New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
PUMPING OUT THE SEA.
AnOther Dutch Conquest of Salt
Uater.

Copyright 1907. by Technical World Company
Little Holland, with its 100000 people living
safely behind their wave washed dikes is about
to make new conquest from its old enemy, the
ocean. Already Dutch engineers have begun the
tremendous task which will result I'm turning
the Zuyder Zee into 1,4OO square miles of dry
land Where of old the great Dutch war fleets
gathered, where four thousand fishermen
sink their nets there will rise happy villages.
broad pastures. poplar bordered roads and sleepy
canals-new farms and homes for fifty thousand
Dutchmen.
The task to be undertaken is tremendous
one. 1t will cost nearly s76OOOOOO. In return
the government expects to secure annual rentals
Of more than S5.000.O00 from those who occupy
and till the hard won ground
AS long ago as 1S49 Holland cast her eyes upon
the Zuyder Zee. and a plan was considered for
shutting off the whole OF the Zee, but at that
time Il was contended by engineers that the
thing was impossible. It was even asserted that
the pumping dry of Harlem Lake was beyond
accomplishment, but in 1850 this was done, and
many thousands of acres Of rich land were
thrown open for settlement.
In all practical respects IL is the plan OF lS49
that is now to be carried out. great dam or
embankment will be built across the north end
of the sea from Wieringen. in North Holland. TO
Piaam, in Friesland. having sluices into the
North Sea, thus creating great lake. which will
be cut up into sections. and one section re-
claimed at a time, work having already been
started the first
The Zuyder Zee is. in reality. a deep gulf
forming the mouth of the Yssel and other rivers
and it is the design instead of simply dkng
the rivers within their narrow channels TO allow
them TO flow into central reservoir. or lake.
situated at point approximating what is now
the middle of the Zuyder Zee The estimated
cost of the whole great project is S75.S2S.000 OF
the land reclaimed IL is calculated that $50
square miles will be fit for cultivation, and the
nation should derive an income Of at least S5.-
100000 a year in rents from this area as diked
lands on the verge of the Zuyder Zee are worth
from SO 10 $50 acre year.
At present some four thousand fishermen
pursue their hardy calling upon the waters of
the Zee, and the gross income they derive from
the fishery Is approximately 900 a year
In addition to the loss OF their occupation these
fishermen will also be compelled to abandon
their boats and other equipment. not suitable
to the rougher waters Of the North Sea. and 1t
viii he necessary for the government to COM
pensate these men. thus adding another consid-
erable item to the expense account
That portion of the work TO be Immediately
undertaken is the building of the great dixie
which is TO stretch from the coast Of North HOl-
land TO the island of Wieringen. and the drying
and recovery Of that portion of the Zuyder Zee
known under the name of the "Wieringen Meer"
forming the northwestern of the four polders. or
sections, of the original plan.
This polder will be about $4,000 acres in area
Of which the bOrings indicate that fully 10000
acres viii be fertile soil
AS the dyke between wieringen and the coast
of Friesland is not to be built at present the
eastern dixie of the pOlder will be directly the
ZlIyder Zee and will have to withstand the high
est storm uOOQ tueS WnlCn III lnlS part rise to
about ten feet above the average water level IL
being necessary, therefore. TO build the dike
five metres above the average low water level
BY means of low inner dikes the pOIder will
he divided into four parts. from each of which
the water will be pumped out separately. For
this work four steam pumps OF 1900 horsepower
each will be erected.
Thus II will come 10 pass that in another gem
Grafton men will plough and build their cottages
where the anchors of their fathers boats used TO
drag and little Holland will have won another
hat
Fmmet Campbell Hall. in The Technical World
Magazine.