The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-04-30
THE RHINE IN HISTORY AND
COMMERCE

COMMERCE
The Rhine in history and commerce
forms the subject of statement Just
issued from the National Geograph-
ical Society, which is as follows:
First among the commercial riv-
ers of civilization, the most import
ant geographical feature of central
| Europe, a holly contested boundary
for more than 1000 years. one of the
richest among the streams of the
world in legend and folklore. and in
comparable for the beauties of its
course, when one calls to mind the
Rhine of Germany, he thinks upon
one of the most important elements
of the culture and the history of his
race, whether he be of its Latin or
Teutonic branch. The Rhine and
the Germans came upon the stage of
history together, and their fates have
been indissolubly bound together ever
since. His kindred with this mighty
river, Father Rhine, is one of the more
conscious elements of each Germans
ture, his war songs, his opera, and his
blood Offerings have testified. Few
geographical features have affected
the conscious life of race so deely
as has the German River Rhine.
Rising in the highest Alps in CEN
trail Europe, the Rhine reaches the
North Sea after a journey of $50
miles, and the last part of its course is
through lowland whose surface is
below the tides crest. The river
gathers its water at the base of melt
ing glaciers, plungeS over the great
rock masses toward its lower levels,
cuts through the widest mountain
valleys, traverses a wonderful high,
broad plain, and, then, entering its
famous gorge, wanders through ex-
Iuisite panoramas, through a lane
everywhere mantled with ruins of
historic castles, abbeys, churches, and
every foot of its way celebrated by
egend or history. After emerging
rom its gorge, it flows through a
)lain where powerful steel textile and
chemical industries center. Through
Germany and Holland. the Rhine
orms the principal water avenue OF
central and western Europe, and an
enormous commerce is handled
through its ports.
THE Rhine is international. 1t is
divided between Switzerland, Germ
any and Holland. That part of the
river which lies in Germany, $50 miles
in length. has been most disputed. The
French have laid claim to its left
bank on the grounds that the Rhine
formed the boundary line of Roman
Gaul Though the Roman Empire
reached out beyond the broad Rhine,
the river formed, nevertheless, its
effective barrier against the northern
barbarans. However, when the realm
of Charlemagne was divided and the
boundaries Of Verdun established. the
Rhine became wholly the property of
Germany, and France early began her
centuries-long policy of winning the
stream back again. Complete success
crowned this policy under the Napol-
enoic empire, the Rhine became once
more the boundary of Gaul. The Ger
mans reassumed sovereignty of their
beloved Father Rhine after 1871, and
in the present war the possession oil
the historic river is one of the most
critical quest ms.
THE Rhine, like a mighty tree in
form, receives ns waters from count.
less tributaries. and gives them Elp tc
the sea through innumerable offshoots
Its principal source issues from glac-
ial ice 1871 feet above the sea within
the confines of the most independent
canton in Switzerland. On its way
the Rhine is fed, directly and indir.
ectly, by 1900 tributaries. 1t drains
more than 5000 square miles. Where
the Rhine enters Germany, at Basic
it is about 900 feet broad, and, for the
smallest river boats, navigation be-
gins here. There is project to make
the Rhine navigable from Basic tc
, its source for larger lighters and o.
small steam boats. Since 1868. tht
Rhine navigation has been free. anc
its river ports do a commerce with al
parts of the civilized world.
Lovers of natural beauty mentor
the German Rhine and the American
! Hudson in the same breath. TIL,
] Rhine, hwever, has many traits il
common with the American Mississi
. ppi 1t is Europe's most importan
river, it drains one of the creates
industrial regions on earth, and it i
one of the main factors in German
l commercial development Moreover
] the great timber RATS upon the Mis-
sissippi, as Mark Twain describes
a can be seen in season floating dow
the Rhine Some of these RATS ar
800 feet in length, and are guide,
down the river by more than 200 men
' who live upon them in little huts,
, whole village adrift. They closet
= resemble the RATS which Huck Fin
= met in his travels down the Ameri