The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1913. A BIG PROJECT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 83, 8 December 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1913. A BIG PROJECT.

The reclamation of the famous Zuyder Zoo, a scheme tor which the Dutch Parliament' is shortly to consider, according to a cablegram from the Hague on Saturday, means the revival of an old Dutch project, lons dreamt of and much discussed. It was first introduced in 1849 and has, been the subject of numerous Parliamentary and technical inquiries. The most important of the technical inquiries was that carried out a quar-

ter of a Century ago, under the auspices of the iZuyder Zee Association, by the engineer Lely, who proved by 2128 borings that at least throe-quart-ers of the soil to bo gained would be well adapted to agriculture. After that another Parliamentary Committee was appointed to examine the question, and in 1901 M; Lely, having become Minister of the Waterstaat (Public Works), introduced a Bill for tin* drainage of the Wieringen Sea and the south-western polders. But the Cabinet of which he was a member hud to resign, and once more the proIject was deferred until M. Lely once wtore became Minister in the present Cabinet, which was formed on August 29th last. The Speech from the Throne on September 16th of the present year, announced a Bill for carrying out Al. Lely's cherished plan. It is expected to win by the draining operations not loss than 500,000 acres

of fertile lantl, which will support a /population of 200,000 persons, including -10,01)0 farmers and 50.000 traders, artisans, and others. As the present Zuvder Zee fisheries maintain, in none ton prosperous condition, only 3107 ifishermen and their families, with some 8000 boats, the gain will he enormous. In fact, while the present income derived from the fisheries amounts to about £160,000, the same area, when drained, is expected to yield not less than £5,000,000 per annum. The cost of the operation, including compensation to the fishermen, is estimated at over £i0.000,000, which, however, will he spread over the entire; period of execution of the scheme, which is expected to ho terminated in thirty-three years. The message received on Saturday, however, contemplates thai a portion of the area will ho available for settlement in seven i years.