El Puerto Del Mediterraneo

excellent natural anchoring places for the ships. During the course of times the shore line has moved considerably towards the sea owing to depositions filling the bays, so that about 370.000 acres of new land have been formed. The soil on the site of the Free Port consists mainly of deposits of sand and clay, partly with softer layers, to a consi- derable depth. The excavation of basins will therefore not offer any serious difficulties. Size of the Harbour. The area on which the Free Harbour according to the conditions of the competition has to be constructed is situated between the Llobregat river, the railroad line Barcelona-Villenueva and the Mediterranean. The area is abt. 2800 acres including the space required for a promenade following the sea shore and extending on the one side along the Llobregat river and on the other side to Barcelona after passing above the railroad line. The entire harbour plant comprises an ample outer harbour protected by breakwaters, besides the above mentioned area where the harbour proper, the inner harbour, is to be constructed. The project Marked „EL PUERTO DEL MEDITERRANEO”. In view of the geographical and commercial situation of Barcelona a Free Port must be said to have excellent chances of a flourishing development there, because it will offer considerable advantages to trade as well as industry. While working out our Project we have constantly had in view to preserve the favourable position which Barcelona’s commercial harbour enjoys at present in respect to accessibility, possibilities of extension etc. The eastward protecting works for the future Free Port form a continuation of the already existing breakwater of the commercial harbour, and the latter may be extended merely by building new piers out from the shore protected by the extended East Breakwater and the new South Breakwater. The Project comprises four Proposals, each of which is to be carried out by stage-wise construction. In all the proposals the leading consideration has been that the first stage of extension of the harbour should be of relatively modest magni- tude with the possibility of gradual development without creating any obstructions to the operation of the existing harbour. Outer Harbour. The outer harbour has a water area of abt. 620 to 740 acres varying somewhat for the different proposals. Towards East the harbour is bounded by a breakwater in continuation of the now existing East Breakwater, and towards South by a breakwater projecting from the shore. Adjoining the South Breakwater a separate harbour is provided for combustible goods. This basin is thus outside of the harbour proper but is protected by the covering works. In case of a tank steamer becoming leaky the benzine harbour may be closed by means of steel pontoons. 18