RECLAMATION OF THE ZUYDER ZEE

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 13

RECLAMATION OF THE ZUYDER ZEE

THE PROGRESS »F THE WORK The reclamation of the Zuyder Zee is proceeding apace under the supervision of twenty-five Dutch engineers, who have 1,000 workmen at their disposal (writes a correspondent of ‘ The Times ’). One of the two minor dams, which, with the central main dam are to block the mouth of the Zuyder Zee, has rocnily been completed. This dam is one and a-half miles in length, and runs from the west coast to the Island of Wieringen (well known in post-war history as the residence of the German Crown Prince). The main dam will be some twelve miles in length, and will run from Wieringen to an artificial island, Wieringen’s ‘ opposite number,” which is being constructed an equal distance from the Friesland coast, with which it will bo connected by a third small dam. During a recent visit I was able to go over the completed portion. Behind the embankment which faces tho sea there are two parallel tracks, each about twenty-five yards in width. The southernmost of these is now the main road, and carries' the traffic to and from Wieringen. The second track is destined eventually to carry a railway across the Zuyder Zee. It is at present some ten feet above the level of the road, having been built up to this height in order that the extra weight of material should accelerate the settling of tho undersoil. In eight years’ time, it is thought, tho settling will have so far advanced as to give sufficient strength to the dam to prevent gaps forming after the opening of the railway service. The lop layer will then be removed and tho permanent way laid on the same level as the main road.

Another great work which has been completed is the construction of a new sea-dyke from Ewycksluis in a northwesterly direction nearly as far as Holder,' the northernmost point of Holland, This was built as a precaution against tho higher tides which are expected after tho closing of the Zuyder Zee. To have strengthened tho old main sea-dyke sufficiently to withstand these would have necessitated the expropriation of large areas of valuable farm land, A new dyke was therefore built, parallel to, but 200 yards east of the old one. This has the advantage of creating a firstclass ship canal ten miles in length, which will he made still longer when the new dyke is continued to tho south. Another new dyke is to be built next year from the cast of Wieringen Island to Modcmblik, in the south, and the area thus enclosed will, when the water has been drained off by powerful pumps, be the first of tho four polders of reclaimed land WORKS COMPLETED.

At the eastern end of Wieringen two more considerable tasks have been completed. Those are the new dock, which serves as a base for the fleet of dredgers, barges, and tugs taking part in the work, and the construction of tho fifteen sluice gates, which are to control tho waters of that part of tho Zuyder Zeo which is to remain unreclaimed, This work is simply a stretch of the old sea hottonp enclosed by a dyke, tho water having been pumped out. Its construction was a matter of great difficulty. Boulderclav was taken by dredgers from a spot in the Zuyder Zee some five miles away and brough to Wieringen by barges. This clay, which is a deposit from the Ice period, is proof against erosion even in a strong current, and will form the foundation of all tho main works. After dumping the boulder-clay up to sea level the water was pumped out and the embankment thoroughly reinforced, The miter face of the dyke has been covered with large blocks of stone, which are brought in barges fiom Germany and Belgium. It is stated that between £2.000,000 and £3,000,000 is to be spent in tho purchase of this stone from abroad. The sluice basin is nearly half a mile long and about 300 yards in width. It will contain fifteen sluice gates of ferro.-concrew, each of them thirtythroe feet wide. These will be used to regulate Hie water level of the lake formed by the unreclaimed tion of the Zuyder Zee. _ Lake Assol, as it has been named, will receive its waters from the Rhino through the Biver Yssol. On the Friesian side of the Zuyder Zee, where the artificial island is being built-, another great basin to contain ten more sluices is in course of construction. It is thought that these twenty-five sluices, with two very large locks for shipping, will prove sufficient to keep Lake Yssel at it proper level. USE OP CENTRAL LAKE. Tho preservation of the central lake in the enclosed Zuyder Zeo is necessary for tho regulation of the irrigation supply in the surrounding country. It will act as a reservoir of rain, ground and Rhine writer, which will ho allowed to roach tho sea through tho sluices according to need. . From Wieringen to' tho Friesian coast is two hours’ steaming by a powerful tug, and when making the voyage it is not easy to picture this long stretch of sea crossed by a dam some twelve miles in length. The building of this dam is to be begun in 1032, after the sluice gates have been finished and the smafl dam built between the artificial island and tho Friesian coast. .The last stretch, about nv<4ve miles in length, is then expected to he completed in three years. Tho total cost of enclosing the Zuydcr Zoo is estimated to reach 90,000,000 florins £7,000.000), but against Ibis must be sot the benefits to be derived from tho operation, which are estimated at 150 millions (£12,500,000). Of this sum 100,000,000 florins represents the capitalised value of the advantages which arc expected to accrue from the creation • of a reservoir of fresh water from which the northern ■-ovinccs can draw a plentiful supply of good drinking water for cattle, a matter of great importance in the production of milk. Tlio benefits to shipping arc placed at a further aO.tiOO.OOO florins. At present the conveyance of poods by water in the northern provinces suffers considerably in periods of drought, when, as a consequence of low water, vessels can only bo partially loaded. Lastly, the capital value of the land to be reclaimed is 510,000,000 florins (£42,500,000), while the cost o c reclamation is estimated only to rad; 404 millions (£37,830,000).' From an economic point of view, therefore, the scheme may be regarded as profitable.