53 
ASCHAFFENBURG. 
The industrial importance of Aschaffenburg, in Bavaria, arises from the fact 
that it is a principal centre of the coloured paper trade. The town is situated 
to the south-east of Frankfort on the right bank of the Main (which is at present 
only navigable for small craft), and is almost equally distant from the frontiers 
of Prussia, Hesse, and Baden. It has a population (census of December, 1905) 
of 25,892. In this enumeration are included the two small incorporated 
suburbs of Damm and Leider. In 1900 (before this municipal extension) the 
population was 18,093, in 1895 it was 15,831, and in 1890, 13,630. 
Aschaffenburg has made steady growth during the past twenty years, yet 
owing to its geographical position, and the absence of varied industries, it is in 
the main dependent upon the natural increase of population, and has not 
experienced any such remarkable turn in its fortunes as has fallen to so many 
German industrial towns since the early ’seventies. The situation of the town 
is a very pleasant one, standing as it does on high ground, surrounded by 
woods and orchards. It is a real combination of town and country, for not only 
do a considerable number of its factory workers come in from the neighbouring 
villages, but agriculture stretches to its very gates. 
Much has been done to modernise the appearance of the streets, but 
half of them are old-fashioned, quiet thoroughfares, almost devoid of traffic. 
Narrow alleys conduct by steep inclines to the high levels from which the 
surrounding country can be surveyed. The houses in these parts of the town 
are very old and very picturesque, with carved doorways, oaken timbers, and 
high roofs of red or glazed grey tiles. The streets are unevenly paved, and" 
many are not paved at all. White and red sandstone obtained from the 
vicinity is largely used for building, with gneiss for the foundations, but 
brickwork and stucco are also common. 
The manufacture of coloured papers of all kinds was introduced into the 
town at the beginning of the nineteenth century, at which time there was a 
resident population of about 6,000, whose other labour outlets were mainly con 
fined to small breweries, distilleries, and tobacco manufactories. In addition to its 
paper mills the town has now several engineering and machine works, a copper 
rolling mill, a number of beer breweries, a very considerable clothing trade, 
besides industries of minor importance, though paper continues to be its main 
interest. 
At the present time Aschaffenburg is impatiently awaiting the beginning of a 
project which will give a great stimulus to its prosperity. This is the deepening of 
the Main from Offenbach, a work which the Government of Prussia is to execute 
as far as Hanau, and that of Bavaria from Hanau forward to Aschaffenburg. The 
river is to have a navigable depth of 8 feet, which will enable vessels of much 
greater draught to bring coal and other merchandise to the town. Aschaffenburg 
has already a small dock, constructed alongside the river, but a new one will be 
necessary to cope with the greatly increased traffic expected when the canal 
scheme has been carried out. The municipal authority shows great energy, 
and strives to promote the development of the town in every way possible with 
its limited resources. It freely buys land for town extension and improvement 
purposes, and of one considerable estate acquired in 1900 a large part has 
already been sold for industrial works of various kinds. Its revenue includes a 
considerable sum derived from forests (by the sale of timber, bark, fuel, &c.) 
and orchards. 
The undertakings of the town include gasworks, waterworks, market- 
hall, slaughter-house, a pawnshop, and a savings bank. There is no tramway 
system, nor yet a public electric light service. 
Aschaffenburg still" maintains its old system of octroi. The town is 
surrounded by a network of tollhouses (Accisstellen) in which dues are 
levied upon farm stock, coal and other fuel, bread and flour, beer and malt 
entering the town. The tax on bread is 1 pfennig per kilogramme per 
4 lb.) ; on flour 6& per cwt. ; upon coal 20 pfennige (2^/.) per ton ; upon 
wood ’fuel from 10 to 15 pfennige (1 \d. to \%d.) per cubic metre 
(34*3 cubic feet) ; on beer 65 pfennige (7£d.) per hectolitre (about