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XeAsts December 52s
— page two =
for the opening of presebtly desert land are all parts of the new
Soviet agricultural policy. imultaneously with draining and
irrigation ¢chanels, goes the construction of powerful hydro-electric
installations and of inland waterwayse
Officially, this program promises increase in consumers!
goods and higher living standards, The results of the two first
years of the actual Plan however prove thas trategic aims have
undiseussed priority. Wheat, meat, cotto bof eather are the essentials
for maintenance and equipment of an Armye On the other hand, without
eketric power and low-cost transportation, ahuge industrialization, as
planned by the Soviets, is utterly unthinkable. News received on
some of the specific projects involved prove seme ef the scope and of
the aims of this over-all project
wewté. - #dt_also involves thw whole satellite
Hungary e.
From all over Hungary, reports have been received this
last month, relating that throughout September and October deportation
have been going on at a large seale. The people transpaanted this
automn were used nearly exclusively for work ón two large projects:
the water constructions along the Tisza river and the fertilization
of the Hortobágy steppe.
The Tisza river projeet has started with the Tiszalék
dam and, in connection with it, the Hajdusag chanel system. Many
women and elderly people are among those used for the very heavy
construction work. They are forced into ever-inereasing tempo of
worke
One of our informants could obtain detailed informations as to the
extend of the vevjeet now started. After the Tiszalök dam will be
completed, similar constructions will be made at two other sections
of the river: at Tiszabod and Szeged. At certain points, the course
of the Tisza itself will have to be changed. By this means, the waters
of the river will be entirely regulated: a system of chanels will
allow the systematic irrigation of the driedt parts of the Hungarian
plains esvecially in the Hajuds&g and the Hortobégye Sach dam will
give the waterpower needed for the establishment of electrical plants.
The year-round regulation of the water moreover will make the Tisza
usable for transportation even in the dry sumer months. All ealeulati
are made for 1.000 ton boats, Our informant was not able to obtain — .
the exact output expected from the future three hydro-electric plantse
So much is known that, after completion of the Tisza project, a huge
dam will be constructed on the Danube river. Its output in electrical
power alone will be - according to existing plans - 30 times as large
as that of each of the Tisza dams. Exact ficures are not revealede- |
The other large project already under way is the fertilizata:
of the nearly 230thousand hectar wide Hortobagy steppe. Known as an
extensive eattle and horse raising plain, the Hungarian "puszta"
(desert) is now rapidly disappearing. The forced labor groups used
in that plain are mostly deportees from Northern Hungarian cities.
In many instances they are not even housed in regular camps, but in
abandonned stables, préviously used for cattle and horses. Roofs are
ofiphe Leaning; therenispotprotection against bad weather and cold;
peer & have To hie on The f= ‘
&