The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-23


see against the banks. projecting
above the water, boards with black
horizontal lines and figures that look
like giant thermometers without the
tubes Of mercury. They are gauges
which show at the top the bench mark
of Amsterdam or the zero to which all
water levels are referred. The num-
bers on the board have minus signs
before them and indicate the level OF
the canal water below Amsterdam. /. It
means that the water on which you
are looking is running along below
sea-level, bit Of information that may
make you shudder.
Pumping Carefully Regulated.
Since numerous small canals are
emptled by wind-driven pumps into
each larger and higher one, there must
be limit to the pumping at each
transfer station for water might be
put into canal more rapidly than 1t
could be removed somewhere else.
Then, too, the canals emptying into
the sea have their discharge limited
by the height Of the tide Mt their
mouths. SO 1t becomes necessary that
at each station the height of water
should have fixed limit. The official
in charge of each station Is in
structed not to pump after the water
in the receiving canal has reached
certain height, and that the water in
the lower canal should be kept below
a certain level-that Is, II 1t rises
above that height there Is danger Of
an overflow.
From this 1t can be seen that a
local engineer might be embarrassed
by conflicting orders. He may be for
hidden to pump water into one canal
because 1t Is ready to overflow, and
know at the same time that the lower
canal is dangerously full. Fortunately
for him, he is not called upon to Worry
about this. The latter condition has
already been observed by the district
inspector, and notices served that
pumping into this lower canal should
cease at once. The canals still lower
might thereby be In danger Of over
flow, but that would cause the pumps
still lower down to stop until the indi-
vldual farmers would be forced to
throw their wind pumps out Of gear.
This might cause some fields to be-
come submerged, but the principle IL
observed that II Is better for the water
to rise gently over few, fields than
to have large canal burst Its banks,
and the rushing waters endanger life
as well as property. ~
This entire question Of drainage,
the conduct of rivers to the sea, and
the protection of exposed shores II
under the direction of the Ministry Of
Water Affairs.
Close to Amsterdam, less than a
century ago. there was an inland sea
over which ships sailed and on which
there was once naval battle. Now
that body of water does not exist. In
It's place Is beautiful, quiet, pros
porous countryside Of farms and gar
dens, roads, meadows and canals.
Here Is how the lake was "exor-
clsed' and It's bottom added to the
constantly growing Netherlands
An encircllng dixie was constructed,
with large canal on its outer face.
Great pumps, lifting a thousand cubic
feet at each stroke, poured the water
of the lake into the enclrcling canal.
After thirty-nine months the commis-
sion charged with this work made the
laconic report, "The lake Is dry" and
the medal they issued in commemora-
tion Of the event contained In Latin
the inscription: "Haarlem Lake, aftet
having for centuries assailed the sur.
rounding fields. to enlarge itself By
their destruction, conquered at last BY Z
the force Of machinery, has returned
to Holland its z4.2s0 acres OF invaded
land"
= These acres are now occupied BY
about twelve thousand people. and
their products are the choicest Of the
land. In this vast plain. 90 recently
the foraging ground OF crabs. Holsters
and cells, straight roads ara bofdered
with feathery-topped trees such a.
Hobbema painted; substantial and
even elegant farm-houses ars sesn q
every hand