The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-01
GERMANY PLANS
INLAND WATERWAY
Scheme Involves Canal for
Large Boats to Extend
Across All Europe
FROM BLACK SEA
TO THE RIVER RHINE
French River System to Elbe and North
ern Germany Waterway System -
Would Greatly Enlarge Facilities Be
tween Germany and Her Allies.

Correspondence Of Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Oct. 30.
German plans contemplate the con
struction or organization of Il naviga-
bic inland waterway for large boats
across Europe from the Black sea to
the Rhine and the French river system,
ON one hand, and to the Elbe and the
northern German waterway system on
the other Tais would enormously en-
large the facilities for commercial inter
course between Germany and Austria
Hungary and between Germany and the
Balkan countries and Turkey. The
war, as giving rise to the desire for
closer links between the countries of
the present Central European alliance,
seems TO have given an impetus to
these schemes and canal projects are
jus. now wen to the fore in Germany,
according to adviccs received here.
The net of inland waterways on the
continent of Europe, apart from the
rcniusulas, consists of two entirely
separate systems. The separating line
runs across Europe, from the North
sea, between Hamhur. and Bremen, par
alIrl with the Elhe, to Bohemia. From
Hamburg it is possible to 90 to Riga,
and even to Odessa, the Russian port
ON the Black Sea. by connected series
of waterways. hut il is impossible to
journey from Hamburg to Hanover i'll
/ like manner. From Bremen a motor
! boat can take YOU to the Mediterranean
or 10 the foot Of the PyrcuncS but there
! is mo- navigable waterway from Prague
| to Vienna.
In recent years wide interest has
\ been taken in plans for joining the
4 Danube northwards with the Elbe aud
\ the NiStula. and westward with the
I Rhine and So with the entire West
4 European waterway During the
war political concentrations have en-
/ phasizcd the Importance OF such plans
/ from the Central Powers, psiut OF
| view. The strength of the Quadruple
/ Alliance, as conceived for the future
/ by the statesmen of the countries con
ccrucd. lies in the economic solidarity
that might he reached III the wares OF
tine four states could be easily and
chcaply exchanged. Germany, it i
pointed out, might attain TO a NOR,
vigorous industrial development, ane
the entire complex Of countries. from
the North sea To the Persian Gulf
would form an economic block.
| One essential factor for the realiza
ton of sJch plans is a cheap means Of
communication, waterway joining
the various countries OF the Quadrupl,
| Alliance. There are various plans afoo
for securing a Rhine Danube waterwa,
! navigable by good. sized boats. Per
| haps the most favored is that OF
i canal running from Wcrthrim, on tn
Main, past Nuremberg to Stcpperg Of
| the Danube. 1t provides for barge
| o. 600 tons to 1000 tons. The cana
/ would be prolonged south Of the Dan
\ ubc TO Augsburg and Munich, an
II would il il anticipated, bring grea
II prosperity to southern Bavaria, who's
II mlavorahle geographical situation ha
II $50 far prevented il adequate develoI
II mcn;. The two chambers OF the Bay;
riau Landtag have passed bill for tn
construction Of a large canal ioinin
II the Rhine, Main and Danube ou ce
II tain conditions.
II Relatively, tac waterways Of EuroI
II today carry greater quantity of goo,
II than its railroads, and the proportio
J still tends 20 move in favor OF I'll
= cheaper water borne traffic.