244 William Brown, Esq., on the Flood at Frastanz, 



cut down, and were young trees put in the place of those re- 

 moved, their fresh and vigorous roots would bind the soil to- 

 together ; but when the only roots are decaying ones, the 

 occurrence of heavy rain fills these numerous canals, and the 

 weight at length separates the superincumbent mass from 

 the gravel bed beneath. 



On the 17th I again passed through the village. The 

 gravel still flowed, although in smaller quantity. On the 

 23d, when I saw it for the last time, the flow of gravel had 

 very much ceased. The danger to the mill and other houses 

 was considered to be over for the time ; but there was enter- 

 tained an apprehension that, unless the gravel were removed, 

 when the spring floods came down, serious injury would take 

 place. A letter of 2d November 1846, gave me the follow- 

 ing information : " The water at Frastanz has already worked 

 wonderful changes since you were here. At the bridge, the 

 old channel has reappeared, but there is still a tremendous 

 mass below. A wooden channel has' been constructed, at 

 great expense, from the 111 towards Gamahle's mill, to con- 

 fine the water, and carry ofi" the stuff*; and has so far done 

 excellent service, although the stream has broken through 

 more than once.'' 



A letter, dated 20th January 1848, describes the present 

 state of matters : " The mass of gravel and stones brought 

 down has been, perhaps, one-third washed down into the 111, 

 by means of a wooden canal constructed on purpose, but 

 which is now, to a great extent, filled and buried. The 

 channel of the 111 has been raised by the stuff so brought 

 down, as far as Feldkirch, several feet ; and there are im- 

 mense masses of loose stones and gravel still above, to an 

 extent of several miles up the ravine, which, sooner or later, 

 must be washed down, and threaten to renew the catastrophe 

 at any time. Another and smaller, but wild mountain stream, 

 * the Gallina Bach,' between Nestying and Frastanz, which 

 crosses the main road, has this year been playing the same 

 game, and has brought down, and kept in constant motion 

 for weeks together, a mass of gravel with scarcely any visi- 

 ble water, in a way which is scarcely credible to one who 

 has not seen it. At some distant period this stream has 



