Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-02

Washington. d. c., April 20. When
the slides pinched the Panama canal
closed, all the world knew 1t. Now that
1t has been reopened with better
prospect of remaining so than ever be-
fore, the fact Is scarcely realized away
from the zone Three ships of the
United States navy passed through the
big waterway in March and since that
time regular commercial traf,ic has
been resumed.
1t is a notable fact that although tho
public confidence in the canal sagged
perceptibly when the slides blocked
its channel the shipping world never
lost faith in it for a moment. All
through the period of dredging, vessels
kept coming to Colon and Balboa,
ready to wait for passage through
the canal If the zone government would
give them any assurances. But the
officials would make no promise and
the ships went their long way via the
Straits of Magellan. When at last the
canal was announced to be open, there
were vessels waiting. Also the South
American Steamship company, operat-
ing between Panama and Chile, which
gets most Of its business through the
canal has increased it's feet from
three vessels to Ave and now schedules
five saiiings in six weeks.
So the shipping world has kept It's
faith in the canal. and meantime, the
canal government, by means OF It's
little railroad has done Its best 10
handle the business across the 18TH
mus. A dozen big lines have been
wholly dependent on the Panama rail-
road and they have been fairly well
served. though not without a terrific
straining OF resources. The force OF
the railroad was increased by q thous-
and men and 1t was run to capacity.
It might have handled regular through
business fairly we'll, but great deal OF
cargo was delivered at the Atlantic
terminals, to be trans-shipped when
ever Pacific bottoms could be found to
accommodate It..
The shipping business was exceed
ingly lively. Vessels soon became
boo. ed with orders far ahead. and they
began to refuse the cheaper kinds OF
freight Hence cargoes piled up noun
tain high on the great government ter
minals, leaving just space enough be-
tween the piles for the toiling trucks
and black men to move about. The
berths were filled with vessels waiting
a chance to unload. Worst OF al, roll.
ing stock Of the railroad was left under
load when 1t was badly needed. The
railroad finally declared an embargo
on all cargo destined for points south
Of Callao.
Now the stress and overcrowdins
will be quickly relieved and the Pan
anna canal will take It's place again IN
the worlds commerce, better equipped
to do it's work than ever before. While
the dredges have been clearing out
Culebra cut, great improvements have
been under way at the Pacific term.
inals. An immense coaling plant. =
drydock thousand feet long, and new
piers are now nearing completion. A
new water tank has been built at Bal.
boa. and signal station established on
the top OF Sosa hill, which Is SS3 feet
high and overlooks an important
stretch Of the canal. BY means Of time
ball signals, 1t will be possible to con.
troll vessels from this eminence.
There is hardly department of the
canal government that has not
strengthened itself while the canal was
idle. The commissary department.
which has built up an immense bust.
ness in fresh meat is laying out pas.
ture Of forty thousand acres. The sea
going dredge Caribbean has been
adapted for use as cattle boat In
this vessel native cattle will be
brought in, and then fattened on the
government pastures. The commissary
department already uses 800 head
monthly, and the demand is steadily
growing.
The health department is also busy.
It may be said to have practically elm
mated malaria and yellow fever from