ITALY’S NEW CITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1932, Page 8

ITALY’S NEW CITY

MALARIAL MARSHES RECLAIMED.

In a few months Italy will possess a brand new city a few miles south of Rome'. It will arise in the midst of the Pontine marshes, which are being reclaimed apace after defying the efforts of centuries to rid them of malarial infection (states the * Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph”). The city will be called “Littorio,” in honour of the Lictor Rod which is the Fascist symbol. Its site is the spot where the roads recently built over the marshes meet in a wide space .known as the “Quadrato” (square), a few kilometres from the ancient city of Velletri. Standing 60ft above sea level, the site tonus one of the highest points of the marshes. By October 28 next, the tenth anniversary of the March on Rome, the chief areas will, it is estimated, be marked out, and a circular boundary load two miles long will be cons«taicted. It will be inaugurated by Signor Mussolini on that date. By that time the foundations of several public buildings must be laid, including the Prefect’s palace, police barracks. Fascist Militia barracks, the headquarters of the Fascist Savings Association, and churches. One church, a. big electric plant, a school, and several community houses for colonists are there now.

It is Fascism’s boast that the Pontine marshes, which now have ar average of one inhabitant per square mile, will by 1940 have 100 pur square mile. Several hundred families from over-populated districts will be able to settle on the marshes by next autumn, it is hoped.