TABLE NO. 8.-Abstract of expenditures, mechanical division, for the operation of the foundry, Balboa shops-Continued. 123, 244 189, 637 209,795 Castings. 3,677 Expenditures. 146 3,563 $9,097.66 $11,483.02 $12,598.50 $10,753.23 $10,012.92 $10,255.97 $148, 215. 07 TABLE NO. 9.-Number of repairs to locomotives during fiscal year, mechanical division. 94 4,975 176, 193 3,473 188, 685 221,338 2,573, 223 90 4,645 1,649 68,516 TABLE NO. 10.—Repairs made during fiscal year to equipment other than locomotives and cars, mechanical division. TABLE NO. 11.—Number of shop and field repairs made to different classes of cars during fiscal year, mechanical division. TABLE NO. 12.-Amount of equipment hostled and the cost, mechanical division. TABLE NO. 13.-Expenditures and output of the oxyacetylene plant, Balboa shops, mechanical division. APPENDIX E. REPORT OF THE MARINE SUPERINTENDENT, MARINE DIVISION. BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, July 15, 1915. SIR: The following report of the marine division is submitted for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915: On February 20, 1915, the designation of the division of canal transportation was changed to marine division and that of the superintendent of transportation to marine superintendent. ORGANIZATION. The organization remains practically the same as that originally proposed; the personnel has been materially increased, particularly in the number of pilots and boat crews. Nearly all of the tug and launch work and other marine service in the terminal ports which was formerly performed by other divisions has been taken over by the marine division. CAPTAINS OF THE PORTS. Commander D. E. Dismukes, United States Navy, was detailed as captain of the port of Cristobal, and Commander H. V. Butler, United States Navy, as captain of the port of Balboa. The captains of the ports, amongst their other duties, are charged with regulating and controlling canal and harbor traffic; entering, clearing, and measuring vessels; and levying tolls, disseminating information concerning sailing routes, and other marine matters. They have endeavored to make their offices the centers of information on all matters in relation to shipping and to lend their services in cooperating with other departments in the transaction of their shipping business. OFFICE BUILDINGS FOR CAPTAINS OF THE PORTS. It has been found necessary to have the offices of the captains of the ports centrally located with reference to the wharves and shipping interests. At both terminals they have occupied temporary accommodations, but it is recommended that permanent buildings be erected. These offices should be sufficiently commodious to accommodate the several other divisions which are conjointly interested in the shipping. BRANCH HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICES. In connection with the captains of the ports' offices at each end of the canal branch hydrographic offices have been established, where information is freely given in relation to steamer and sailing routes, weather, currents, charts, barometers, chronometer comparison, etc., and where charts of any part of the world may be purchased. CONCENTRATION OF FORCE. Under present working conditions the traffic of the canal requires that part of the field and office force be available from 6 a. m. until 10 p. m.; sometimes later. At the Pacific terminal in particular they are housed in widely separated localities, such as Ancon, Balboa, and Panama. In many cases the work is such that preliminary notice can not be given in time to have the force available to meet the demand, and it is therefore recommended that quarters be provided and grouped in a convenient locality near the captains of the ports' offices, so that the necessary force will be made readily available at all times. If the whole force on the Pacific side were quartered together, near the water front, fully an hour would be saved in getting vessels started from the outside anchorage in the morning. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION OF USE TO SHIPPING. Notices to Mariners are issued from time to time giving information in reference to changes in aids to navigation and other matters of interest to navigators; and Notices to Steamship Companies in reference to all matters concerning the transit of ships through the canal, such as tolls, measurements, services, prices, interpretations of the laws, rules and regulations, etc., as occasion may require. Full Sailing Directions for The Panama Canal and approaches thereto, together with other useful and necessary information, have been compiled and issued. New hydrographic charts of the canal and approaches are now available and on sale at the principal chart agencies and at the canal. NAVIGATION OF THE CANAL- -SLIDES. Since the canal has been opened to navigation it has been clearly demonstrated that there is not the slightest difficulty for the largest ships to navigate it with ease and safety. Its free navigation has been somewhat obstructed by the slides in the Cut, which have sometimes caused delays, but with the canal at its designed size any vessel should be able to pass through from ocean to ocean in about eight or nine hours. The time of lockage has been very materially reduced. To date but one shift has been kept for operating the locks, which would normally allow an eight-hour period for navigation, but by special detail the time of operation may be extended so that vessels may use the locks between the hours of 7 a. m. and 10 p. m. With a material increase in trade, which may be expected at the conclusion of the European war, the operating force both in the marine division and at the locks will have to be increased. PONTOON BRIDGE. Owing to the fact that a train service must be maintained to the several Army posts on the west side of the canal, it has been necessary to continue the use of the pontoon bridge at Paraiso. This is an obstruction to navigation, and it is earnestly hoped that provision may be made by which the bridge may be discontinued. |