DANES UNDERTAKE BIG ENGINEERING FEAT IN TURKEY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 2

DANES UNDERTAKE BIG ENGINEERING FEAT IN TURKEY

BRIDGING AND TUNNELLING AMONG MOUNTAINS MARKS NEW RAILWAY TO BLACK SEA. The contract for the engineering portion of an important' railway in Turkey has been secured by two great Danish firms. The aggregate length of railway to be built, was originally close upon 700 miles, the contract including tho building of a harbour at Eregli on the Black Sea. : But the provisional calculations wero very far out, and in order not to exceed;the total cost of £11,000,000, the programme had to be curtailed. It. has eventually been agreed' upon that a northern line from the Irmakto Filias, on the Black Sea, is to .bo built at present, while the branch line from Zafranbuli to Scurgud Eusu, ?s Tfell as the coastal line from Films to Eregli, and the harbour at the-latter place are to bo left in abeyance for the' time being.

A portion of the southern lino from Keller to Diarbekir,' probably some 200 miles, will be built. The time for completing the work lias been prolonged until Dec. .1, 1934.The Northern Line will proceed from the Irrnak railway station at a height of 080 meters, rising at its highest level to 1330 meters. It passes through very difficult country, which necessitates the building of enormous viaducts, frequent bridging‘of Tivcrs and extensive tunnelling of a number of mountains. On the first 15 miles of the line 12 bridges have to bo built, i with up to 00 meters width of span, while further on there arc bridges of 100 meters width of span. ~ At Arghana Madcn ' arc some important copper ore deposits, containing 25 per cent, of copper and the line, with its projected harbour, should facilitate the working and dispatching of extensive deposits of coal. • " ' The work is being pushed ahead with much energy and a highly cosmopolitan staff of engineers are engaged, comprising 49 Danes, 22 Swedes 19 Norwegians, 20 Swiss, 73 Germans and 33 of other nations; altogether 17 nations being represented.