250 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES Harsor IMPROVEMENTS AT LEGHORN Improvements in the Leghorn Harbor, with increased dockage facilities, railway connections, and improvements in canals connecting with the surrounding country, have been in progress for the past few years. It is the intention of the authorities to make Leghorn one of the most important ports of Italy; it now ranks fifth in importance as an export port and fourth as an import port. The improvements projected include the building of an additional free-port zone with ample land to be available for the establishment of industries. The first group of improvements is expected to be finished in 1930 and will include the construction of a canal through the Vittorio Emanuele III Basin; a special dock for the landing of petroleum products; a basin having a diameter of 1,049 feet, and the building of a wharf 5,905 feet in length with a depth of 29.5 feet, and a wharf 4,265 feet in length with a depth of 13 feet, the latter to be used for coasting vessels. It isnow anticipated that the total cost will amount to 85,000,000 lire. Projected free port.—The Societa Italiana Construtzione A. M., which is constructing the groups of harbor improvements outlined above, has agreed to build at its own expense the section of the port to be used as a free zone, including roadways and railway connections. The land is to be sold to industrial concerns who desire t0 build factories within the free-port zone. It is understood that the free-port section will be completed at the same date as the first group of harbor improvements. Improvements in canals planned.—In connection with the improve: ments of the harbor it is proposed to shorten the canal to Pisa and snlarge it so that it will accommodate barges of 600 tons capacity: At the present time this traffic is limited to barges of 60 tons capacity The canal connects at Pisa with the Arno River and with canals reaching Viareggio and Lucca. Improvements in the present canal system will be of great value in reducing costs of transportation? to the above-mentioned points and to a number of small interiof communities. Railway improvements.—The Leghorn Harbor is the natural outlet for the products of central Italy, but it is lacking in railway connec tions with the interior. It is now planned to build connections to the existing railways which will place Leghorn in direct connection with the main line of the central railway of Italy. When these connection? are built, the rail distance from Leghorn to Florence will be reduced from 102 kilometers to 90 kilometers; the distance between Legho™® and Bologna from 185 kilometers to 175 kilometers, and from Leghor? to Verona from 307 kilometers to 289 kilometers. The connectio®®