The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-27
MAINZ, A NOTED TOWN.
Known Also as Mayence, 1t Has I'M
portAnt Site on the Rhine.

Known Also as Mayence, 1t Has I'm
portant Site on the Rhine.
A war geography bulletin issued by
the National Geographic society from
its Washington headquarters, gives
the following information about the
strongly fortified German city or
Mainz. where serious food riots are
reported to have occurred recently:
Situated on the left bank OF the
Rhine, just below the mouth of the
Main. Mainz, or Mayence as 1t Is fire.
quently spelled. is twenty-five miles
southwest of Frankfort-on-Main and
more than 14O miles in an airline
northeast of verdun, the nearest
French stronghold Of any Importance.
The town owes its present-day I'M
portance largely to the Rhine wine
trade, for which it is the headquarters
and to It's extensive leather and fur-
niture industries. The town numbers
more than 900 inhabitants. includ-
ing the suburbs and a garrison Of S.ooo
soldiers. The city limits now embrace
twice as much area beyond the ola
line Of Notifications as is included in
them, this growth having taken place
since 1871.
There has been a settlement at
Mainz since Celtic times. The Romans
recognized the strategic value OF the
site and Drusus, Augustus Caesars
step-son and younger brother OF the
Emperor Tiberius, established a camp
here as early as 13 B. c. Native and
Roman tradeks soon settled about the
camp which became the center Of the
Roman expeditions sent into Central
Germany. One of the most interesting
memorials OF these early days IL q
grim concrete tower, about forty feet
! high, which stands on the site OF the
old camp. 1t is supposed to have been
erected by devoted Roman legions IN
memory Of Drussus, the first OF the
Roman emperors to arrogate to him
self divine honors during his lifetime
referring to himself in public docu-
ments as Our Lord and God caused
| to be built at Mainz the first bridge
across hte Rhine.
.sChristianity was early introduced
into Mainz, perhaps in the fourth cen
! fury, and one of the first bishops, st.
/ Boniface, left his imprint permanently
upon the town for the arms OF the
city today include the wheels which
the saint incorporated into his own
armorial bearings in honor OF his
father. who was a humble English
! whelwright.
During the middle ages the arch
bishop Of Mainz enjoyed vast power.
although the citizens not fnfrequently
revolted. On one occasion 500 citizens
were slain and all the leading mer-
chnats Of the town we're banished by
rival archbishop Of Nassau.
"The zenith Of Mainz's glory came
| in that period which followed the or
iganization OF the League of Rhenlsh
towns by Arnold Walpod in 254. 1t
was in that era the city won the title
OF golden Mainz,' being the chief or
the hundred commercial centers dot
ted along the great waterway from
Basel to the North sea.
From 1897 to 1915 Mainz belonged
to France, but in the later year 1t was
assigned to the grand duchy of Hesse.
"Mainz's chief right Of distinction
is as the birthplace and last resting
place of Johan Gansfleisch, surnamed
for his mother. Gutenberg, inventor
of movable type and, therefore, the
father of printing. Gutenberg was
born here toward the end Of the four
tenth century, went to Strassburg
when young, but returned to his ma
tive town in 1444. and 1t was here his
first book was printed, probably as
early as 1447 He died twenty years
later. Thorwaldson. sculptor of the
famous Lion Of Lucerne, designed the
Gutenberg statue which Mainz has er'
ected to It's greatest citizen.
There has been cathedral al
Mainz since the year 406. The inter
esting building Of today dates from
the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries-a most interesting monu
ment to various periods Of archftec
ture.
l"The extensive new harbors OF
Mainz, built in 1sS0-1Ss7. have en-
HANGED the city's trade which is con
! siderable in grain, timber, vegetables
chemicals, musical instruments, car
pets, petroleum and paper, in addition
to the wines, leather goods and fur
Initure already mentioned"