The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-14
Draining . Lake.

When, in 1852, company was formed
for d. lining Lake Fucina, the Neapoli-
tan government Offering the drained land
in the bed Of the lake to the contractors,
Prince Torlonia took half the shares;
then, impatient at the delays, bought out
all the other shareholders. Now, con-
sidering that eighteen centuries since
the Roman Emperors Hadrlan and
Claudius attempted the feat, and only
partially succeeded; that ior tnirty-
three years, between 17S3 and 1916, the
entire surrounded plain was inundated,
the villages ruined, the inhabitants re-
duced to misery; that Ferdinand lV or
dered SURVEYS and studies, consulted all
the academies in vain; that the fam GUS
Alan di Risera only succeeded in par
tially clearing the old Claudian ennis
sary. and that in 1852 it was again rem
dered useless by the fresh deposites that
encountered it, it must be confessed that
for a single individual to say 81 Will un-
dertake the work and carry it to compile
ton alone" he must have been man OF
stout heart and long purse.
The engineer presented two projects
the first for enlarging and res storing the
old emissary and the construction OF a
new tunnel which should follow the line
of the old, but Of ampler and stronger
build. thus to insure the permanent
drainage OF even the bottom of the basin,
whatever rains might fall. The Prince
accented the latter plan, and the works
were instantly commenced. The lake
which lies about fifty miles eastward OF
Rome. In the Neap0litan territory, lar
away from any center OF industry, is ap-
preached by but one road, that leading
| from Naples to AvezzanO, and the ex-
pense and difficulty OF bringing engines,
men and material were enormous, while
the work of demOlishing the old tunnel
in parts full of water, in parts falling to
ruin was perilous in the extreme. But
| In less than three years the lower por-
ton of the old had disappeared and was
replaced by the new. AT times,
DESPITE ten enormous pumps, worked
necessarily by 200 hands, the rush.
ing waters stopped the constructions; at
other times the gases and bad air threat
ened suffocation. The task for the most
part had to be completed knee deep In
putrid mud, frozen waters; in profound
obscurity, and in the midst OF the sepul-
chral silence that reigns 100 metres un.
derground. Finally, in 1869, the tunnel
was completed. 1t is $4,000 feet (G,3O3
metres in length, and its axis being at a
lower level than that of the old emlssary,
with a cross section Of over 200 feet, it
allows a discharge of 2, 400 cubic feet to
the second, whereas the Claudian tln-
mel, with a cross section of 100 square
feet, allowed buta discharge of 424 cubic
feet to the second.
The complete success of this enter
prise gives $4,000 acres of fertile soil to
agriculture. Where, eighteen years
since, squalor, misery, filth and barbar-
ism sadelded the strangers eye, q pop
uIation Of 10000, we'll housed, well fed,
healthy and industrious, has risen up;
and when all the drains, irrigating ca
nails and roads are completed and the
farm houses all built, Lake Celano will
be quoted as the model estate OF Italy.
II Prince Torlonia owned the Roman
Campagna he would have drained, irri-
gated and repopulated this stretch OF
dreary waste long ago, say the Italians.
He has promised General Garibaldi that
he will assist him in bis work OF Great
| ing the new port of Rome by draining
| Lake Trajan the ancient port Of Trajan
himself at his own expense. And, in
deed. the Prince has already commenced
operations. He is, indeed, very wise
and far-seeing Prince this. He owns
nearly all the land about the mouth OF
the Tiber, has q palace near Port Ira
ian, and, in case that the Garibaldian
plans are carried out rs they now stand,
he will be gamer by millions upon mil
! lions of francs, by reason Of the mere in
crease OF value that will be given to his
vast estates.
Mr.. Robert Dale owen, in spite of his
humiliating experience with the Holmes
family, still avows his beliof in their
powers Of naturalization. He says he