27
SLIDES DUE To
RAINY WEATHER
Col. GoethaIS Says Canal Was
Not Damaged by ID
Earthquakes.


WASHINGTON. Dec 27 The
wet season, not earthquakes, is the
enemy of the Panama canal This
appears from the annual report Of
George w. GOethals. governor of the
canal zone. covering the year ending
June 80, last, and made public sun
day.
tie notes that while Il seismic dis
turbances ratified the dishes along
the canal during the u months his
report describes. none did any dam
age Four were of comparatively
local origin. Three were violent
enough to be felt generally over the
zone.
1t was during the wet season be-
tween April and October that the
slides occurred. AS an Illustration,
operations in the vicinity of the
Cucaracha slide had progressed by
August Is, 1914, TO a point which
warranted opening the canal to traf-
fc.
East Bank Slides In.
Two months later a slide came
which completely closed the chan
mel The entire east bank slid into
the canal in a strip 2.1OO feet long
and reaching back 1000 feet from
the bank.
In six days a new channel had
been cut capacious enough to pass
shipping. The movement continued,
however, after the beginning of the
dry season, so that it became neces-
sary 10 close the canal again from
oct 81 to Nov. IA and from March
3 to March 10.
Years of Labor Gone.
The Culebra cut, after remaining
fixed for a year, began a demOnstra-
ton last June. BY the Both of the
month 100000 cubic yards were
slipping relentlessly into the canal,
multiplying the labor of years.
At times the channel shoaled so
rapidly that it was necessary to drag
after the passage Of each ship In
some instances dredging was re-
quired before the next vessel could
pass.
Miscellaneous dredging was kept
up throughout the year. A total of
1,245,915 cubic yards of earth. and
1855 cubic yards of rock were
taken out at the Pacific terminals.
The earth removed by pipe line
dredges was used for filing in and
retaining land north Of Balboa and
in the San Miguel section of Pan
anna City Refuse which could not
be usefully employed was dumped
out at sea. A total Of 542,O12 cubic
yards was excavated between deep
water in Panama bay and the Pacific
entrance during the year.
Slides Only Drawback.
Were It not for the slides the zone
would appear, from the governors
report. TO offer ideal conditions Of
residence. Living is cheap and sur
roundings are healthful. While the
falling off in tourist travel between
June 80. 1913. and June 80. 1914.
caused a net loss on the years bust
ness of S1,97416 to the Hotel Divola
and 10 the Hotel Aspinwall of ST.
409.S9, there was no advance in
food prices.
on the health side it is noted that
the death rate was cut from 1872 for
1911, TO 5.72 for 1915. The death
rate from disease was cut from 5.17
to 3.61
The hospital admission rate from
malaria. which is the climatic i'll. was
reduced 20 per cent; that for typhoid
&c per cent, for dysentery 80 per
cent and for pneumonia more than
SO per cent
Between August Is. 1914. and June
80. 1915, $50 vessels, representing a
net Panama canal tonnage of 1851
72S and cargo tonnage of 2.125,7"5.
were passed through from Atlantic
10 Pacific and SIS vessels. repre-
senting a Panama canal tonnage of
1,95S.307 and a cargo tonnage Of p
S44,O57. from Pacific to Atlantic
The Finance Report.
on finances the report says
The current expenses charged 20
operation and maintenance OF the
canal during the year amounted 20
S4,112,55O.4S. while $3.50. 6OS52 had
been charged during the previous
year. a total of S4.2S9.159. Tolls col
lected for vessels passing through
the canal during the year amounted
TO $4,343.3S3.69: tolls for the prior
year amounted to s14.61S.6S. a total
Of S4.35S.0O2.37 to June so. 1915. In
addition, tolls amounting TO $8.ST2.-
% were levied on vessels Of the
United States-cOlilers. transports
etc.-which passed through the ca
nal. but under a recent decision of
the attorney general these viii not
be paid.
The excess of tolls collected over
the current charges Of the year
were $214.S33 81, and for the entire
period to June 90 1915. the excess
was s68.S43.37 II is roughly esti-
mated that total refunds may aGgre-
gate 100000, which viii show an
excess of operating expenses over
collections Refunds cannot be made.
however. until congress makes an