New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07

OLL.A\D proposes to build more
~ than 500 square miles of fertile
4 4 lands where now the Zuyder Zee
reigns threateningly supreme. Perhaps a
better way to put it is that the Dutch in
tend 10 push the bulk of that treacherous
body Of water back into the North Sea
and thus expose again 10 the sunshine
after centuries of submergence land
enough to wellnigh equal the present -four
lshinc province Of Brabant.
Historically the Zuyder Zee is an up
start among seas. dating back really no
further than the beginning Of the thir-
tenth century, and it's general form OF
10 day. at least its southern half, was Gre
ated in 1910. Prior to the successive In
roads Of the North Sea, for that ineXor-
able body Of water is TO blame for much
Of Hollands direst misery. the ocean was
held at bay by coastal bikes, and the
present islands OF Ameland. Terschelling
vleland and Texel were integral parts OF
the mainland Of Friesland. These en-
croachments buried ancient towns de-
stroyed vast amounts Of property and
Fnufed out the lives Of many, many thou
sands Of the natives. Can YOU wonder
that the Netherlands have long planned
10 crowd out the Zuyder Zee and TO hold
the ocean efectually in check:
LELYs PROJECT.
For tine best part Of century the
Dutch have schemed 10 effect this end
but the weak part Of most of the projects
lay in the neglect to provide some sea-
ward outlets for the rivers emptying INTO
the Zuyder Ice and il was really not
until the SOS that one brilliant native en-
gneer, e. Lelv. offered fascinatingly
practical solution. In brief, he did not
propose TO shut out either the whole OF
the North Sea or the entire bulk of the
Zuyder Zee but instead TO reclaim Just
So much of the water invaded area as
could he turned into profitable farmlands'
leaving the deeper channels with their
heavy blankets Of sand to form better
water routes for shipping and ways by
which the tributary rivers could send
their foods onward TO the outlying ocean.
II is the Lely project which Queen Will
helmiHa hopes TO have authorized shortly
and our interest in the whole undertaking
lies in the indisputable fact that what we
have done at Panama has demonstrated
What the Dutch can do within financial
reason The question Of cost has halted
the beginning Of the work heretofore.
The Dutch have computed that the enter
prise would take thirty-three years in ex-
ecutlon and involve an outlay probably Of
not less than S76OJO,OOO. 1t is likely. how
ever, that not only may the building
Period be considerably shortened, but the
cost may be reduced by the employment
OF means similar TO those that we have
esed upon the isthmus. 1t is a case Of
making excavations and utilizing the
sandy "spo!ls' obtained in this way.
A MONSTER Dixie.
The mightiest part Of the project in
'o'es the building Of great dixie. TWEEN
V'hve miles long, rising from the bed or
me Zuyder Zee. and sturdy enough TO
resist efectualy and for the ages to
tome the most violent battering OF the
angry North Sea. The vast spine. yes,
me real body, Of this stupendous dam will
Oe made Of sand. and the question Is how
dig and how TO transport that material
VulckeSt after work begins. There were
"lhgs done down at Panama with which
'ol are probably unacquainted except In
We most superficial way. When working
~ iull tilt the big mechanical diggers ate
1er way through dirt and rock at the
'ae OF something like 100000 cubic yards
month. You are not expected TO grasp
"Hsnd the magnitude of such mass OF
SOILS but maybe you can get some
s-using familiar standard-of the
1tiess greed Of those steam shovels.
The Woolworth Building stands upon
''F 20 feet square: the top Of its tower
'ashes heayenward $50 feet. Now picture
'o0rself rectangular column 200 feet
'-@e mounting upward more than a
-roFed feet above two Wooworth
u'ngs. placed one on top Of the other.
this would represent the volume OF
and stone that was dug out Of
Ta monthly. But after excavating
this material II had TO be carried
sV and speedily dumped, and how do
mink this was done?
ii The ENGINEERS PROBLEM.
\ lhe problem for the engineer is always
many sided one His labor item Is gen
liz S"f''nl lhhIFluual chdIse uPoh
il. '0'ks' and therefore he tries TO limit
lumber Of such employees as far as
eable Next he wants to save In
81 mechanical equipment. and In
e,' THIS he strives TO use the fewest
" units and 10 have each OF these
u. az little as may be consistent with
na.. Nands for good service. His units
80. therefore, De OF a character which
~ be used continuously and with the
livelihood Of a breakdown or chance