FRINGE OF VERDURE AROUND ASIA MINOR 773 



MODERN GREEK FOUNTAIN IN PHRYG-IA WITH ANCIENT PERSIAN UON BUII.T INTO 

 THE CENTER : THE BOY IS A GREEK 



however, it is better than the Cihcian 

 Gates, because it has been cut to greater 

 depth across the ridge of hard hmestone, 

 and hence the grades are not so heavy. 



Even so, the engineering difficuhies 

 are formidable. From the divide on the 

 plateau near the head of the Chakit 

 River the descent amounts to nearly 

 5,000 feet in 70 miles, as measured along 

 the river, without reference to the minor 

 windings. In the 20 miles of the most 

 inaccessible part of the gorge the de- 

 scent is over 2,000 feet, so that the aver- 



age grade is more than one foot in 50, 

 which is very difficult for heavy freight. 

 Even if the railroad is built with many 

 windings, the grades will be hard. 



The expense is bound to be immense 

 because of the large number of bridges, 

 viaducts, deep cuttings, and tunnel which 

 will be required. The German and 

 Greek engineers who are laying out the 

 route say that the line as a whole will 

 prove as difficult to build as any in 

 Europe, except the Simplon, in Switzer- 

 land, with its long tunnel. 



