RECONSTRUCTION IN BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 8

RECONSTRUCTION IN BELGIUM

ANTWERP A BASE FOR GERMAN COAL.

BeMum is working at its reconstruction with a most laudable contrasts strongly with the social unrest and agitation reigning in >wjlnml and in I'ranco (writes the Belgium correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor"). The Belgian Government, rightly proud of what has already been achieved, recently invited three l'renon Ministers to Belgium on a tour of observation so that they might realise fo: themselves the orogress accomplished in the domain of' social reconstitut'ou. Their tourney ended by a visit to la port of Antwerp which is about to become a French base for the transport of German coal. , Although Rotterdam is a dangcroiib rival, the great Belgian port, nevertheless, possesses considerable superiority on account of the facility of access and its labour conditions. The Belgian Chamber of Commerce recently published a communication concerning tne characteristic features of Antwerp, ot which tho following are worth noting^ The port is accessible for vessels. -■>» metres long, drawing 10 metres of water, and possessing docks 5500 metres long, provided with hydraulic cranes housed in metallic sheds which extend over an area of more than 200,000 square melks. The work of enlargement of the poit, which is actually being carried on in tho north, will allow of steamers up to 350 metres long to enter, vh'lst U«e depth or (he port will be 31 me res; a low or high tide. These new docks *ill also bo provided with hydraulic cinnes, wilh mimerous railway tracks, a lowing freight to be directly transferred from car to steamer and vice versa, whilst U pneumatic elevators can dischargo l.) 0 tons mi hour. , , .„„ Tn 1011 Antwerp was tho centre of TO or more navigalion services for nil P" •« of tho world. .Mreadv 00 of these li •■ have resumed work. Before the war ho movement of transports was "boiit .- OM.ftOO tons of imports and 8.000,000 tom. of exports. When navigation on the Rhine is once more free extreme y «/ f-eight rales will allow o a considerable traffic bv wav of the Rhine, to the particular advantage of Strasbourg. Vainst those advantages of Anlwern. no French port can adequately compel