FREE PORT OF TRIESTE 253
from rates and taxes. The Magazzini Generali instituted the ware-
house receipts-loan service, reduced tariffs, and granted preferential
custom duties on goods imported by sea and destined to the hinter-
land, procured competitive railroad freight rates to northern ports,
and accorded free warehousing to some of the export goods allowing
various minor facilities.
The effects on the Trieste traffic were felt immediately, and the
whole port became congested. A new free zone was erected in the
southeastern limits of the city and huge construction works were
carried out until the whole plant grew to its present size, under the
single control of the Magazzini Generali, covering to-day an area of
350,000 square meters of floor space.
Description.—The free zones are located on either side of the town,
extending along the northwestern and southeastern limits of the
town along the water front. Both zones have a railroad terminal
linked by a rail line {or the interchanging of transit cargo. The area
of the free zone covers 954,000 square meters and on completion of
the Mole VI now under construction will be increased to 1,155,330
square meters. It has also over 9,000 meters of mooring space along
wharves and jetties, which are provided with sheds where goods are
placed temporarily before delivery or reshipment.
In the free zones are situated the warehouses proper, which are
several-storied buildings, partly owned by the Magazzini Generali,
or Bonded Warehouses, and partly by private concerns. The Mag-
azzini Generali, dispose of 92,953 square meters of sites on wharves
and jetties and 256,483 square meters in the depots, which have cel-
lars, ground floor, and two to five stories. The total covered area of
the Magazzini Generali is 350,000 square meters, with a capacity of
501,000 tons, and is composed of 161 buildings, 27 wharves, and 44
depots, as well as numerous buildings for the customs and offices.
For the requirements of loading and unloading, a system of railway
lines of a length of 10,976 meters permits operations on the wharves
and jetties and alongside the warehouses with an additional 48,800
meters for shunting operations.
Railway terminals connect the free zone via Mestre-Venice with
Italy and southern Germany through the Brenner Pass, via Milan
and Domodossola with France, via Postumia with Yugoslavia,
Austria, and Czechoslovakia, via San Pietro del Carso with Hungary,
Rumania, and the Balkans.
The port of Trieste is divided. into four areas:
1. The free zone Porto Vittorio Emanuele III, northwest of the
town or the old port.
2. The free zone Porto E. F. Duca d’Aosta, southeast of the town
or the new port,
