Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-09-02
RAFTING ON THE RHINE.

CruSaQerS, We cannot Dut cOncluue thaS
the Rhine is of quite as much Importance
now as when its banks were infested by
the robbers. A little romance has done
much to throw veil over their dark deeds,
so the world does not regard them as great
criminals as if they had lived In less
story period. The present inhabitants OF
the Rhine valley, and of the streams
which are tributary to this great river,
now turn It's waters to good account,
making the river of romance serve the
more laudable purposes of commerce.
The great timber RATS which are met so
often are objects of great interest to the
traveller, and must also be to the reader.
These immense RATS appear in the dis
tanee like floating islands, with villages
and country houses upon them; indeed,
they are considerable worlds in them
selves. They are the produce of the i'm
mense forests that lie along the rich val
leys and high mountains of the Rhine
tributaries-the placid Neckar, the push
ing Main, and the crystal Moselle. Per-
haps it was quite 100 years ago th { the
inhabitants of some of these timber local
tiles conceived the idea of uniting their
strength and means, and fosting a raft
into the Rhine, thence through this great
thoroughfare into Holland and the Meth
er-lands, where the upper country timber
is very valuable, and sells at a good round
figure. So they all set to work as one
man, felled the giant trunks, slid them
down the steep mountains, rolled them
into the river, and united them together
with strong thongs and bolts. When the
whole structure is complete, houses are
erected upon it, yards and pens built for
the COWS and pigs, and the whole village,
sometimes to the number Of five or six
hundred persons, embark, with their en-
tire domestic eeonomy-spinning wheels,
work-benehes, etc. If it be early spring,
loads Of rich earth Of the valley is carted
upon the raft, planted with vegetables
and corn which will grow and ripen be-
fore the huge structure reaches lis des-
tination and is sold. Everything being
ready, and supplies all aboard-meat, po-
tatoes, wine and beer-the great snake
like float is given to tne current. The
villagers that are left behind wave their
hats and bonnets as it floats off, in re-
Spouse to those on board. But, believe
me, they had much rather be of one of
the party on the raft for it is consider
ed great fun; and not to have been to
Deutschland" in this singular way, is
enough to disqualify young lady for
marriage. What long RATS one would
see on the Connecticut or the Hudson if
such were the custom in America.
The raft we have just passed, making
its slow way with the current, started a
long while ago from the upper Neckar--
perhaps its timber came from the great
Black Forests above Heidelberg It
was 900 feet in length or thereabouts j,
and carried an entire village. At least 500
men are required to steer it safely through
the rapids, such as are met with under
the Lurlie or Bingen Lock. This they
do by means Of long poles, which extend
into the water, but it is hard work, and
requires both ..skiIlful hand and prac-
ticed eye, as well as great knowledge of
the rocks, shoals and whirlpools of the
river. Sometimes the people on the
front cannot see the whole of the raft,
for 1t has become a semi-circle in twisting
around the sharp curve in the stream.
You observe that everything on board is
working fine y. Old women are spinning
at the doors of the little houses young
ladies with Raxen hair and very verdant
looks, are sewing or peeling potatoes;
young men are lounging about in thessun,
and smoking long pipes and chatting
among themselves. Under large shed
the dinner is cooking, enough for the en-
tire village. If we had only passed them
half an hour later, perhaps they would
all bave been at table. 1t is gay scene,
and just ones idea of "roughing it." If
Bulwer had put his "Pilgrims" on raft
like this, | am sure that Gertrude would
not have died, and Trevyour would not
have grown disconsolate. AS the raft
never puts ashore or stops, unless some
accident happens, it would be delight
full isolation from the world and one
need not get acquainted with Fran
Schneider's family unless he chose; but
perhaps the faxen-haired young. lady
would make an agreeable c-mpanion.
Who knows %
1t is estimated that from the time one
of these RATS sets out until it is sold in
Holland, 45, 900 pounds of bread, 10000
pounds of fresh and dried meat, $4,000
pounds of butter, 10000 pounds of cheese
so sacks of dried vegetables, 500 tuns of
beer and butts of wine are consumed.
The expense is so great that large capt.
tai is necessary, hence, the combining of
whole villages in the undertaking.
Their navigation is also exceedingly diff
cult, owing to the abrupt windings of the
river A few years ago boatman of
Rudeshelm nonopolized the piletage of
these RATS, as it was believed that him.
self and his sons alone knew the whirl-
pools and rocks Of the river. At the
end of the voyage these floats frequently
bring as much as one or two hundred
thousand dollars. Having plenty of mon
ey, the now happy raft-folks go home on
the Rhine steamers; the women loaded
with gew gaws from Rotterdam or Dor.
trecht, the men and boys with new hats
and trowsers, and all as happy can be.
Whole villages Of peasants are thus made
well-to do, if they get their raft safe into
port at time when timber brings a good
price.
During the years 1889, 1910, and 1S41,
the quantity Of timber thus imported into
Holland amounted to much more than
for any subsequent year. The annual
value of such importations now aver age
about S8OO,000. 1t is mostly used for