The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-26
H0LLAND'SWAR ON THESEA
u UTCH PLUCK AM PATIEkCESCORB
ANOTHER pICJORT.
Amsterda ms New Canal Compicted-Dincui-
ties Of the Undertaking Reclaimed
Lnnd-A Grcut Fent Of Engineering.

sfhhu ~ OEtut htht VI EhkthttTtuks
nom ne london Times.
In the North Sea Canal the Dutch have
finished work that may be ranked with tho
best OF the eugine ering devices by which they
have Dshed whole country out Of the waters.
The enterprise h some special interest for
English people. because the new channel Will
bring the capital Of Holland within twenty-iour
hours sail Of the Thames. TO Amsterdam Itself
the construction Of the canal was matter Of
vital NJ cessity Dutcn towns are nothing II they
nave no easy opening to the sea- and for long
time Amsterdam seemed to stand a high chance
of sharing some such fate rs that which has
over aiken several places on the shores of the
Zuyder Zee. Those towns were once made
wealthy by the rare capacity Of the Dutch FOR
trade. nd ships from distant colonies brought
merchandise to quays which are now deser ed I;
nut the wash Of tue SEA gradually chOked no the
entrance to their harbOrs, and the iich vessels
have kept out the tidal DEPOSIT II they had put
forth the wonted energy Of theif raOe but they
back again. Amsterdam would long ago have
been IN the same position II IT had not taken ar
tincial means to open way TO the ocean.
The sanubanks and the Swallows OF the Zuvder
Zee form one Of the worst channels in the world,
and many years ago the chief city Of tho Dutch
has the great outlet 81 the RHINE. In 1919 IN
attempt was made to ship the bal nee Of advan-
tages tIyths eonstpucton ~ the North HOLLAND
Canal from tb9F To- the Heder. The work was
bold piece " engineering, for tho channel Is
more than forty miles long and IL 40 feet bro ad
But 1t went nee dlesely out OF the way by going
TO the end Of the promontory which hens In
the west side II 'he zuydcr Zee. The divere-
ence from the natural course TO the ocean is SO
puzzng that II Is attributed to the strength Of
private Interests SO great are the delays caused
by the length uf the channel, and 10y the insult
ncleut depth Of water. that charter parties often
expressly leave Amsterdam out Of the list of
ports to which particular ship may be com
PEELED to 20. slight disadvantage IL often
enough to turn the scale against trading c'y
70 these days Of Keen competiiion but Amster-
dam has made splendid effort to facili iate it's
nmerce 10y cutting canal direct To the North
Although II is little more than fourteen miles
long. the difficulties Of the work seem to have
been nearly IA great IA those of the Suez Canal.
! Great reaches 81 submerged land n d to he re-
| claimed to afford bed for the canal minor
can l. had to be made to the neishbOiing VII
! yes the ndhils neHr the sea Threatened to
| choke the channel; gigantic locks had to be
! formed; ana all the rC-uurces Of engine crinc
skill seem To have been taxed IN order to guard
against the tremendous force with which the
| waves are driven ou thc shore bv the north ast
winds. a snip lock il5 ct long and 90 iect
| great achievements in any country, and In
| Hon nd the difficulty Of tho task was pc
| piles; no fewer than s'N8 II those sup
| ports having beeu used. At last, however,
| the work Is done and ship drawing more
| than twenty feet Of water has already pass
| through the canh, while Il line II steamers to
| Lonuon and HUI has already ueeun to run.
The cost WAS estimated al AsOtO.OOO, out the net
expense will. II Is believed. br brought down to
| little more than haif that sum by causes pecu-
| liar to Holland. Large tracts II Land have, as
! we have said. teen ~ tened from the waters Of
| the ake. md they afford admirably fertile soil.
| the tenitOr, Of Holland, ana the land is SO val
! uaulC rs to have fetched an average Of $50 an
! acre. Soue Of u. indeed, has been sold for
agric ult ural purposes AT GlsJ per acre.
! There was time when all the soil which the
! Dutch are now rocaiuing was pVoplcd and rudely
/ titled by their ancestors The sea broke over II
during storms forever memorable in the history
! OF Holland. The raVaEes thus Inflicted make
those Oi war Sc III slight. but already the people
! have done much To recover he lost ground, aud
! tue, seem determined to restore something like
| the uid proportions of the country by draining
the waters of The Zuydcr Zee. In I would be
ny Tar the greatest feat ni engineering att mpied
Ia our time, but It would certainly afford a D Of
table Investment II clnttdi II the reclaimed
! land could be sold for $50 AN acre.
Tie value ui The soil, when IL L. rescued from
/ the waves, Affords a curious eXampl Of the eOm-
! pcusations which often attend great natural dts
] advantages. The iuCgY s.ndOanks of Holland
might st EN- 10 he he Ntry worst uaf OF Eur1ie
| tor the home II nation. Elsewhere We Il d
towns. like st. Peter urg. built on artificial
] foundations, tut the whole country Of the
! Dutch l. work oil hrt. Naturally II bel lngs to
! the sea, and the waves have often made good
their claim to possession Ia spi q Of the enor-
nous bikes which were built by the help Of for
ests of piles. foundations Ill the me pl-ce IN
| the records OF Holland. as EARTHQUAKES 90 In
those OF southern CountrIes, and even the most
destructive earthquakes seem TO be minor
] calauItiV- when compared with the drowning
] OF WuOle province. Nor can the Dutch ever be
certain that tleiT ne.as. their humesteads, or
| SPECIAL Department. Of state to look after the
dihcs. AID ~ Is "a much IN re important branch
OF their public service than the Miuistry OF " ar.
J An immense I \ Is thus laid on the resources 81
i the country Tor the mere uuirnse 4 keeping Il
/ IN eNlstcuCc. A computation Of what the diAc
/ repre- 'eu,ing more than the national deb,s of
]