FREE PORT OF DANZIG 145
Director responsible.—Section 6 of the law provides that a free port
shall be managed by a director, who shall be responsible before the
law in all matters connected with the operation of the port.
Nore.—A law also dated March 31, 1921, sets forth in great detail the con-
ditions under which a free port may be established.
Finnish Government assists establishment.—The Hango free port was
established in 1921 under the legal form of a corporation with a capital
of 2,500,000 Finnish marks ($63,000). The capital was, of course, too
Small for the construction of the piers and warehouses which had to
be built, and so the company applied to the Government for a 6,000,-
000 marks loan ($151,200), which was granted at a low interest rate.
The Government leased to the company a plot of land (348.4 acres)
at a nominal rental. This assistance was given on the understanding
that, the company construct and operate the free port.
Results—Russian trade did not materialize and the free port built
Oh nothing more than great expectations failed. In fact, the port
Was never actually operated as a free port. Work on the first pier and
Warehouses was hardly completed in 1924 when the company found
itself in financial difficulties. The Government was finally forced to
take over the whole business for 6,700,000 Finnish marks ($168,840),
this sum representing the loan which had been given to the free port
“mpany plus accrued interest.
Warehouses and pier—* * * Only one pier was completed and
fonnected with a railroad line from Hango. The pier is 150 meters,
Or 492 feet, in length. The warehouses have a total area of 127,811
Square feet, of which area 20,181 square feet represent heated space.
Prospects —Although some talk is heard of the formation of a new
SToup to operate a free port, the prospects are that it will be many
Years before anyone can be pursuaded to put any money into a project.
The Government has evidently given up the idea of lending any
BSsistance.
THE FREE HARBOR IN THE PORT OF THE FREE CITY OF DANZIG
[From Edwin C. Kerap. American consul, Free City of Danzig]
The port of Danzig emerges from prehistory in the tenth century
8 a trading post for fish, salt, and amber at the mouth of the Vistula
River, Its location has maintained its function as a center for dis-
Tibution and exchange between the Vistula Basin and its connections
fo the south and the Baltic and North Sea ports. Because of its
Sentral position the development of the port and of the city of Danzig
hag been continual since that period, though in varying degree deter-
Mined by political circumstances. At the end of the last war Danzig
Was again made a free city by the treaty of Versailles, in view of its
Uermgy, population, with a free access to the sea through its port
Batted to the Polish Republic.
