Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1206

 1164

PANAMA

10,000,000 dollars to the Republic of Panama for property and franchises. It does not include 4,600,000 dollars spent and to be spent for colliers and barges to carry coal to the Isthmus, 2,093,000' dollars for a new pier at Cristobal, and 720,000 dollars for repairing steamships. The current expenses of operation and maintenance in 1920 were 6,548,272 dollars. In the period from the opening of the Canal to Juno 30, 1920, the total expenses of operation and maintenance amounted to 36,657,767 dollars, while the revenue amounted to 34,426,675 dollars, leaving a deficit of 2,231,092 dollars

The Canal was informally opened to commerce by the passage of the 9,000 ton steamer Ancon on < August 15th, 1914, with specially invited guests. The journey was made without mishap in ten hours. The Canal has been in use since, except that owing to landslides in the Gaillard Cut the channel was interrupted for various short periods in 1915 for traffic, and from September 23, 1915, to April 16, 1916, the channel was entirely blocked and only a few vessels used the Canal. Since April 16, 1916, traffic has moved with only slight delays, save only that in the latter part of August, 1916, Cucaraeha slide became active, causing a suspension for six days, and Culebra slide caused a stoppage on January 10 and 11, 1917. Since that time the Canal has been handling vessels drawing up to 33 feet without delay, until March; 1920, when slides occurred frequently, and shipping was htld up during that month and the previous month for a day or two.

The President of the United States proclaimed the official and formal opening of the Canal on June 12, 1920.

Particulars of the traffic through the Canal are given as follows : —

Northbound Southbound

(Pamfioto Atiantic),m

2,889,466

Total

1.0S8

1,876


 * ', i :u.

■.',<>'.".> •J,-I7.s


 * ,l lo,0if,

«,s77.(il!i t>,S74.-l'.".'

Tolls levied

Dollars 4,348,888

6,4.S<),088'

1 10J months only, from August 15 to June ::u.

2 i.e., ocean-goinjf vnssels, excluding Cauui vessels and launches.

Of the total number of commercial ships thai passed through the Canal during the year ended June 30, 1920, 1,129 were American, 7;>1 British) 106 Norwegian, 1 18 Japanese, 7*9 ♦ hi linn, 7:> Peruvian, 60 French, 41 Sp.

29 Dutch, 1$ Swedish, and 17 Cenmui.

iiin'oioio) treaty between Great Britain and the United

States signed November l'j. and ratified by the United Stales Senate December 16, 1901, provides for the use of the (anal on equal tonus by i of all nations. On August 24, 1912, the United State* Congress passed tlie Panama Canal Au1 whetfeby privileges wi to certain clasi

American Shipping using the canal. Tin- IWitish ( iovoi nnieiit lodged » protest against some Of the provisions which it regarded as involving violation of the I lay-I'auncefote tTeaty. Alter much discussion and many suggestions, President Wilson, on March 5, 1914, requested Congn repeal that prOvisiW) of the Act which discriminates between American