Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-10-21
Decentralization of Famous
River Completed by Action of
Interested Allied Powers.
BARRIER AND BATTLE-GROUND
Danube Has Long Been Chain Upon
Which Romance and History Have
Wed With Each Other to Hang
Interesting Traditions.

Washington.-The completion Of the
interna Of the Danube by
the recent formal action OF the inter-
ested allied powers. announced in
Paris dispatches, Is the occasion for
the issuance from the Washington
headquarters Of the National Geo
graphic society Of the following bulle-
tin, descriptive Of the famous river.
From the Black forest to the Black
sea, over a course 1900 miles in length.
the Danube has long been a chain
upon which romance and history have
We'd with each other to hang interest
ing traditions and occurrences. Geog-
raphy, too, has done its share, and
although the volga exceeds It's rival
in length, and although the Rhine In
Thackeray and Hood has had better
press agents, the Danube Is large
enough and beautiful enough to rank
in interest with the great rivers Of
the world.
Less Highway and More Barrier.
There was time when the Dan
ube was symbolized by an old-fash-
toned waltz. But since the World
war began, nothing but hesitation
typlfies the place the river has held
in the economic life Of the countries
through which It runs. 1t has been
less highway and more the barrier
than In prewar days. Not yet does 1t
serve to bind the various nations
through which 1t passes into a friend
~ and cooperating group. 1t has
been officially open to ships Of all ma
lions since the forming Of the Danube
commission in 1855 and the various
states interested long cooperated to
improve the navigation facilities, es.
pecially in the lower reaches Of the
river; but political conditions have
done much to weaken the economic
link which once bound Linz and vi
emma to the great grain shipping cen
ter of Braila. to which ocean-goinf
vessels can steam, and to the Blaci
sea ports themselves.
Charming villages, beautiful mead
ows. picturesque hills crowned with
ruined castles. princely palaces, &c
clesiastical piles and two Of tn
worlds most fascinating capitals ar,
strung along the lengthy and winding
river. Thriving industries raise thei
smokestacks beside the stream who's
legendary color Is blue but whose tru
tint varies from dirty green to
muddy yellow. More tragic than tn
encroachment of factory smoke ha
been in late years the sad sight o
countless chimneys from which tn
life-breath Of industry seemed to hav
expired forever.
HohenxolIern Castle on Banks.
Near its source at Donaueschlnger
the river passes between the castl
which gave Its name to the late rulin
family in Germany and war monu
ment to the Hohenzolern men VIII
fell In the Frnnco-Prussinn wal
Farther down II passes through tn
once-proud capital Of Austria-Hur
gary, where the fine government builf
ings stand to the despalrlng inhab
tants ns hooking reminder Of bette
days, and beside the Prater, once
deer park and later pleasure garde
noted for Its Viennese gayety.
The Danube.
"StLl farther along its course jus
after entering Czecho- SlOvakia, at II
junction with the March, there Is
towering cliff spired with a mon,
ment erected to celebrate 1000 year
Of Hungarian nationality. This
Czecho-S lovakian territory now, an
there last summer the Stars an
Stripes were draped on the occasio
of the visit Of large group Of Czech