New-York tribune., 1915-12-27
COCKTAILS POINTS
TO CANAL TASKS
Much Material Still Has
To Be Removed from
the East Side.
HEALTH AND LABOR
CONDITIONS GOOD
Plans to Construct Drydock,
Two Coallng Stations and
Terminal Piers.

Washington. Dec. 2e.-A detailed ac-
count Of the operation and mainten-
ance 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 Gov
ernor Goethals of the Canal Zone.
made public tonight. Final construc-
, tion work Just prior TO the canals
opening also Is described in the re-
port, which embraces the fiscal year
ended June 80 last. prior to the earth
slide which blocked the channel.
Between August 10, 1914. and June
30, 1915. $50 vessels representing a
net Panama Canal tonnage of 1.ss4.72s
and cargo tonnage of 2.125.735, passed
through from the Atlantic TO the Pa
ciic. and 558 vessels representing a
Panama Canal tonnage of 1,95s,307 and
cargo tonnage Of 2,s44,057, from the
Pacific to the Atlantic, making a total
Of 1888 vessels, with a net canal ton
mage OF 3,S43,035 and a cargo tonnage
of 1869, ,792. During this period three
minor slides interrupted traffic, the
channel being closed from October II
to 20 and October 81 to November 4
1914, and March TO 10. 1915.
Construction of the canal proper, ex-
cept for dredging, excavation and con-
struction of the east breakwater at
Colon, virtually was completed prior
TO this fiscal year. In the old Culebra
Cut, renamed the Gai!lard Cut. there
were removed, in the process Of con-
struction during the year. l,960.617
cubic yards, at an average cost of, APP
proximstely, 42ll cents yard. In
maintaining the channel including re-
moval Of earth deposited by slides
there were taken from the Gaillard
Cut 4,71O,566 cubic yards, at a cost
of "a 2-3 cents a yard, and from the
channel at the Atlantic entrance l.
233 ,30l cubic yards, at cost of 10 Id
cents yard.
"Cucaracha Slide" the report says
twas very active from July 20 OctO-
ber, 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 gen
eral movement Of the bank was no.
ticeable, and II was estimated that
100000 cubic yards Of material were
in motion on JCne 80, 1915, on the
west side 1t is estimated that about
100000 cubic yards will have TO be
removed from the east side"
OF the S394,999,149 appropriated by
Congress 10 June 80 last. the report
states that sl4689,S73 has been spent
on fortifications, S750.000 20 cover
three annual payments to the Repub-
lie OF Panama, S6,440,000 for the oper-
alton of the civil government Of the
Canal Zone for the fiscal year 1916.
s4.2S9,159 for the operation and
maintenance Of the canal to the end
of the fiscal year 1915. while stock on
hand aggregates s2.225,000 leaving
1855 ,9e9,ll6 appropriated for the ac-
tusl construction of the canal and its
adjuncts.
Two million dollars or TINS was IN
vested in GOLFERS and S6,563.067 was
returned to the Treasury Department
up TO the close of the fiscal year 1915
as miscellaneous receipts, leaving
1857 .436.O4S as the net amount ex-
pended for tho canal. including the
amount available for work still in
progress. A drydock. two coaling sta
tions ard terminal piers, not included
in these figures, are yet TO be con-
Structed.
Health conditions in the Canal Zone,
the report says, were very good dur
ing the year. The total death rate
from disease was reduced from 1446
in 1914 to 11.77 in 1915. Victim. Of
malaria, the principal cause OF dis
ability. were reduced 20 per cent In
number and the death rate 32 per cent
In the year. The admission rate to
hospitals from typhoid was reduced
more than 76 per cent, from dysentery
80 per cent, and the death rate from
pneumonia was reduced more than 80
per cent.
Labor conditions were excellent.
More than 5000 men were given trans
portation home because they could not
be used.