The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-07
NEW YORK HERALD WEDNESDAY,

remuneration ON the day when for the nrst time
they were able to plough anu SOW with the GER
tainty that me autumn would repay the toll OF
the spring time. The International Exhibition,
toe municipality OF Naples and the government OF
King Victor have decreed gold medals to the
Prince for mis- patriotic ana daring enterprise. and
1t was to thank The King for the honor paid to him,
as the decree bears the Kings signature, that he
paid the first visit TO the Quirinal since the entry
OF the Italians into Rome.
Mr.. MARSH ON THE SUBJECT.
Mr.. Marsh In the new edition OF his fascinating
work. MAN and Nature" now entitled ''rhe
Earth as Modified by Human Action,n speaks az
some length on Prince Toronla's enterprise, and
the words OF our distinguished Minister may here
nnd place.
Lake Fuclno, near Lagodi Clano In the former
Neapolltan territory, ABOUT nlty miles eastward
ORIGINALLY either drained by natural sub
ssin Extreme limits kses In
years OF uncommon moisture II spread over the
adjacent soil and destroyed the crops; in dry
seasons 10 retreated and produced epidemic dis
ease by poisonous exheations from the decay OF
vegetable and animal matter upon its exposed
bed. julius Caesar had proposed the construction
or a tunnel to lower the bed OF tue laEe and pro-
vide regular discharge Tor its waters,
but the enterprise was not actually un-
dertaken until the reign OF Claudlus, when.
alter temporary failure, 1t was at least
partially completed. From this imperlect con-
srruction 1t soon got out OF repair but was re-
stored by Hadrian and is said to have answered
its design for some centuries. In the baroersm
which followed the downfall or the Empire 1t
again fell into decay and though numerous at
tempts were made to replace 1t duiinR the Middle
Ages no tolerable success seems to nave attended
any OF these efforts until the present generation
Mr.. Marsh thus concludes:-
"The complete draining OF the lake, including
the ground occasionally flooded. RECEIVERS for ag-
ricnltural occupation and permanently secures
soil as any in Italy. The technical difficulties to
be surmounted we're most balllng and discodrag-
ing IN character aud oil such extreme gravity that
II may well be doubted whether the art OF en-
gineering has anywhere triumphed over more
probably the grandest work OF physical improve
ment ever effected by the means, the energy and
the munlncence OF single indiyidual-is OF no
small geographical and economical, as wen az
sanitary, importance but 1t has still higher
moral value as an almost unique example OF the
exercise oil public spirit, courage and perseVer-
ance In the accomplishment OF O noble ana benel-
cent enterprise by private citizen"
The man VINO completed the gigantic task OF
draining Lake Puclno then now offers his CO.
operation to General Garibadi, and, consequently,
we shall frequently have 10 mention his name In
future He has now set to work to drain Port
Trajan; the engines have arrived and the labor
ers are on hand. But then, we must not take for
granted that Port Trajan WIN be made the new
port or Rome. II Trajan be not made the port,
then, says some one, the Prince will make the port
into a grand oyster bed An idea worthy OF a
Sallust
EXPLANATIONS OF THE MAP.
The accompanying map will explain very clearly
the work accom- pshed with Lake Fucino. A q
represents tho gallery through which the waters
or the lake can pass to the river Lir, under the
land. d + is the principal channel leading the
waters to the emissary q. the direction OF the
old Roman channel. The line running around the
margin OF the lake makes the limits OF Prince Tor
lonia's property The straight blue lines indicate
the new cuts to drain the newly won land; the
red lines are the roads to be opened for agricul-
tural purposes. The basin OF the lake Is sur
rounded by chain or mountains, and on the
northwest by hills which separate IL nom the
plain OF Alba, IN whose midst lies the ancient city
OF Equlcali. The nearest haDltaDle towns
TO the lake are Celano, GoIa and Aelli,
with a population OF about $1,000. Besides
the perennial water courses indicated in the
map. the slender blue threads represent torrents
which empty themselves INTO the basin IN times OF
heavy rams or dissolvlng SHOWS. The River Clio.
venco divided into three branches, flows in on the
east, and many springs rise In the bottom or the
lake.
The bottom or the basin is composed OF immense
deposits OF calcareous arg, covered by con-
siderable strata or earth brought down by the
waters from the surrounding mountains entirely
denuded or their trees. This soil Is exceedingly
fertile Abiding to the assertion Of various engi-
neers that the emissary fed as it s, by series OF
minor canals, VIII not sufice to drain the bottom
OF the basin, q. r. Marsh writes:-"Sprngs
rising In the bottom or the lake have ma
terlaily impeded the process or drainage, AMI
some engineers believe that they will
render the complete discharge OF the
waters impossible. IL appears that the
eartny and rocky strata underlying the lake are
extremely porous and that the ground already
laid dry on the surface absorbs an abnormally
large proportion OF the precipitation upon II.
These strata therefore, constitute a reservoir
which contributes to MAINTAIN the springs. fed
chiefly, no doubt by underground channels from
the neignboring mountains. But IL Is highly prob
able that a ter certain time the process OF
natural desiccation 80 apparent IN New England
and Central Africa, as noticed BY LiVingstonel
Will drain this reservoir and the entire remova! OF
the surface water wiz then become pracucabie."
But any waters thus brought into the old bed OF
the lake can be easily mastered; and 80 far we
nave TO consder the draining OF Lake Fucino a.
one OF the greatest modern feats OF hydraulic