Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-15
HOLLAND TO TAKE
LAND FROM SEA
Proposes to Reclaim 529,575
Acres From Zuyder
Zee.
WILL COST sss,soo,ooo
Project, Which Has Been Evolv-
ing Since ls4o, Is Simple :
One.

Holland has caught the annexation
fever. 1t proposes to annex a twelfth
province from its old enemy. the sea.
1t proposes to intrust with its clever
army or photographic engineers the
task OF bridltng the waters OF the
Huydee Zee. snatching 529.575 acres of
agricultural land from it's embrace, and
converting the remaining 362.500 acres
into fresh water lake. For the
present, the scheme just embodied In
government bill is restricted to the
reclamation OF some 133.050 acres. and
is estimated to cost total sum of
s44.0O0.00o. whereas the estimate for
the complete reclamation scheme is
$s8.s00.000 IT is computed that even
the restricted scheme will require e.
teen years
In Its main outlines the project,
which has been evolving ever since
1S4s, is simple one. The Zuyder Zee
liz large. shallow arm of the North
Sea that breaks into the northern mart
or the Netherlands in a southcasterly
direction. and laps the shores Of five
provinces. widening out into n big
circular basin. Across it's mouth lies
a string Of islands which, before the
great floods. once formed the coast
line and the limits OF the seas domain
Some little distance inside this line a
massive dixie is to be constructed In
nine years time, from shore to shore,
right across the entrance to the blight.
Starting few miles below the we'll
known naval base of Den Helder. on
the coast of the Province of North Hol-
land. II Will cross the narrow strait
of the Amsteldiep to the Island of
jcrfr
through the seq northeastwards to n
spot near Piaam. on the Tristan coast.
The entire dixie. including the inter-
vcning small island. will be twenty
frc miles in length. as compared with
the 200 miles of coast line that 1t
supplants.
-FOUR DRAINED BASINS
TO BE CONSTRUCTED
Out of the lake thus formed. il Is
proposed TO construct four separate
"polders. or drained basins. though
only the two smaller ones. the north.
western and southwestern, located
above EAmsterdam. arc actually In
Guided in the bill laid before ParIia-
mcnt. Tho later northeastern and
southcastcrn poldcrs will be situated
on either side Of the channel through
which the. River Yssci will reach the
newly formed "Ysscl Lake" and their
reclamation probably will take another
tiftecn years or so beyond m, time
stated. This island lake also will re-
ccire tho outflow of the other rivers
ana Waterways at present cmptying
into this portion Of tho Zuyder Zee II
VIII form Il basin 80 low that even
when the spring tide is beating against
the northern outer dixie, these inland
waters can flow into 1t and, without
prejudice or danger. remain there for
few days when IL is not possible TO
dischar.,c Immediately through sluiccs
into the sea.
Among the various problems aris-
ing is provision for the needs of ship
ping. 4 broad channel Of the lake still
will run up TO the port Of Amsterdam
and in order to preserve communica-
ton between the two severed parts
of tho Zuyder Zee locks are to DO
built on the island of Wieringcu, whilc
a canal running along tho inner side
of the Frlsiau sea dixie and issuing
south of the inciosing barrier will
nee: tho needs of shipping between
Terschelling and Vliclard
and the inclosed part OF the Zuydcr
Zee. The harbors falling within the
'hS'ti Fi'd " III ilNe 10 he uocnCntii,
while provision is made for an in
demnity Of s2,4oo,0o0 to the Zuytlcr Zoe
fishermen for the damage inflicted on
their interests by the conversion OF
the present open sea into a fresh water
lake of less than half the size.
The great question is: Can this
great project be made n rcmuncrative
one? In the opinion OF tho govern
against tho total expenditure for the
whole scheme of sSS.00o, 600. in The
first place. therc Will be the enormous
benefits and saving OF money which
!; Will mean to the entire water pro-
lection and drainage systems Of the
provinces The coast line
TO be defended from the inroads of
the sea Will be shortened by about $50
miles. and in place Of an arm of the
North Sea in the center Of the coun-
try. with It's sharply changing water
there will he a fresh water
lake with a much more settled water
level. low enough for proper drain
age OF the surrounding region. Out of
this lake, too. the provinces of Fries
land and North Holland can obtain a
plentiful supply Of fresh water. long
felt need.
TO APPEAR
WHERE WAVES NOW WASH
But beyond all this. there is the re-
sulting 486,025 acres OF fertile land.
Here. where the waves now wash. will
appear smiling meadows with brows-
ing cattle, and the financial yield alone
probably will be sufficient to cover the
entire cost Of the scheme. OF the two
reclamation plans included in the
present bill. the northwestern, or
Wicringcn, poldcr consists OF very
good clay ground, and the south
or Hoorn. polder OF the very
best clay soil. Moreover. these are the
most favorably situated for a speedy
agricultural development. where, too
there arc good markets. and from
whence the capital can be reached in
n short time by good rail and water
ways.
Spread over the fifteen years. the
cost OF the restricted scheme works
out at an expenditure OF about So 300