CHAIN OF EUROPEAN WATERWAYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16423, 6 May 1924, Page 8

CHAIN OF EUROPEAN WATERWAYS

LARGE PROJECTS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. PRAGUE. —Amongst the various enterprises undertaken by the Czechs for the development of their country is that of co-ordinating the national waterways. This question is a particularly important one for the new State, which, having no seaboard, is compelled to send its exports at great expense by rail across other countries. Czeclio-Slovakia is, however, peculiarly well situated with regard to riverine navigation. A glance at the map of Central Europe will reveal the fact that, no less than three of the important international waterways in this region—the Danube, Elbe, and Oder—flow through her territory., The Government Ims a number of canals projected, some of which will soon lie under construction, and these will link up the various rivers and create a number of direct river routes from Czeclio-Slovakia to the sea. At an important conference the other day there was discussed what is perhaps the most significant proposal of all — that of linking up the Elbe with llto Danube by means of a canal running from a point on the first river not far north of Prague via Pardubice and Pvrerov to another on the second near Bratislavia. From Ibis canal, according to another plan, a branch could lie constructed connecting both rivers with the Oder. This scheme' is at least so far advanced that half of the 113 miles of the Elbe which would first have to be adapted for navigation have already been dealt with. Another proposal is to connect the Elbe via the Vltava (Moldau) with the Rhine by means of a canal from Prague to Regeuburg. 'Plie far-reaching results of the realisation of such undertakings may he judged from the fact that it is estimated that the connecting of the Oder with the Danube alone would increase the production of the iron industry by from 30. to 35 per cent.