water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization THE WOODMEN

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization WOODMEN OF INTRA Woods were the main characteristic of the lake surrounding. The most spread plants were conifers, chestnut trees, birches, beeches and oaks. Torrents and lake water were fundamental to transport the wood (for commerce or to be manifactured) from the inaccessible inner villages to the towns on the lake like Pallanza, Intra, Cannobio. Since XIII century, the woodmen of Intra went into the deserted Valgrande, where they cut down the trees and reduced them in borre, that were branded with fire, with the official brands of the town. After that, the trunks were left along the torrents San Bernardino and San Giovanni, waiting for the great floods tha transported the wood to the lake, where it floated allowing the owners to recognise the trees and to collect them.

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization BERTONE THE WOODMAN WAS CHARGED WITH A BIG WOOD SUPPLY BY A YARD FROM LOMBARDIA. FIRST HE WENT TO THE COMMUNE TO REGISTER HIS BRAND. AFTER THAT, HE WENT INTO THE WOOD TO CHOOSE THE BEST TREES.

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization AFTER CUTTING THE TRUNKS, THE WOOD CUTTERS MADE A LOT OF BOARDS (BORRE) AND BRANDED THEM BEFORE LEAVING THEM INTO THE TURRENT. - How hard it is!

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization THE TRUNKS FLOATING.

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization SOMETIMES IT COULD HAPPEN THAT THE TRUNKS TRANSPORTED DOWN BY THE FLOODS DAMAGED THE HARBOUR STRUCTURES, WITH THE ANNOYANCE OF THE MERCHANTS. -Oh, no! What a disaster, again! - This time we take the woodmen to court!

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization TRUNKS CARRIED TO VALLEY BY THE FLOOD (BUZZA), BEFORE BEING COLLECTED.

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization TRUNKS COLLECTION. -Oh Heave! - How heavy are these trunks? - Oh yeah, they’re heavy!

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization TRUNKS TRANSPORTED TO MILAN.

water roads of europe: bridges of progress and civilization MILAN’S YARD -This is the last one - Thank goodness!