Show A nllT Illlll II Still III Ot course ever body knows that the Dutch have taken Holland and most reaelern know how they did It Hut It appears that the resistless sea has also i had n hand In taking It and the plucky Dutch are being asked to look 10 and recover their laurel In other word 10 reclaim Borne of the territory which the stormy German occurs has J held for Its own The proposition Is I to drain n largo part of the Zuvdcr Zee that arm of the sea which now coverIng cover-Ing more than 3000 square miles was once a valuable territory traversed by several rivers flowing into vn small fresh water lake Centuries ago the area of this lake became extended by flocidtit marsh were formed and at length violent storms broke down the sandy barriers between the sea and the marshes and by successive Inroads the whole territory was submerged ton to-n dIlh rang ng four thr fet to tvventyslt feet Tho small fresh water Ink has gIven place tu a saltwater water sea about onethird the area of Lake ntle The proposed enterprise which Is lganUo enough to entitle It I to prom IIICllt mention among the greatest of tho century is I before the Dutch parliament for sanction and aid The estimated cost will bo about 133000 000 and some thirtythree years will be needed for Its entire completion Tile Mum Is an enormous one especially especial-ly for a IIUlo country like Holland and the time required Is I also calctll Ited to care on statesmen who live only I for the present But the Ie of an undertaking Ties never yet Intimidated In-timidated the Dutch nor cnn their lawmakers unless they have greatly dcterloraled bo deemed shortsighted It Is safe to expect therefore that the proposition will receive maturo con slIraUon with more than it probability proba-bility that It will find favor Commenting upon tile mt scheme the Cleveland Ilalndealer points out an Interesting precedent and gives details de-tails that may be lead with value Halt a century ago Haarlem lake with an era uf about seventy mile wa drained und the success of this en elncerlng work suggested the practicability prac-ticability of the greater task of reclaiming re-claiming the land that had for centuries been submerged beneath the waters ot the Zuydcr Zee Plans were made but w ere not considered practicable prac-ticable From tlmo to time the project Ties been revived and modified until the scheme was perfected and this having received the approval of tile nwalts the government decision tit the 1 states general It Is proposed Ito I-to build a dike of faselnei and clay with a facing of concrete block from KuvycK on the north Holland coast to the Island of Wlerlngen This dam will be about grteen feet above the average level of the water and will taper to a width of about six feet be Injc made thus narrow to prevent It being used as a roadway South of this barring dam which of Itself will cost JI2000000 and tequlro I nine Mnrs for construction the water 13 I to be pumped out from the greater part of the Inclosed basin The part ot greatest great-est digression will be left as a basin for the waters of the YI and other rivers the discharge of which into thom tho-m will bo provided for by canals i protected by locks These locks will he Opened ut low tide to i permit the escape of the waters and cloo1 at high tlJi to bar out the Inflow I of tho Sa In course uf Urn It Is I expected Lake ys1 will firearms a fresh water lake as was the Tlevo of ancient times which occupied Its site before the Irruption of the waters of the North sea Navigation canals will also be mad connecting Ik YI with the cities that are now on the const ot the Zuydtr Zee The project Is wholly feasible no cording to all reports and tn view of the Proud distinction the tight little country has long enjoyed In thin particular par-ticular line of conquest the present undertaking seema to Ile III every way worthy ef her |