Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-12-07

sixteenth century by an inundation,
which transformed four small lakes
into n sheet Of water, and, over
flowing the surrounding country, laid
several villages waste and destroyed
much valuable property. IT was
thirty-three miles in circumference,
and contained an area of a little more
than IS, 600 acres. Two objects were
TO be secured by draining 1.-THE pro-
lection ofsthe two cities named above
from floods when the lake was agitat-
ed by severe storms, and the recovery
of the land occupied by the bed Of the
lake for the purpose OF agriculture
For more than two centuries the
government had felt the desirableness
OF this great enterprise, but no fixed
determination i'm regard to it was
formed until 1896. In the month of
November Of that year, during a vio-
lent storm from the south, the waters
Of the lake OveriOwed the banks and
threatened the destruction OF the city.
of Amsterdam while only a month
later, during storm from the north,
the city Of Leyden was exposed to a
similar danger. The government then
determined to undertake the wOIk at
once, and employed eminent civil en-
gineers to make plans and supeEin-
tend the work. 4 canal forty miles
in length was first cut around the
lake, varying in width from l24 to
III feet, and nine feet in depth. The
soil thrown up in digging was used in
making an embankment between the
canal and the lake. This embank-
ment was raised to the height of thir-
teen feet. At some points, where the
soil was soft and spOngy, or where
the calai crossed creeks, il was neces-
sary to use faggOts formed into long
masses, which were loaded with grav-
Ell ana sunk and firmly secured by
stakes. Three steam engines Of $50
horse power each were procured in
England, each working eleven pumps
of thirty-three inches in diameter and
ten-feet stroke. These were erected
OF foundations formed by first digging
to the depth Of twenty-three feet and
then driving piles to the depth Of for
ty feet below that level. The lake
was not enclosed and the preparations
completed till May, lS48. More than
three years were then consumed in
pumping out the water, during which
period about twenty months were
spent IN continuous labor. In July,
1852, the work was completed and the
sale Of the recovered lands common
ced. The cost OF this great work vas
50, So, So; the number of acres recOv-
cred was 4, 230; and the cost per acre
about SO. The entire expense was
betrayed by the sale of the lands.#
An American traveller, who visited
it three years afterwards, wrote as
follows:
u found what had so recently been
the bed Of a great lake TO be a region
Of exceedingly fertile land in a high
state Of cultivation. 1t was dry, heal
thy, and comfortable. Numerous neat
cottages We're seen in various direc-
tons; a population Of 1000 persons
verdure, ~enliYened by cattle, horses,
and sheep graZed ON the beautiful
meadows; and everything the eye
could look upon indicated the tri-
umphant achievement of the vast and
beneficial design
It will be seen that the great and
formidable difficulties in the way OF
all agricultural improvements, aris-
ing from the natural situation Of the
country, have been overcome by the
indomitable energy, Industry and per-
~severence OF its inhabitants. 1t is
difficult TO estimated the expense Of the
dikes and Of the drainage the cost Of
the dikes and other works is said to
have been 81 800 600, coo. A country
which, in 1864, contained but s, 700, 600
inhabitants, and have an area of only
8,6l7 ,000 acres, has been redeemed
from the ocean and cultivated like a
garden 10y a people who have just
claims upon the respect and admira-
ton OF the civilized world.
-sEneyclop. Brit, art. Holland.