MANNHEIM. 
329 
It is in the Waldhof quarter that the municipality has executed its most 
ambitious improvement scheme. Apprehensive that the plan (now sanctioned) 
for deepening the Rhine-Main canal as far as Aschaffenburg and the less certain 
yet inevitable proposal to rectify the Rhine as far as Basle would divert much 
of Mannheim’s transit trade, the municipal administration determined in 1895 to 
construct a new dock of large proportions with a view to attracting industrial 
undertakings to the town. To this end they bought an extensive area of land 
abutting on an arm of the Rhine, which was four miles long with an average 
width of 325 yards, and had been used for timber rafts. This sheet of water 
was deepened and converted into a dock navigable by heavy vessels, and com 
munication with the Rhine was established by locks. While the wharves were 
provided with every possible convenience in the form of railway connections, 
cranes, &c., the land on both sides of the dock was laid out for building 
purposes and thrown into the market. The bold scheme has proved a great 
success. A host of large industrial undertakings have sprung up on what was 
formerly undeveloped and almost unused land, and the Waldhof district is to-day 
the centre of a busy life and the home of a large and increasing population. 
This is only one of Mannheim’s docks, however, for besides the Rhine quays, 
about l|r miles in extent, there are in all eight docks for various merchandise. 
The municipality is the largest landed proprietor in the district, 
having altogether in 1904 saleable estate to the extent of 5,349 acres and to 
the value of some two and a quarter million pounds. Of this estate 2,183 
acres consisted of agricultural land, 1,860 acres of wood, 111 acres of land 
for industrial purposes, and 616 acres of land for town extension and 
other purposes. From its town estate the municipality continuously sells 
eligible building land, while manufacturers and industrialists wishful to start 
new undertakings are offered sites outside on favourable terms, but the 
rule is invariably followed of employing a certain proportion of the proceeds 
of any sale of real estate in the purchase of land elsewhere. In Mannheim 
also, as in many other large German towns, the planning of the town is 
carried out on a systematic basis. Speculative builders are not allowed to 
build where and how they like. The streets of the future and the style of 
houses of which they shall consist are determined in advance, and the builder 
must fall in with the design which is prepared for him. Only thus is the 
administrative authority able (in its own words) to " take full advantage of all 
the arts of town building.” 
One method employed in the planning of new districts is the reparcelling 
of the land. An entire area is “ pooled,” so to speak, and the proprietors receive 
back the full value of their original properties though by a different apportion 
ment. Several districts have been laid out in this way. The attendant 
difficulties are many, however, and often they .would be insuperable were it not 
that a powerful lever is at the command of the municipality, when obstructive 
landowners have to be dealt with, in the form of compulsory expropriation. 
Much is done by municipal action to promote the health of the working 
classes in various ways. Strenuous efforts are being made to combat tubercu 
losis and other infectious diseases. All deaths from consumption must be 
notified, and doctors in attendance upon advanced cases must notify these in 
the event of change of address, also cases in schools or training institutions ; 
upon notification the health authority adopts effectual measures of disinfection. 
The expenditure of the Poor Law Administration in relief of all kinds 
amounted in 1904 to about 4a. ßd. per head of the population, or 35. 6d. after 
deduction of repayments from other authorities and private persons. There 
is, however, a considerable amount of saving in a small way amongst the 
working classes. The Municipal Savings Bank had at the end of 1904 accu 
mulated investments of £1,200,000 standing in 34,048 names. Of these 
depositors 17*5 per cent, had savings to the amount of £2 10s. and under; 
10 per cent, had from £2 11s. to £5 ; 20 per cent, had from £5 Is. to 
£12 10s. ; 16*2 per cent, had from £12 11s. to £25 ; and 15*6 per cent, had 
from £25 Is. to £50 ; making 79*3 per cent, of smaller investors, whose 
deposits made 30 per cent, of the whole. The entire funds averaged £35 5s. 
per head, and the new deposits of 1905 averaged £6 12s. per head. 
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