The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-05
NEW RAILROAD IS NEEDED
Transportation Problems in
Balkans Must Be Solved
After End of War.

correspondence OF the AS
ISOLATED Press )--Transportation prob
lens in the southeast Of Europe will
be important matters for discussion
when peace terms are arranged for the
Balkans. according to economic author
tiles of the central powers. Two things
are necessary, it is declared a new
railway line connecting central Europe
with Constantinople, and the develop
ment of the Danube for transportation
purposes.
Hitherto the only line Of railway
Communication between central Eu-
rope and Constantinople has been by
way OF Belgrade, Nish and Sofia. This
was sufficient for traffic before the war,
but it will not be so after peace is re-
stored, and especially after completion
of the Bagdad railway. One new line
that has already been discussed would
lead through eastern Siberia, this plan
having been drawn up with the as
sumption that part of Serbia would fall
to Bulgaria in the general settlement
been suggested that this line would
cross the Danube at Bazias, where an
existing Hungarian line has it's ter
minus, and that south of the Danube a
connection would be made with an ex-
listing line extending from Semendria
south along the Bulgarian frontier, and
thence to Sofia.
Regarding the Danube, II is declared
that the development Of the waterway
was hindcred before the war by Ru-
mania's refusal to ratify agrecmtns re-
garded as necessary for the proper util-
izatiOn Of the river for traffic. Since
the Austro German victories in Ruma-
mia, the demand has been voiced in the
central powers that. whatever be the
future status of Rumania politically,
the peace conditions must guarantee
that all restrictions upon the free nav
igation of the Danube be abolished.
1t Is said also an effort will be made
to arrange for further Improvement of
the mouths of the river and also to
facilitate traffic at the Iron Gate
where the stream breaks through the
mountains from Hungary and Serbia
| into Rumania. Twenty years ago a
great scheme of improving the river
| at this point was carried out, includ-
| ing the blasting of a side channel
through the rapids, but this proved
inadequate for upstream traffic and it
was not until last year. after Germany
| and Austria Hungary had contracted
for immense supplies in Rumania-
! that upstream business assumed any
| considerable proportions. Under the
stress of necessity the authorities then
listened to the advice of engineers
| and allowed them to build traction
| railway along the side of the stream
for the Juggling of flotillas of barges
through the Iron Gate. This barge
traffic is expected to be reopened soon
on a still larger scale In order to bring
away great stores of grain and oil cap
tured in Rumania.
But q canal round the Iron Gate is de-
clared to be the only thing to make the
stream a wholly dependable waterway.
The plans for this feature call for a
canal IA miles in length. which would
cut off the loop now some 20 miles in
length. containing the dangerous rap
ids. The canal would have to be carried
through tunnel three or four miles
long. II would then emerge into the
valley OF a small stream enibtying into
the Danube. This could be damned