Ever since the days of the Roman Empire, Europe has depended heavily on inland waterways as vital arteries for its economic lifeblood. West Germany's arteries pump the hardest. Along the country's 2,789 miles of navigable rivers and canals last year flowed 184 million tons of goods and raw materials, 27% of the country's total freight traffic. Germany's 7,600 barges carry more total tonnage than those of any other European country (though the neighboring Netherlands transports 66% of its internal commerce by water). This week in Hannover, Federal Transport Minister Hans-Christoph Seebohm will sign an agreement that calls for...
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