The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-01-29
TRANSPORTATION IS
PROBLEM IN EUPOPE

Berlin Jan. 28.-(Correspondence
of the Associated Press .-Transpor
tation problems in the southeast of
Europe will be important matters for
discussion when peace terms are ar
ranged for the Balkans, according to
economic authorities of the Central
Powers. Two things are necessary,
| it is declared: A new railway line
connecting Central Europe with Con-
stantinople, and the development of
the Danube for transportation pur-
poses.
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 restored, and especially after COM
pletion of the Bagdad railway. One
new line that has already been dis
cussed would lead through eastern
Siberia, this plan having been drawn
up with the assumption that part OF
Serbia will fall to Bulgaria in the
general settlement of problems in the
Balkans. 1t has been suggested that
this line would cross the Danube at
Bazias, where an existing Hungarian
line has its terminus, and that south
of the Danube connection would be
made with an existing line extending
from Semendria, south along the Bull
garian frontier, andthence to Sofia
Regarding the Danube, it is de-
clared that the development of the
waterway was hindered before the
war by Rumania's refusal TO ratify
agreements regarded as necessary
for the proper utilization of the river
for traffic. Since the Austro- German
victories in Rumanfa, the demand had
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 navigation
of the Danube be abolished.
| 1t is said also an effort will be
made to arrange for further improve
ment of the mouths of the river, and
also to facilitate traffic at the Iron
Gate where the stream breaks
through the mountains from Hun
gary and Serbia into Rumania. TWEEN
ty years ago great scheme of i'm
proving the river at this point was
carried out, including the blasting of
a side channel through the rapids,
but this proved inadequate for up
stream traffic and it was not until
last year, after Germany and Aus
tria-Hungary had contracted for inn
mense supplies in Rumania-that up.
stream business assumed any consid.
cradle proportions. Under the stress
of necessity the authorities theI
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 bargei
through the Iron Gate. This barge
traffic is expected TO be reopeneC
soon on still larger scale in orde1
to bring away great stores of grain
and oil captured in Rumania.
But canal around the Iron Cat,
is declared to be the only thing t
make the stream wholly depend
able waterway. The plans for thi
, feature call for canal only IA miles
in length, which would cut off tn
loop now some 20 miles in length
containing the dangerous rapids. Tn,
canal would have to be carries
through tunnel three or four mile
long. 1t would then emerge into tn,
valley of a small stream emptyini
into the Danube This could b
damned at several places, so tina
there would he very little cutting, be
sides the tunnel, Germany is yer!
much interested in this project, il
view of the fact that the Upper Dan
ube, as it seems now, will, within
due time, be connected by a larg
canal with the Rhine or the Elbe, o,
probably both of these German
: streams.