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4 gang hLLI] i Conpiaids E ‘Practical Ways to Cut aa Be RUC Costs ry Ca Conducted by H.E.STOCKER rqo Hanan Terminal Operations at Canal Zone Speed Up Vessel Despatch in the world. All lanes of traffic converge on the canal, passing from the west to east, bringing manufactured goods to be exchanged for the silks and other merchandise of the Orient. Goods are also consigned to the Canal Zone for use there and in the Republic of Panama, Cargo is consigned ‘‘canal zone for orders’’, and those orders might send it to any part of the world. Coasting steamers arrive loaded with freight for ocean-going vessels which make Cristobal and Balboa ports of call. These liners in turn bring cargoes for the coasters. Goods are ex- changed, transshipped, received, and shipped in every conceivable direc- tion. The volume of this tonnage reached a maximum in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1929, when it amounted to 1,559,311 tons. Then it dropped off to 989,534 tons in the HE Panama Canal Zone _ is one of the foremost trans- shipment points 28 By Gerard E. McNamara fiscal year 1932, but since has been steadily increasing so that for the last six months of 1934 the amount was 616,876 tons. Diversified Cargo Handled To handle this diversified cargo efficiently requires superior equip- ment and facilities, The greater part of the cargo consigned to the Canal Zone is either “in transit’’ or ‘‘for orders’. This means a great deal of handling to and from the sheds which serve as temporary warehouses. Freight must be picked up at the hook of the ship, taken to a point of storage within the pier shed, and then picked up again and brought to the loading gear of another ves- sel. The great number of handlings ne- cessitated calls for equipment suf- ficiently flexible to meet every situa- tion. The excellent facilities provid- ed at Cristobal and Balboa has earned for these twin ports a favor- we ® Inshore end Pier 8, Cristo- bal, C. Z. Note pipe loaded on skids. Railroad cars entering center of pier on depressed tracks ® MARINE REVIEwW—May, 1935 able reputation for efficiency the world over. For speed and economy, the Canal Zone ports cannot be sur- passed by any other anywhere. Exports are, in the main, bagged goods and bananas, the former being comparatively easy to handle while the latter requires special care. The imports show a wide range in variety, cased goods, bulk commodities, liquids, metals, ete Colon Coastwise Piers In the port of Colon, adjacent to Cristobal harbor, the Panama Rail- road Co. owns two piers and a wharf of timber and pile construction, These units are under the same manage- ment as are the piers at Cristobal. The accommodations at Colon are not particularly important but they have a place in the complete picture of the facilities available at the At- lantic terminal of the canal, Pier No. 1 is a wharf type struc- ture, 250 feet long and 250 feet wide, with a total berthing space of 500 feet and a depth of 27 feet along- side. It has no transit shed and is suitable for discharging coastal steamers carrying bulk cargoes, freight subject to immediate removal and goods not subject to weather damage. No. 2 dock is 360 feet long and 50 feet wide and has a total berthing space of some 700 feet, with 27 feet depth of water alongside. The transit shed has a capacity of 16,500 square feet. Pier 3 is 550 feet long and 60 feet wide, and has 1160 feet of berthing space, The