Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17

rather than Serbia. One road starts
at Fiume, which is practically Ital-
lion, and the other at Trieste, also a
seaport or Italy, while a third, which
gives an outlet to the Mediterranean
at Saloniki, goes about fifty-tive miles
through the kingdom of Greece.
The new line will be all Jugo-
slavian. 1t will start at one of the
finest harbors on the Adriatic and
wind its way over the mountain
range" following the valleys Of two
rivers-the Drin and the Save-on
the way to Belgrade. The pass over
which the road goes has an altitude,
Of about 1000 feet, but the surveys
show moderate grades, the most of
which will not exceed 1 per cent d
mile, There are branch lines north
and south, and II is intended to build
a bridge across the Danube at Bel
grade and extend the railway through
the rich Banat grain section to the
boundaries of Rumania, where the
Rumanian system will join it. AT
Belgrade the line will connect with
the trunk railway from Paris to Con-
stantinople. 1t will cost, including
the rolling stock and terminals, $780,
900 per mile.
Another possibility which has not
yet been discussed is the extending
of branch line from Cattaro across
the southern Serbia to Bulgaria and
on into Russia. This was part of
a system originated by the Russians.
long before the-world war. 1t will
aid in joining the Slav: peoples to-
gether.-
r: - X x x
IT. Is no wonder the Jugoslavians
= are interested In these railway
projects. They mean the tying to-
gether Of the nation as a political
unit and the consequent reduction of
the army by the ability to send troops
quickly from point to point: They
mean also much easier defense
against the neighborfng countries i'll
| case of war. But, more important,
they mean the economic development
of the kingdom, which is one of the
richest in grain, minerals and other
resources of those Of central Europe.
They will give Jugoslavia a direct rail
outlet to the sea for her surplus food
supplies, enabling her to send her
wheat, corn and other grain TO the
Adriatic. They will give an outlet to
her timber, which now covers more
than one-third OF the country and has
some Of. the best, wood of this CONT
nent.
|: During my stay here at Belgrade L
have met many Of the public officials.
and have had a chance to look .at
| some Of tho geological maps which
hoor. world
war. These maps show that the
kingdom is peppered with mineral de-
posts OF various kinds.
There are hundreds OF mines in the
| mountains, each of which was worked
by two or three men, more or less in
| secret during the days OF the Turks
] and then covered up. There are cop
| per mines which were worked by the
| Romans and silver mines in which
! they still find old Roman coins. The
| Bor copper mines of east Serbia are
extensive and valuable. They are
now operated under Belgian-French
concession. and are said to be ex-
ceedingly profitable.
| One. of the. most. important Of the
mineral deposits is a mountain of iron
| Of Ljubija, 100 miles north OF the
.Adriatic sea and right in the heart OF
tho kingdom. A well known Ameri-
can bank, noted for its exploitation
| OF street railways throughout the
south and elsewhere, has been trying
to get the concession for it, but so
| far without success. The mine is an
I open-air proposition, much like the
Mesabi mines, near Duluth. The ore
can be taken out with steam shovels.
but it will have to be carried over a
mountain range to the sea- 1t: is
about the same grade as that of our
l Lake Superior mines.
lCarpenter's World Travels, Copyright, ls2f ]