RAFTING. 409 



The constant struggle in Germany to extend and improve 

 commerce by reducing the cost of transport is now directed 

 chiefly to the work of improving moderate-sized rivers by 

 canalisation.* This cannot but have considerable influence 

 on the rafting of timber and on the dimensions of the rafts 

 and their mode of conveyance, etc., and arrangements should 

 be made to allow sufficient way through bridges, locks and 

 sluice-gates for the rafts. Accordingly, through the canalisation 

 of the rivers Main, Neckar, Saale, etc., timber-rafting will be 

 more and more extended to the lower courses of these rivers, 

 if by forming suitable collecting-places out of the reach of 

 floods and spacious tanks in which the rafts can be made-up 

 and through which they can pass, the construction of large 

 rafts is rendered possible. For if the rafting business is to be 

 conducted on a large scale, spacious timber- tanks at central 

 places to which rafts converge down the smaller streams are 

 indispensable. 



2. Raft*. 



Raft-sections and rafts are made-up in various ways in 

 different countries, the chief difference between them being 

 due to differences in the kind of wood to be rafted. All wood- 

 assortments may be rafted. At present, however, in Germany, 

 Austria, Hungary, Russia, etc., only logs and sawn goods are 

 rafted. Sawmill-butts are floated chiefly piece by piece, and 

 even rafting firewood across lakes has been abandoned in 



* [Inland navigation in France in T.) : 



8,694 miles / Mil canalised riyers, 



\ 3,83:$ eanals. 



All hut I7." miles of canals are in Hie hands of the State, and those are to be 

 taken over. Traffic in 1 s'.t:,, :>7.l 7:i..MU tons. Employment to 27,000 men and 

 women, and 13,000 children. 



Building materials. .. ... ... ... ... 32 per cent. 



Coal and coke ... ... ... ... ... 28 ,, 



Agricultural produce ... ... ... ... 18 



Firewood ... ... ... ... 7 



Iron and steel ... ... ... ... ... 1\ 



Manures ... ... ... ... (5 



In Britain many of the canals are in the possession of railway-companies, 

 and their competition is discouraged, while railway-rates on timber are exces- 

 sive. Time is not important in timber transport, and the. timber is seasoning 

 while it is in barges on canals. Free competition and extension of canals 

 would benefit producers of timber greatly. Tr.] 



