The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-24
HOLLAND.

The North Sea Canal--A Description Of the
Work-Commercial Importance Of the I'm.
deriaking-Other Great Works Contem.
plated.
From the London Times. August s.
Even among the gigantic engineering works OF the
present age prolific rs 1t is. those Of The North Sea
Ship Canal VIII take high rank, not only from their
extent and d1lcuty OF execution but from the I'M
portant results that will eventually accrue 70 Am
sterdain as port, and Holland as a country. That
Amsterdam at the head OF the commercial cities OF
Europe gradually declined, partly from the rise OF
o;ner ports, but principally from the difficulties OF
navigation caused by the sitting up of the Zuyuer
Zee and, above all, tho Pampus Bar. Large vessels
were Obliged to discharge their cargoes outside and
which, when the water was pumped out of them
raised the vessel with them. To remedy this the
North Holland Canal was cut from Buiksilyt oppo.
site Amsterdam, TO Tie Helder distance of nifty
one miles, ana this has been extensively used by
vessels OF large burden seeking the North sea-
throughout It's length 1t Is Ia feet broad at the sur
face and tnirtyone feet at the bottom, and IS ayala-
Bile Tor vessels drawing eighteen feet OF water. Ihe
open sea can he reached III time varying from
eighteen hours 20 two days. But IN winner even this
great highway s blocked up by ice, ana d large out
Jay has TO be incurred Ia Keeping 1t clear specu-
lators and engineers cast longing looks on the mar
row land aud shallow water between the Zuyder and
the North seas--the latter from the Obvious cana
biittes Of such route 10y which thlrty-slx miles
would DC saVedli the former because they saw
Trade, but still greater induesment 'II tn sha
land That would arise on each side from
Out q the waste of water of the wker Nicer ana the
H. But the scheme was one dnlculJ to launch end
The panic OF 1850 almost quenced 1t 40 us birln tho
Dutch government, however, slcpped ia and NV
guaranteeing Tour per cent and reuemDtOu OF ca nj
tai at par, placed 10 on an equality win Dutcb stock
aud gave tue undertaking permanent basis Tie
amount OF the contract 10 2s,O0O0J0 OF ntrgns ione
shilling and eight peuce, 81 which 10000 600 are in
The SHARES OF the COMPANY 100000 subscribed In
Amsterdam, and the Remaining 10000, 0DJ in pros
pectiye land To be recovered 10y drainage. The works
tno plans for which were furnished by MIR. lIawk.
SHAW, In CONJUNCTION with the Dptsh engineer, Mr..
Drcks, are 10 DC flushed IN 1870 and judging by the
present rate OF progress, VIII be completed in far less
unle. The contract has been taken ny M9ssrs Lea K
sOns and the work naturally divides Itself into
three sectlons:--l. The North Sea narDor works.
y Tue canal proper. .. The dam ana locks at the
campus entrance Each section offers textures OF
sfeas interest, though there difcuity common
" eli--nameiy, the extraordinary soft bottom ana
shlty foundation that seem 10 prevail over ali Hol-
tSnu. Ordinary bottom there is none, aud the ma
ives predicted that the treachcrous sands OF the
NORM pea would swallow up the harbor NJ soon as
iusue. 1e North sea works will not only form the
cAduce 10 me canal but will be the Only harbor Of
teIuge netween iieder and Rotterdam, along coast
tcIDy conspicuous for ltS fatalities IL IL all COM
possu "a low sand dunes and II swept by o Violent
surf which makes it Impossible for any vessel once
eihoal ca 70 ESCAPE. Iho Lrcakwater will embrace
"a AREA o zoo acres each pier running out 5000 feet
u winch l30o leet on the north side are Complete
lac minimum depth Will be wenfy-six feet and the
wiatn a. the entrance 500 ect. The works OF this |
section are uhder the charge OF Mr.. Dsrnton Hut
ton, VINO has ID use very ingenious dIsenQaQl |
hook (his own inventtonl By which tho biocFs ~
concrete can be lowered and deposited at any deptS
-Four or i've divers CONSTANTLY az WORK vhov INC
weather allows, arranging the ballast on fhe enrfecs
OF the blocks. The direction Of the harbor viii no
nearly due east ana west and the Distance ron,
aarwicn the same % TO Rotterdam-Au Important |