The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1918-01-19
Theft IS CHECKED
Insurance Embargoes on South
American Shipments.
PiIferinu Formerly Was Credited to
the Canal Zone but Has Been Re-
duced to Minimum,

Pilfering is still great problem In
the case of merchandise shipped to
ports on the west coast Of South Amer
lea. At several ports the extent Of the
evil has been greatly lessened as re-
suit of insurance enbargoes on goods
destined for those ports or In response
to constant complaint on the part Of
the cOnsignees, according to Commerce
Reports. In Mollendo pilfering, so far
as Bolivian goods are concerned, has
been reduced to small proportions in
consequence of an agreement between
the Peruvian and Bolivian govern
ments which provides for the prompter
dispatch Of merchandise for Bolivian
destination. Nevertheless, the prob
lem Of pilfering remains a serious one
at practically every port on the west
coast.
Formerly it was the fashion to say
that much of the pilfering took place
in the Panama Canal Zone, and there
was probably some basis for the state
ment in the days when traffic through
the canal was stopped by the slides in
Gaillard cut and freight was badly
congested at Colon and Balboa. 1t is
probably true, however, that even in
those times much of the loss attributed
to pilfering was due to unusual hand
ling or exposure. Since traffic through
the canal has been resumed on nor
NAL basis the loss from pilfering in
the Canal Zone has been reduced to an
almost negligible point.
Goods trans-shipped to Colon and
Balboa are stored in pier sheds imme-
diately upon discharge. The sheds are
large. we'll built, fireproof, and can be
easily guarded and protected. Both in
the discharge from ship to pier and in
the reloading from pier to ship the
Panama Railroad company exercises
strict supervision over all operations,
since 1t has charge Of all port facili-
ties and does most Of the stevedOring.
To protect itself against claims for loss
the railroad company long since insti-
tuted an elaborate checking system.
Checkers not only take account of the
number and weight of cases and pack
ages loaded or unloaded on the piers
but also note the condition Of the con-
tainers as they pass over the piers and
put aside for careful inspection cases
that appear to be underweight or to
have been tempered with. In many in
stances pilfering can be detected by a
difference In the recorded weight and
the weight on arrival in Panama,
though pilferers are clever enough, as
rule, to substitute articles Of the
same weight for those they have alb
stracted.
Moreover, a number Of watchmen
and detectives are employed by the
Panama Railroad company. Some Of
the detectives work as dock labOrers.
The watchmen cannot be In all parts
Of the pier sheds, and in a far corner
Of a shed or hold the stevedOres may
handle case with such roughness as
to cause 1t to break open. enabling It's
contents to be easily carried off. De-
tectives can exert an effective restrain
ing influence In such cases.
1t is clear, then, that the precautions
against pilfering in the Panama Canal
Zone are extensive and effective and
that the source Of the differing must be
sought for elsewhere.