Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-27
COCKTAILS REPORTS
ON PANAMA CANAL
Cucarachs Slide, Quiet During Dry
Season, Resumes Activity When
Rainfall Begins.
HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE GOOD

WASHINGTON. Dec. ga de-
tailed account of the operation and
maintenance of the Panama Canal
during the first ten months and a
half after its opening to commerce
in August, 1914, is given in the
annual report of Governor Goethals
Of the Canal Zone, made public to-
night. Final construction work
Just prior to the canals opening al
so is described in the report, which
embraces the fiscal year ending June
80 last, prior to the earth slide
which blocked the channel.
Between August 10. 1914. and June 30,
1915, so vessels representing net Pana-
ma Canal tonnage OF 1.sS4.72S and cargo
tonnage of 2,125.735 were passed through
from Atlantic to Pacific and SIS vessels,
representing a Panama canal tonnage of
l.95S.3O7 and a cargo tonnage of 2,S44,O51
from Pacific to Atlantic, making total
of Loss vessels with net canal tonnage
OF 3.S43,O25 and cargo tonnage of $780,
1872 During this period three minor slides
interrupted traffic, the channel being
closed from October II to 20 and octo-
ber 81 to November 4. 1914. and March 4,
to TO- 1915
Millions of Yards Moved.
Construction of the canal proper. ex-
cept for dredging, excavating and con-
struction of the cast breakwater at
Colon virtually was completed prior to
this fiscal year. In the old Culebra Cut,
- -
moved, in the process Of construction
during the year, 1,96o,60 cubic yards at
an average cost of approximately 42k
cents n yard. In maintaining the chan
nel-including removal Of earth deposited
by slides-there were taken from Gall
lard cut 4,7l0,566 cubic yards at a cost
of "a 2-s cents a yard and from the chan
mel at the Atlantic entrance 1,2S3,S SO1 cubic
yards at a cost of 10 1-6 cents a yard.
"Cucaracha slide" the report says,
was very active from July TO October,
1914, quiet during the dry season. and
active again with the beginning of the
rainy season in April On the west
side at Culebra the slide showed little
activity through the greater part OF the
year. but in June. 1915. the general
movement Of the bank was noticeable,
anu IL was toNllldNcu Nil6N otoOSsVvV C0biS
yards of material were in motion on
June 80, 1915. on the west side. It is
estimated that about 100000 cubic yards
will have to be removed from the east
side.''
Use of Appropriations.
OF the sssa sss,149 appropriated by con-
Eresa to June 20 last the report states
that e14.ess,S7s has been spent ON forti-
fications; $4,000 to cover three annual
payments to the Republic OF Panama;
s6.440.000 for the operation of the civil
government of the canal zone for the
fiscal year 1915. $4,2S9.1Bs for the opera
tion and maintenance of the canal to
the end of the fiscal year 1915. while
stock on hand aggregates s2,225,ooO. leav-
ing 1885, .116 appropriated for the actual
construction OF the canal and it's ad-
juncts.
Two million dollars of this was invested
in Golfers, and s6,56S,067 was returned to
the Treasury department up to the close
of the fiscal year 1915 as miscellaneous
receipts, leaving 1857. .4S6.04s as the net
amount expended for the canal including
the amount available for work still in
progress. A dry dock, two coaling sta
tions and terminal piers,not included in
these figures. are yet to be constructed.
Health Conditions Good.
Health conditions in the canal zone,
the report says were very good during
the year. The total death rate from dis
ease was red iced from 14.4s in 1914 to
11.T In 1915. Victims of malaria, the
principal cause Of disability, were re-
duced twenty per cant In number and the
death rate 50 per cent. in theyear The
admission rate TO hospitals from typhoid
was reduced more than 76 per cent. from
/ dysentery, fifty per cent, and the death
rate from pneumonia was reduced more
than SO per cent.
Labor conditions were excellent. More
4 than 5000 men were given transportation
, home because they could not be used.