The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
DRAINING THE ZUYDER ZEE.
The Most Daring Undertaking of the
Dutch People.
London Standard.

An interesting report from Sir II. Howard
on a reject for draining the Zuyder Zee
was issued yesterday by the Foreign Office.
This undertaking has been a subject of
discussion in Holland for more than half a
century, but bill for doing 1t has now
been introduced into the Second Chamber
of the States General after an elaborate in
vestigation by a commission. it has at least
come within the sphere Of practical poll
tics, though it may be retarded by the re-
cent ministerial crisis, which resulted in
the resignation of the Cabinet. The Dutch
have won much OF Holland from the grasp
Of the ocean, but never before have they
undertaken anything daring this.
Perhaps we might more correctly call 1t an
act of recOnQueSt for there can be little
doubt that the Zuyder Zee, like the old
Lake of Haarlem, was formed by an 1nVa-
sion of the sea. That was successfully re-
claimed about fifty years ago by the meth
DDS usual in Holland, though on a greater
scale, and the annexation of the ZuyGer
Zee will be upon one much more vast.
The work may be carried out on either of
two plans-namely, piecemeal as is usually
done on the coasts, by inclosing with dixie
a large 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 of one great barrier dixie, and
then proceeding TO reclaim the inclosed
area by installments. The latter is the
holder. and, obviously, the more expensive
plan-at any rate, at the outset. This dixie
is to run from Wieringen, in north Hol-
land to Piaam, in ErieSland. The line fol-
lowed is shorter than the one proposed in
a former scheme, and it ought to be, from
its more sheltered position, less liable to in
jury from storms. The cost of the dixie
will exceed $4,000 900 forms, but that is by
no means the whole outlay it entails. A
canal must be constructed; the sea walls
for a considerable distance along the road
must be raised; other important works
taken in hand, and the fishermen of the
Zuyder Zee compensated.
The total expenditure therefore, is likely
to amount to about 100000 forms. When
the North sea has been effectually barred
out, the next step VIII be to reclaim the
two great tracts on the western side of the
inclosed area, the containing about
seVenty-twO square miles of fertile land and
the other about half as much again. The
construction of the dixie, it is estimated
will take nine years; the first Enclosure will
be ready for cultivation in five years more
Thus fourteen years will elapse before the
expenditure brings in any return, and the
whole work viii be completed in eighteen
years, at cost which altogether is esti-
mated a t nearly GS,000,000 of English money
This sum it is proposed to raise by loan
and to pay it off-principal and interest-in
sixty years, or possibly less. A large area
of the Zuyder Zee will obviously still re-
main unreclaimed, but this will now be
fresh water lake instead of a part of the
sea.
From this change many indirect advan-
tages are expected to follow At first, of
course, the water thus inclosed will be salt
but in no long time it will be fresh enough
for agricultural if not for domestic pur-
poses, and ultimately for both This alone
will be a great advantage to the adjoining
prOvnces-which, as generally dependent
on the immediate rainfall, often suffer
much from want of water in the summer
time-and VIII 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 its 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 indirectly, no small
portion of the expenditure.
But it will he possible largely to increase
the amount reclaimed without trespassing
too much on this lake, for it would still be
$50 square miles in area. Two other polders
and contemplated on the Friesland side,
which together are not much less than
three times the of the others. The
whole work. including these, could be ex-
ecuted in thirty-three years, and the adj
ditional cost would be about 81 O000 600 for
ms No less than $50 square miles would
be added to Holland and the value of the
land, in the commissions opinion, would
fully repay the outlay. The less ambitious
plan would bring in a more immediate re-
turn, but would be more expensive, and in
many ways less satisfactory in the long
run. Obviously, very much is saved by
having to contend in the actual work of
reclamation, not with an inlet of the sea,
but with fresh water lake.