The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1857-03-19
RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY. ND, I'll
Drainage Of Harlem Lake, &c.

The lower provinces of Holland are
chiefly the gift of the adjacent waters form
ed by the mutual action Of its rivers and the
sea. Each Of these agencies has, in many
places acted independently of the other;
but the richest soil Of the low countries, is
the Joint product of both. While the rivers
have brought down from tie interior their
tertalizing deposites, the ocean waves have
rolled in their marine products TO mlngle
with the river mud and form the basis of
rich soil But when the sod has been torn-
ed and occupied. ii is constantly liable 10 be
invaded by the same elements that gave IT
birth. Hence, the necessity of protecting
their low shores, by dykes. The Dutch
have been unwcar,ed in their efforts TO guard
against the encroachments OF the sea. Their
dnkes are exceedingly expensive. The
foundation of sea dyke is usually from one
hundred and twenty, TO one hundred and fii-
ty feet in width. 1t is cased externally, with
stone imported from Norway. A road runs
along the top, or immed htely within the
mound Where exposures great, the ex-
pense of repairs is equally great. There is
one dyke at West Capelle, which is said TO
have cost as much TO build and repair IT, as
though it had been built originally OF cop
per. Besides sea dykes they have enclos-
ures in the interior. made Il the same way.
TO exclude the water from marshes, quaS
mres and peat bogs They pump out the
water from these inland marshes, bN wind
mills, and more recently by seam engines
Millions of acres, that were once covered
with water, have thus been redeemed for A g
ricultural purposes. They call such meadows,
polders. In former years, Thousand wind
mills were constantly employed in draining
such swamps and marshes Holland abounds
in wind mills A few wears since, the whole
number of such mills, in The low countries,
was estimated at nine Thousand In 1889.
the government of Holland resolved to drain
the Harlem Lake. This was formerly an
inlet of the Zuyder Zee 1t is thirty y-three
miles in circumference, aSout thirteen feet
deep, and covers an era of forty thousand
acres. 1t was first encircled by canal and
dyke; the canal was fortyrniles long, about
ten feet deep, and varying in width from
l20 to l40 feet WhensIt was completed
the current in it sluggish as to be ar
rested by wind blowing from the sea; hence,
a mighty steam engine, with large paddle
wheels, Of three hundred and sixty horse
power, was employed to urge forward the
stygean tide into the sea. Two other eng mes
of still greater power, We're stationed, one at
each extremity Of the lake. to lift the water
into the canal. Thirty-nine months were
consumed in draining the entire lake, by
these engines. The land was Sold III 1898,
at auction. In October, 1865" says
writer in the Patent Office Report of lS55,
mot only was the work of drainage cnmpiet-
ed, but what had been, but short time be-
fore, the bed of a great lake, was then
region of exceedingly fertile land, in a fine
state Of cultivation 1t Esgs dr. con!torta-
bic, and healthy. Numerous neat, quaint.
and conveniently constructed cottages We're
seen in various directions A population Of
about two thousand, dwe.t within this pol
der; fields of virdue extended far ahd wide,
enlvencd BY cattle, horses and sheep, graz
ing on fruitful meadows; ard every thing the
eye could look upon, indicate | the triumph
ant achievement of a vast and benevolent
design" The cost of drainage per acre,
about $50 1t is supposed that every acre of
land in the two provinces of Holland, sup
ports one inhabitant and that the bottom
of this drained lake being Of better quality
than the average of land in that country.
will ultimately support 7o,0J0 persons. If
the same industrious people would take their
capital to this country, they might buy a
good farm for the price of single acre of
this new made territory; and here there
would be no danger from inundation, by the
bursting of dykes, the descent of heavy
rains. But the Dutch are quiet people, low
ers of home, and averse to change hence.
thev make the most Of their little territory
redeemed from the sea. T.. ID. 5.