PORT OF ANTWERP

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 20

PORT OF ANTWERP

VAST IMPROVEMENT SCHEME,

. In the Belgian. Chamber recently the Prime Minister, M. Jasper, gava an out-

line of the vast sehomo of'public works upon which it is the intention of the Government to embark now that the financial situation of the country has been definitely stabilised, states the London "Daily Telegraph." The plans are the outcome of the deliberations of the National Commission for Public Works instituted in March last, and ombrnco a series of developments designed to improve the oconomic equipment of the country, including the enlargement of tho ports, tho modernising of the internal waterways, and the creation of new sources of electrical energy. , ■ . Perhaps the most important part of the programme is that which relates to the extension of the port of Antwerp, although in this matter the share of the Government is confined chiefly to tho financial assistance which it will give to the municipality, in carrying out works which have long been in contemplation. In the month of Juno the Government ratified an agreement with the City of Antwerp granting to the municipality about 7500 acres of land. For many years the port of Antwerp, the very hoart of Belgium's commercial life, has suffered from congestion, and this increased area will'make it possible for now roads to bo constructed and new railways to be laid down, thus facilitating tho movement of merchandise to and from the quays. The municipality will thus be enabled to proceed with a number of \vork3 which were started *a few years ago, but were suspended owing to the lack of funds. Among these aro the construction of the Kruischans Lock, the deepening of the lock canal, and the building of various wet docks v along that canal. The completion of these works will give the port of Antwerp new quays.with a length of over seven and a half miles. '' This important convention," M. Jasper said in the Chamber, "will permit tho town of Antwerp to treble its maritime installations and transform our national port into the largest port in the world." Further proposals of tho National Commission relate to the systematic exploitation of the hydraulic resources o£ the country regulating the waterways, both natural and artificial, with a view to improving navigation from the interior towards the sea. In thia connection it is intended to take steps for delivering the country from the .perpetually recurring nightmare of the flooding of the valleys of the Meuse and the Sambre. The beds of these rivers will bo widened in certain zones, and a new system of dykes will be constructed. Part of this work is already in hand, and the completion of the remainder will be hastened. Another item in the programme is tho construction of a canal between Liege and Antwerp, entirely on Belgian territory, capable of passing vessels up to 1350 tons, and bringing the industrial region of Liige and the new coal areas of the Campine into direct communication with the Scheldt. Other projects of which only ■ the briefest mention can be made are the completion of the Charleroi-Brus-sels Canal, reconstructions, extensions, and improvements at the ports of Nieuport and Zeebrugge, and the driving of a tunnel under the Scheldt to connect tho two banks at Antwerp. The cost of all this work is estimated at 2,000,000,000 francs, spread over a period of twelve to fifteen years, the State holding itself responsible for 300,000,000 francs per annum for the first five years, after which the annual payments will tend to decrease rapidly.