Geografie 1960, 65, 138-151
The Upper Silesian Industrial Region
The present Upper Silesian Industrial Region (Górnośląski Okręg Przemysłowy) is a part of the Katovice country situated in south-western Poland. It represents one of the foremost industrial areas in today's Poland. Coal mines form the basis of the industry; lead-zinc ores and several other raw materials are extracted in abundant quantities. Having been built during the capitalist era without proper planning, it suffers from all consequences, i. e. plants built without any consideration of eventuel future increased demands, unsanitary working as well as housing conditions, thougtless devastation of natural surroundings, irregularities in transport, etc. The Polish People's Republic set out, therefore, to realise an extensive Reconstruction Plan serving the reconstruction of the whole area. The main points in the reconstruction programme will be as follows: Transfer of all industrial plants not dependent directly from the mineral output of the area, to other less inhabited regions; modernization of industrial enterprises; construction of brand-new fashionable housing estates; re-arrangement and improvement of the present sanitary conditions; improvement in transport. After the realisation of this programme, the number of inhabitants on 1 km2 (912 citizens on 1 km2 at present) will be considerably reduced and the whole population more regularly divided into modern housing estates. Methods applied in coal and ore mining will be highly economized, and consequently the Upper Silesian Industrial Region will soon become an up-to-date industrial centre of socialist Poland.
