The Newtown bee., 1879-09-17
The Timber Rats of the Black Forest.

The Timber Rats of the Black Forest.
The Bauer (peasant) is primarily and
by nature woodman; and a very large
proportion of the Black Forest people,
who number about 300, 900, are employed
in the cutting and transporting, by road
and water, of this chief product of their
land. Formerly all the timber was
ffoated down the various streams into
the Rhine. Very much oft is now con-
veyed by road and railway; but, fortu-
nately for lovers of the picturesque, the
old method is not wholly out of use,
and rafting-Holz-Flos as it is
called-still forms for the stranger one OF
the most attractive features OF Black
Forest life. The pines, having been
sawed off little above the roots, are
slid down the mountain OF hillside where
they have grown into the never-failing
stream, which flows rapidly over bould-
ers and amid rapids, through the valley.
Here they are pierced at each end and
tied with willow roots, in rows of from
four to ten, according to the width of
the stream. To this roughly-construct
raft similar oneis joined, also tied with
willow roots. To this another and an
other are added, until, perhaps, as many
as thirty lengths of tall pine trees have
been Joined. To the foremost sort of
rough bow followed tree trunks
usually fixed, and the last section of the
raft is fitted with rudder formed of a
STRIPPING pine The frail, extraordi-
nary-looking craft is now launched
on its rapid voyage. A man
stands at the bow to steady it.,
the water flying up between the
trees and drenching him at every yard.
raft, men furnished with poles or oars
move rapidly from section to section.
| guiding here, restraining there, and at
times having to use all their strength to
| cling on, liable to be swamped at every
moment as the raft rushes madly along
with the impetuous torrent, dashing
over rapids and through narrows, and
over boulders, twisting and curying as it
follows the intricate windings OF the
stream, ''like a thing of life; not pre-
cisely after the fashion in which we ordl-
nari1y apply the term. but rather in the
form of huge, black, wriggling serpent
which seems to swim rather through
than upon the surface of the stream
sending a rolling wave before it, which
surges up and through the tree-trunks
in a thousand kissing eddies. AS may
we'll be believed the navigation of these
RATS requires no little skill, care and
knowledge of the locality; and the ex-
treme rapidity with which they are car
ried over the seethipg water seems tc
the uninitiated on-looker simply mad
career toward destruction. As matter
of fact, however, the streams are so shat
low that little real danger exists. Where
the narrow mountain stream flows out
into the scarcely less rapid river. the
RATS are widened and joined to others
until in time, when the broad and stately
Rhine is reached. they are built up into
those floating villages which may be sc
often observed upon the rive =, some o
them, it is said, 700 feet lo' :. These
constructions are very pecullar. IheS
are formed of several Layers OF trees
placed one on the other, and plankee
over with rough deal so as to form {
deck. Upon this are erected variou.
small huts and cabins; for the Rhlnt
raft carries often a population OF no
less than three or four hundred per
sons, the boatmen being accompanied
by their wives and families, while
COWS. fowls AID pigs are also carried
for the use of the crew; and W.
are assured that the domestic econom,,
OF an Fast Indiaman OF an Engllsi
man of-war could hardly be more com
plete. A well-supplied boiler is at worl
night and day in the kitchen; the Dime
hour is announced by basket stuck OF
a pole, ut which signal the pilot give
the word of command and the men rul
from all quarters to receive their ia
tions, while the consumption OF pro
visions during the voyage is stated to b
almost incredible, it having been calcu
a ted that from the time of the construc
ton of the raft until it is sold no les
than $4,000 pounds of bread. 5000
pounds of meat, $4,000 pounds of butter
10000 pounds of cheese, 500 tuns OF beer
eight butts of wine, and other provision
in proportion are disposed of. The RAFT
are navigated to Holland, where the
are sold, producing from 100000, t
$1,000 each. The RATS are very ire
quently the property of a compana
known as the Schiller -Gesellschaft
which dates from the sixteenth century
and which unites vast number OF sma
forest proprietors. This company, to
gether with the government and til
Prince of Furstenberg, owns the create
part of the Black Forest. The tlmbe
,, exported from the forests of the Schiller
Gesellschaft alone is estimated at owe
100000 yearly, and altogether Hollan
, is a consumer of Black Forest timber
> the amount of $780, 600 per annum-