The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-03-14
Ghs Grareller.
Correspondence Of tie Esr York Observer,
THE GREAT HOLLAND CANAL.


THE GREAT HOLLAND CANAL.
81 HEsRr DAr, Eso., OF TMr ssw ronr AAH
In the sixteenth century, Amsterdam
was the most nourishing commercial city
on the continent Of Europe By looking
at the map il viii be seen that its natural
connection with the coast is through the
Zuyder Zee, which runs north about CITY
one miles to the North Sea- The city Is
about twenty miles directly east from the
North Sea. In 1919 the navigation of
Zuyder Zee had become 80 diffeult on ac-
count Of the sitting up, head winds and
numerous sand bars, that Amsterdam be-
gan 20 lose her prestige as commercial
city.
Between 1919 and 1924 a new ship canal
called the North Holland Canal was con
structed, running from Amsterdam Har-
Dor, which is on an arm Of the Zuyder
Zee, (called Jj, and pronounced " north
about fifty miles to a natural harbor on the
North Sea called the Helder. It was one
hundred and twenty-fonr feet wide and
eighteen feet deep. The great sea gates
at the Helder are noble specimens Of en-
cheering and masonry. This canal when
it was built was one Of the grandest public
works in the world. But it Is found that
It's depth is not sufficient for the largest
sea-going vessels. They are from eighteen
to twenty-four hours in being towed
through, and the canal is obstructed with
ice in the winter. Under these disabilities
Amsterdam was still steadily losing its
commerce. Her merchants have seen for
many years that nothing viii restore 1t but
more direct connection with the ocean by
means Of canal of sufficient dimensions
TO admit the largest ships This was
colossal undertaking, for by referring again
to the map it will be seen that there is no
harbor on the shore of the North Sea d.
rectly west Of Amsterdam.
1t is bleak, exposed and stormy coast,
without headland or break for hun
dreds Of miles and it would seem impos-
sible here to construct harbor which
would defy the combined power Of the
winds aud waves Of the open sea.
Again, the canal must be constructed
through the arm Of the Zuyder Zee called
the j. But they conceived the idea Of
draining this vast body of water covering
1880 acres, and recovering the land at
the same time that they constructed the
canal. 1t was also found that if they could
lower the level Of the Y, they would have
SO much less of embankment on each side
to build through the same, and as the Y
Is the natural reservoir for draining all the
country around It, the land must be kept
on low level 50 as to be recipient Of all
surface water.
How should the level Of the Y and the
harbor of Amsterdam be reduced while
they we're connected with the Zuyder Zee
and the ocean2 The engineers met this
difficulty by proposing dam across the Y
at its debouche into the Zuyder Zee, four
miles east Of Amsterdam. This dam was
to be one mile long. Locks were to be
built in it 10 pass the great inland traffic
of the Zuyder Zee to the harbor Of Amster-
dam. The water Of the canal aud the har-
Dor Of Amsterdam were by means of i'm
mense pumps, to be kept three feet lower
than the Zuyder Zee; thus giving better
drainage to all the adjacent country. Such
were the great difficulties to be overcome !:
First, an artificial harbor on the ocean !,
second, the draining of an inland sea !;
third, the draining out the Zuyder Zee and
the cutting Of the canal through the up
land and raising banks 10 il on either side
through the waters of the Y.
But the Dutch were not to be intimi-
dated by these difficulties. A corporation
was formed in 1865. Government lent its
helping hand by guaranteeing bonds 20
the amount Of se,Ooo,0oO. The stock to
the amount Of s25 100000 was taken. The
whole work win be completed in 1876.
The canal Is TO be seventeen miles long,
three hundred feet wide, and twenty-eight
feet deep Unexpected difficulties ofeyery
kind have been met aud surmounted by
courage and skin. The dam across the Y
has given away three times, on account Of
the sinking Of the foundations, The locks
in this dam are built on piles driven one
hundred feet deep. Through the Y the
canal is built by dredging out the channel,
mixing the earth with water and forcing
the material through flexible pipes 70 the
embankmeuts, where It is discharged and
sinks to the bottom. Thus, gradually, the
banks Of the canal rise and solidify until
they reach the top Of the water. The canal
10 now nearly finished to the sea. Inn
mense steam pumps have been erected
along the banks at intervals, which are
engaged night and day in pumping the
waters Of the Y outside Of the canal en-
bankments into the canal, from whence,
at low tide ID flows into the sea.
Thousands Of acres have already been
reclaimed, lying below the level Of The ca
nal from Eve to ten feet. The lands thus
drained are called poldcr. As soon as
they are Sufficiently dry they are sowed the
arst year with mustard or rape seed This
crop keeps out noxious weeds and pre-
pares the soil the second vcar far erasz or