The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-19

EMORIES of the prosperous
MI era of the Hanseatic league
Nv l. are stirred by the proposal
that has recently been made
for Joining the one-time Hanseatic
cities Of Hamburg and Lubbock. The
cities, which were both leaders in the
old league, lie only about 40 miles
apart in northeastern Germany, one
on the Elbe river near it's mouth into
the North sea, and the other on the
River Trave, only ten miles from the
Baltic sea. The object of the associ-
alton Of the two ports would be to
eliminate competition and to overcome
the effects Of the depression that both
have felt.
Hamburg is both a free port and
free city; and he who sees Hamburg
quickly learns that both appellations
have practical consequences. The Wis
itOr starts forth, wisely enough, to see
Hamburgs best advertised spectacle,
it's harbor. He finds it has not been
overrated. 1t is one of the most amaz-
ing industrial spectacles in the world;
that vast sweep Of cluttered water,
pierced by hundreds of land fingers
separating the rectangular water
sheets which are basins, skylined by
monster skeletons Of mighty ships in
the building, often smoke-screened by
the chimney outpourings of myriad
factories.
For six miles along the broad Elbe,
rs miles up-river from the sea, extend
the massive docks, the hippodrome
landing stages, the intricate tumble
landing stages are necessary because
Hamburg has an "open harbor," acces-
sible to the tide, in contrast to the
dock-basins and flood-gates of much
Of the Port of London.
A ferry is the proper sightseeing We
hicle. For the port is a 15-square-
mile area, strewn with every type Of
modern vessel, from huge ocean liners
down through lazy barges, alert
yachts, energetic motorboats, chug-
ging tugs, and busy ferries.
"You have your pass, Of course"
|
ferry'-"circular" applying to the trip,
not the craft.
"a pass, what for?"
"a part Of this harbor is free port,
SIR" patiently explains the boatman.
sand you will wish to come back"
What the Free Port Means.
You get your pass, your boatman
| threads his way for miles and miles
through floating traffic jam, but an
orderly one-that makes crossing Fifth
avenue seem child's play to the land
iubber mind. You visit the free port,
then your ferry heads back toward
your embarkation place. On the way
you pull up at what seems to be Gus
toms house. displaying sign which
marks the free port limits. You show
your pass; the boat is searched.
You understand the need for the
pass, and you realize, too, that you
have just seen one key to the pros
| perity of the foremost continental port
The huge free port, with its mammoth
warehouses, cluttered with silks from
China, beef from Argentina, coffee
from Brazil, harvesters from the Unit
ed States, all bearing addresses for
transshipment to strange-named Baltic
ports, none to pay cent of duty into
Germany's treasury.
| One-third Of Hamburg's harbor, you
later learn, is given over to this free
port; in it's zone are employed some
10000 of the city's 10000 industrial
workers.
Hamburg entered the German Gus
toms union in 1888, thus enabling it to
sell its own goods to Germany, tariff
free, but its canny senate maintained
| it's free port privileges, which ar
rangement makes it the great trans
ocean department store of the Baltic.
- A senate in a city? Yes, senate
which clings to its stiff Spanish dress
as Loyalty as it guards the ancient
rights and privileges of the free city
the "Free and Hanseatic City of Ham
burg"
There are only three German sur
vivors of that mighty Hanseatic mer-
chandising chain of the Middle ages
Bremen, Lubbock and Hamburg. OF
these three the mightiest is Hamburg.
Once the senators of Hamburg were
elected for life. Their rule of Ham,
burg was as autocratic, to our modern
way Of thinking, as that of the doges
of Venice. That has changed now.
There is house of burgesses, giving
legislative balance much like that
under the United States capitol dome.
Where Hambure's Senate Sits.
The senate sits in the town hall.
Perhaps you have heard of the famous
Ratsweinkeller, beneath the central
building, with its jolly stone Bacchus
frankly enthroned at the entrance to
a vestibule adorned with stained glass
window portaitures of the John Paul
Joneses of maritime Hamburg. You
climb aloft. The peculiar walls catch
your eye. They seem to be of solid
wood, most delicately carved and beau
tifully decorated. Closer examination
shows some to be felt, pressed to the
hardness and likeness of wood, with
the intricate patterns imposed by a
matrix.
And after a banquet hall that con-
lures up memories of the belted bur-
gesses, the staunch merchants and the
| gentlemen adventures of medieval
times you come upon the senate cham