Evening star., 1926-11-21
ALBANIA TO HAVE
24-M|LE RAILROAD
Country Soon to Try First
Steam Engine-0ther
Provinces DeIav.

"The steam engine Is about to in.
wade the only 'railroadless' country of
Europe" says a bulletin from the
National Geographic Society, "for>Al.
bania is planning the construction OF
a 24-mile road from Durrazzo, on the
Adriatic coast, to Tirana.
Thus Albania parts company with
Afghanistan, Asir, Bhutan, Nepal,
Oman and Yemen, in Asia, and Libe-
ria. on the west coast Of Africa.
Liberia is proba bly, the only one of
the seven countries that would have
a railroad il it could continues the
bulletin THE six others are voiun-
tary adherents to a policy OF splendid
isoia ton and efforts to establish
twentieth-century commercial facili,
ties have met with disaster.
Largely due to the lack of funds.
the little negro republic. which is
about the size of Indiana. has hardly
scratched the surface of it's resources.
For some 80 or 50 miles back Of the
coast the land has heen cleared and
partly developed. but from that imagi-
nary line inland there are dense for
ests and extremely primitive peoples.
The President of Liberia visited the
United States in 1927 to secure credit
for his country. which has always
heen considered potentially one Of the
richest corners Of Africa.
Abandon Old Methods.
with the investment Of American
capital, notably the establishment OF
great rubber plantation ann the de
velopment Of the country by pro
gressive local administration. the
thousa nds Of negro porters who now
carry huge loads Of freight on their
heads will perhaps sGon give way to
= more modern transportation
"Afghanistan is The largest OF these
-ailroadless countries-about IA times
larger than Alba n;a-yet no railroads
or telegraph lines cross its border
The Amir has consistently objected to
these facilities. for fear OF opening his
domain to aliens. who are no more
Welcome now than they were cen
tury ago Only a few foreigners
mostly British have been allowed Ia
enter the country for short sojourns
Foreign engineers and doctors, whose
services are badly needed. Il allow ed
to cross the border by tne grace of the
Amir. are subject So surveillance
Amba ssadors, ministers. and even mis-
sionarieS. are unwelcOme
'CamelS and pack horses are de
pended upon almost entirely for trans
port alton in Afgha nistan, but II Is not
uncommon Ia see elephant and ever
wheelha rrows on the trails. Some ot
the caravans number more than l20.
900 animals. loaded with skins. dried
fruits. assorted gums and spices.
ITO insure complete isolation the
few roads into the country are vel
guarded. The chief route lies through
Khyber Pass. the largest gateway
from India. 1t is open two days 8
week. except in hot weather. when il
10 available one day only. The Amir
agents scrutiniZe all who pass the
gateway, and even Moslem caravan
guides are displaced by Afghans who
proceed inland From sundown tt
sunup the pass is closed to all traffic.
'\epal and Bhutan, lying among
the peaks of the IIimalayas. the for
mer with Mount Ever est. the highes
peak in the world. along it's border
have only slight hopes OF extensive
railroad transporta To traverse
or tunnel The Himalayas would be a
herciilean task.
While Rhutan displays soma friend