The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-02

ciCn Hlhy get thOse through UNIT DeiOuG w
his own district, the whole system would
fall at once; and with it great burden of
taxation would be lifted from the shout
ders Of the people. Many jobs and much
dishonesty would come 10 an end. Here Ia
great chance for practical and useful
reform. Who will take II in handi
A Dutch Scheme for Taking Holland.
The capital achievements OF practical
science in this century-the Suez Canal
and the Pacific Railroad-have taxed the
resources of France and the United States
A third marvel Of colossal engineering has
been reserved for one Of the smallest States
OF Europe, which proposes to reclaim from
the sea an area equal to n twentieth OF it's
territory, and restore commercial move
ment and prosperity to a score of stagnant
towns.
Ancient maps will be scrutinized In vain
for that arm of the German Ocean which
the Dutch call the Zuyder Zee. In the
time of the Batavian evils dense forests
clothed this district, which was defended
from the encroachments of the tide by
natural rampant OF dunes, but 1t harborcd
the germ of danger in n lake whose outlet
seems TO have been inadequate. Already.
at the epoch of BALDWIN BRAs-DE-FER, an
overflow of this lake had partially trans
formed the forest into swamp, aud i'm
paired the resisting power Of the sand
wall; but 1t was not until A. ID. 1872 that
the sea, under the impulse probably of a
northerly gale, finally burst the dunes
asunder, aud permanently engulfed n
province. About oue-half of the land then
lost is to be recovered by the works pro-
jected.
Some reference to figures is necessary, In
order to appreciate this stupendous under
taking. The main dyke, which Is to form
the northern boundary OF the reclaimed
district, will cut the Zuyder Zee from east
to west, and present breadth OF nearly
twenty-five miles, with breadth at the
base Of one hundred aud forty feet That
portion of the gulf which lies south Of this
proposed embankment has n superfcics of
50O. 900 acres or about 500 square miles, and
its fluid contents are computed AT more
than five billions of cubic yards The ex-
pulsion of such q body OF water constitutes
tremendous hydraulic problem, but the
drainage OF the Haerlem lake in the early
part of the century, and the more recent
redemption of the ground covered by the
"Y" basin, afford trustworthy data for
calculation. Ii Is estimated that TO drain
the southern half of the Zuyder Zoe will
require force of 300 horse power, with
drawing 5000 cubic yards a minute, during
period of two years and Il half.
A much longer interval-possibly twenty
II. l.. AL
works can be completed and the new land
put upon the market. The adaptation OF
the ground to tlllage must involve COM
plicated system of sub-soil conduits and a
checker work OF sluines Will provide for
periodic irrigation. Turnpikes and cross
roads are to be laid out in all direc tions
and the normal mode OF transportation in
Holland will be assured by n multitude OF
narrow canals, with their proper compile
ment of locks ana bridges. Finally, two
trunk lines of railway are planned Ia
traverse the district at right angles, while
two spacious slip canals win afford ingrcs-
to maritime commerce. The cost OF such
extended operations in country wher,
official peculation was ubiquitous, would
be incalculablc; but il is believed that an
honest and economical people can execute
the whole with an outlay not exceeding
sixty-nve millions OF dollars.
VIII such an investment OF capital prove
renunerative? We may be sure that the
Dutch have not overlooked this quest! on
| The quality of the soil TO be recovered hai
| been tested by repeated souud.ngs and
| analyses, and IL Is estimated that seven
| tenths of the area, or $50 900 acres, will be
available for the higher grades of agricul
ture. Now, reclaimed land of equivalent
fertility has lately commanded four hun
| dred dollars an acre. As II is expected
| that the cost per acre OF the Zuyder bot
tom will fall short of two hundred, We
may conclude that the margin for prof
appears highly satisfactory to investor
whose normal rate OF interest has fallen L
three per cent.
BY the execution of this notable scheme
the Government OF the Netherlands vii
not only expand its revenues by the con
tributions OF an additional province, bu
will gain resources and prestige by the
commercial resurrection of cities once IA
nous but now decayed. The navigation
OF the Zuyder channels was always intricat
|
years has become almost impracticablc
Such ports rs Amsterdam, Saardam, Schar
dam, and IIarlerwiik are destined TO ao
quire a new lease Of life with the opening
of the projected ship canals, which will VII
In dimensions with that Of North Holland
where two frigatcs may sail abreast.
Tne conservation of national energy anC
aspiration to an undertaking o, this char
acter presents n curious and edlfyin
spectacle. While the great powers q
Europe are wasting billions in the violen
transfer Of peoples from one sovercignt.
TO another the peaceful Iiollander pursue
his traditional vocation, and enrlches b
an appreciable accession the productiv
area Of the globe.
Is IL Another Insane Murdcri
The dreadful felonious assault, not III