El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-06
GREECE AND
SERIIA PLAN
RAILROADS
Greek Capital Viii Have Di-
rect Rail Communica-
ton With Europe.
BALKANS ENJOYING
REVIVAL IN TRADE
By STEVEN BURNETT.

IN EEL4<44fs Germany June o--AIlEF
can contractors and investors
- may find in the Balkans a lucra-
tive field and It Is certain that their
European competitors are energetic
ally exploiting this area following the
close OF the war, which has served TO
release the economic energies OF the
hitherto unsettled states An eminent
authority on the subject Informs me
that Greece. Servia, Bulgaria and even
Turkey-au are Fastening to carry out
long planned railways which are des-
tined to transform the economic con-
ditiOns OF the Balkans
Greece IS easily the first owing to
q variety OF favorable circumstances
Those who are inclined TO blame her
for the slow pace OF her political and
ment ought TO remember that she has
hitherto been condemned TO a sort OF
geographical isolation, due to the alb
sence OF railway connection with Eu-
rope. To reach Athens from Europe,
it was necessary to go either to Brin-
dist or to COnstantinOple, and there
embark upon a boat Her northern
provinces OF Thessaly were situated in
this respect still worse
Railway Planned.
All this. however. was not the fault
OF Greece AS far back as 1909. she
made an agreement with the French
Batignolles company for the construc-
ton OF a line proceeding from Piraeus
over Athens to L.arissa, and still fur
Their along the Tempe valley to the
mouth Of the PeneiOs- Her idea was
then TO induce the Turkish govern
ment TO construct a line from Saloni-
ka, going along the coast OF the gulf
to a junction with the Larissa rail-
ways on the Graeco- Turkish frontier
somewhere about PlatamOna point. In
this way Greece would have been con-
uected with Europe by means OF the
Salonis7a- . skub-Nish- Belgrade-Vienna
railway.
listen TO the proposal which threat
ened 70 add 70 the Greek influence at
Salonika, and when at last she did
agree, she demanded that the line from
Larissa should be carried TO Salouia-
not along the coast, as that would have
exposed Il to a naval attack from the
gulf. but straight through the noun
tains through Tyrnava and EIassona
TO a junction with the Monstir-Salon-
ika line at Veria-
VIII Now BE Built.
As the proposal was not acceptable
TO Greece. the negotiations came TO a
deadlock. and there the matter prac-
rfcaIIv ended. But now that Greece
has come into the possession not only
OF Salonika. but also OF the greater
part OF the SalOuika-Monastir line, she
has FASTENED 70 take up the old agree
menr with the Societe BatEuolles. and
" Venizelos signed the other day the
final convention for the construction
Of the railway to Salonika- II will have
q length OF about 81 niles and pro-
coed from Marali- Zervan. the point
where the branch from Larissa to the
coast has stopped. along the coast over
Ekaterina 70 Gida. close TO Salonika.
on the 1Ionastir line.
II is expected that the line viii be
ready within a year, and then at last
Greece viii be in. direct connection
with Europe.
serTian Road Planned
Next comes Servia with her grand
scheme for a DanUbe-Adaritfc line
This is an old and favorite scheme OF
Servia first conceived by her as q
means Of economic emancipation from
Austria, through whose territory she
has TO do all her foreign trade. Later
on she found an outlet through Salon
iSa- but the port lying still in Turk
ish hands the Danube-Adriatic scheme
continued TO hold the field
Now IL IS officially announced that
the work on the railway is about to be
commenced The line VIII start some
what more to the north than was orig
inally intended, namely, at Bra Salan-
ka. where IL will be connected BY =
bridge over the Danube with the Ru-
mauiau railway. The line viii then
come down 20 Nish. the most iupor-
tant railway junction in Servia. and
thence, in accordance with the original
plans. will proceed through Prishtina
and Prizrend TO the valley OF the Blak
Drin. on the Albanian territory. emerEa
from the later at Dibra. and reenter
IL again near Srruga. IN order to run
the SI1umbi. and finally reach Durazzo.