| Show A GREAT DUTCH SCHEME of course everybody knows that the dutch have taken holland and most readers know how they did it but it appears that the resistless sea has also had a hand in taking it and the plucky dutch are being asked to look to and recover their laurels in other words to reclaim some of the territory which the stormy german ocean has held tor for its own the proposition is to drain a large part of the zuyder zee that arm of the sea which now covering more than square miles was waa once a valuable territory traversed by several rivers flowing into a small fresh water lake centuries ago the area of this lake became extended by goods floods marshes were formed and at length violent storms broke down the sandy aandy barriers between the sea and the marshes and by successive inroads the whole territory was submerged to a depth ranging from three feet to twenty six feet the small fresh water lake has given place to a salt water wa tersea about one third the area of lake erie brie the proposed enterprise which is gigantic enough to entitle it to prominent mention among the greatest of the century to is before beford the dutch parliament for sanction and aid the estimated cost will be about and some thirty three years will be needed for its entire completion the sum is an enormous one especially tor for a little country like holland and the time required is also calculated to scare off statesmen who live only for the present but the size of an undertaking has never yet intimidated timi Umi dated the dutch nor can their lawmakers law makers unless they have greatly deteriorated be deemed shortsighted it if is safe to expect therefore that the bro proposition position will receive mature consideration with more than a probability that it will find favor commenting upon the vast scheme the cleveland Plain dealer points out an interesting precedent and gives details that may be read with value half a century ago haarlem lake with an era of about seventy miles was drained and the success of this engineering gi work suggested the practicability tic of the greater task of reclaiming the land that had for centuries been submerged beneath the waters of the zuyder zee plans were made but were not considered practicable ti from time to time the project has been revived and modified until the scheme was perfected and this having received the approval of the government awaits the decision of the states general it is proposed to build a dike of fa and clay with a facing of concrete blocks from on the north holland coast to the island of Wie ringen this dam will be about fifteen feet above the average level of the water and will taper to a width of about six feet being made thus narrow to prevent it being used as a roadway south of this barring dam which of itself will cost and require nine years for construction the water is to be pumped out from the greater part of the basin the part of greatest depression will be left as a basin for the waters of the yssel and other rivers the discharge of which into the sea will be provided for by canals protected by locks these locks will be opened at low tide to permit the escape of the waters and closed at high tide to bar out the inflow of the sea in course of time it is expected lake yssel will become a fresh water lake as was the of ancient times which occupied its site before the irruption of the waters of the north sea navigation canals will also be made connecting lake yssel with the cities that are now on the coast of the zuyder zee the project is wholly feasible according to all reports and in view of the proud distinction the tight little country has long enjoyed in this particular line of conquest the present undertaking seems to be in every way worthy of her |
