The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

British companies that would undertake to make up-to-date improvements in order to attract British visitors, as the beauty of their scenery and their healing properties deserve more than recognition in full measure. As British visitors must for a generation or longer shun the German watering-places the opportunity for Serbia is very great.

British capital and skill must be again appealed to for the building of towns and houses, as the Southern Slav State will want them badly. With the exception of Belgrade (ruined by bombardment), Zagreb, Laibach (Ljubljana) and Sarajevo there are no large towns in Greater Serbia. All of them require many improvements : sanitation, construction of water supply, modern pavements, ete. Britons may be interested as contractors and capital providers and the necessary loans could be guaranteed by the State. But private enterprise for the building of town houses will be most welcome. ‘There is no rented house in Belgrade that does not pay at least 6 per cent. annual interest on the invested capital, and many yield 8-10 per cent. With that the value of house properties in Belgrade is increasing steadily, and the shortage of dwellinghouses is keenly felt by the inhabitants. After the war these conditions will be worse, and the opportunity for foreign enterprise far greater.

The forests in Serbia before the Balkan War covered some 30 per cent. of her total area.

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