The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-09-03
GERMAN TOURIST CLUBS.
Network Of Organization to In
crease the Comforts OF Travellers.


When the average British tourist is
arranging his plans for continental
holiday he Is apt to leave out of the reck-
oning most of those centers in Germany
which lie off the beaten track of English
travel, his impression being that, how
ever great their charm, it would be diff
cult for him, with his more or less inad-
cquate command of the language, to find
his way about in them. The possibility
of his getting lost in what he regards as
the trackless expanse of German for
est deters him from fresh enterprises,
and he invariably keeps to the recog-
nized routes, in which alone he thinks
there is safety for him. But, however
reasonable his fears may have been
years ago, the fact should be recognized
that there now exists throughout prac-
tically the whole of the innumerable for
est districts and Fairgrounds" of Ger
many are almost perfect network of or
CARNATIONS employed in facilitating the
movements and increasing the comforts
of tourists in every possible way, car
rying on, in fact, work the like of
which is unknown among ourselves, but
one that, for its ceaseless activity, it's
thorough-going and most practical plan
of operations, and it's extremely BEN
eficial results, deserves the most cordial
recognition. 1t is found to be of no use
to rely on local or other authorities for
the real opening up of a district. The
authorities will keep main roads in re-
pair and put up sign posts thereon; but
the route of the tourist in search of the
picturesque lies as often as not, in Ger
many, away from the main roads,
through more or less dense forests,
along unfrequented valleys or over
mountain tops; and il these by-Faths
are to he indicated and kept in order it
must be done by private agency. This
is where the work of the Tourist Verein
mainly comes in and so well, indeed, is
the work done that there is to-day hard
ly forest or mountain region in Ger
many where tourist cannot find his
way about or reach a given point with
an ease entirely lacking in the case of a
stranger who gets into the inner re-
cesses of Epping Forest, of Wales, or the
New Forest, or of almost any other of
our holiday resorts
Each vcrein, or club, is formed by some
hundreds, or. it may be, some thousands,
of residents in particular district, the
funds being provided by means of small
subscriptions ranging from two shill-
ings to five shillings year. The organ
ization consists, as a rule, of a central
body and sufficient number of sections
to cover the whole of the district, each
section taking care of it's own locality.
The practice varies somewhat, but ia
vorite method is for the members to join
section and pay their subscription to
that section, part of the money being re-
tanned for local purposes. while the re-
mainder goes to the central body to
form fund for the payment of general
expenses or for the making of special
grants. Each section has it's independ-
ent organization for local purposes, but
sends representatives to the general as
sembly of the club. A large number Of
the clubs have also joined themselves in
to federation which meets year b.
year in different parts of Germany.
The object aimed at are, generally
speaking, the indication of routes ac-
cording to uniform system; the con-
struction of footpaths and the keeping in
order of paths already made; the open
ing out of good points of view or the IA
cilitating of access to them; the pro-
vision of seats, shelters and also of pros
pect towers in the case. say, of noun
tain tops where an elevation above the
height of the trees would give greatly
extended view; the publication of
guide books and maps, and so on. The
advantage of each club being split up in
to sections is that the members in par
ticular locality are naturally better ac-
quainted with it than those living else
where would be, and take a more direct
personal interest in carrying out the de-
sired arrangements therein as thor
oughly as they can. Not only this, but
each particular section within the dis
trict becomes, practically, separate
club, which, besides the actual work
periodical gatherings in the winter for
the purpose OF either social enjoyment or
of hearing lectures on travels, scientific
subjects or questions of the day. In a
large number of instances the branch
club forms in it's particular stadtchen,
or in its group of villages center OF
social and intellectual activity which
tends largely to promote the well being
of the community.-London Times.