THE PANAMA CANAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 62, 16 March 1915, Page 4

THE PANAMA CANAL.

The San Francisco correspondent of the Christchurch Press states that both in America and in England, considerable apprehension is felt regarding the ability and preparedness of the Panama Canal to handle fleets of large ships. The landslides in the Culcbra cut are constantly causing trouble, as is admitted by the Canal authorities, and recently it was reported the waterway was to ho closed 'indefinitely because of the unfavorable conditions. This report was conveyed to the authorities by ibc British representative at Panama, who asked to be informed of the actual conditions in the interests of the shipping of Croat Britain. The report seems, however, to have been an exaggeration, doubtless having arisen from the fact that the formal opening of the Canal had been postponed from March to June because Colonel Gqethals had informed President Wilson he could not guarantee that large battleships could be sent through in March. According to the Canal officials the condition of the channeHs better now than it has been at any time sinco October last, when it Was closed for more than a week on account of a landslide. On the day the request, for information was made by the British representative five vessels of heavy draft safely navigated the waterway, and in the following week steamers drawing 31 feet of water were put through. Since it was thrown open to the world's traffic there has been a constant increase of the use of the Canal. In December shipments aggregating 451,024 tons passed through the waterway, the largest total in any one month so far. This is made up as follows: Prom the Pacific Coast of America to the Atlantic Coast and to Europe, 196,156 tons; from the Atlantic Coast of America to Pacific Coast ports, Japan, Xew Zealand, Australia, Siberia, South America and Balhoa 131,933 tons; other Avest-bound traffic, aggregating in all 179,145 otns, emanated' from Europe, Cristobal and Gulf ports.