The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-20

That was successfully reclaimed about fifty years ago by the methods usual in Holland, though on a greater scale, and the annexation of the Zuyder Zee will be upon one much more vast.
 The work may be carried out on either of two plans-namely, piecemeaf. as is usually done on the coasts, by inclosing with dyke a larger tract at present under water and then pumping this into the sea, or else by shutting out the ocean, once for all, by the construction or one great barrier dike. and then proceeding to reclaim the inclosed area by install ments. The latter is the bolder and, ob- viously. the more expensive plan-at any rate at the outset. This dyke is to run from Wieringen; in North Hoiiand .t9 is shorter than the one proposed In former scheme: and it ought to be, from its more sheltered position; less of the dyke will exceed 2S,. 900 horins, but that is by no means the whole out lay it entails. A canal must be con structed; the seq walls for considera- raised other important works taken in hand. and the fishermen of the Zuyder Zee compensated.
 The total expenditure, therefore, is likely to amout to about 5000, 900 horins. When the North Sea has been effectual- ly barred out. the next step will be to reclaim two great tracts on the western side of the inclcsed area, the one con taining about seventy-two square miles of fertile land and the other about half as much again. The construction of the dyke. it Is estimated will take nine years the first enclosure will be ready for cul- tivation in five years more. Thus four teen years will elapse before the expen- allure brings in any return. and the teen years. at a cost which altogether is estimated at nearly fS, 900 of English money. This sum it is proposed to raise by loan. and to pay it of-principal and t., ,t~ Safh vnu A large area of the Zuyder Zee will ob- viously still remain unreclaimed. instead of part of the sea.
 From this change many indirect ad- vantages are expected to follow It first, of course, the water thus inclosed will be salt. but in no long time it will be fresh enough for agricultural pur- alone will be a great advantage to the adjoining provinces-whlch, as generally dependent on the immediate rainfall, of- ten suffers much from the want of water in the summer time-and will enable the supply in the canals, which were the principal highways of Northern Holland till the railroads came. and are even now of the utmost importance to be Kept at it's proper level. In fact the mere change from an arm of the North Sea to a great fresh water lake in itself would repay. though perhaps. indirect
 But it will be possible largely to in- increase the amount reclaimed without trespassing too much on this lake, for it would still be 560 square miles in area. Two other polders are contemplated on the Friesland side, which together are not much less than three times the area of the others. The whole work inc1ud- ing these, could be executed in thirty three years. and the additional cost would be about 94,0O0.000 florins. No less than 750 square miles would be added to Hol- land, and the value of the land, in the commissioners opinion, would fully re plan would be more expensive, and in many ways less satisfactory in the long run. Obviously, very much Is saved by haing to contend in the actual work of reclaimation, not with an out let of the sea, but with a fresh water lake.