ITS LESSONS AND ITS WARNINGS 51 



This reclaimed land was formed into a new 

 Province and divided into farms of from 50 to 

 150 acres each. Soon after reclamation, Mr. 

 Jenkins states, the land contained a population 

 of 15,000 persons. In each 100 acres there 

 were on an average 16 horned cattle, 24 sheep, 

 4 pigs and 7 horses, besides poultry of all kinds. 

 The total cost of the undertaking was 1,150,000. 

 The then (1879) value of the reclaimed land was 

 estimated at 3,083,333. In addition, it was 

 calculated that the rates and taxes in the new 

 district amounted to 13,500 a year. 



ZUIDERZEE 



In 1892 the Dutch Government appointed a 

 Royal Commission to consider the question of 

 draining and enclosing the Zuiderzee. The 

 Commission reported that the Zuiderzee ought 

 to be enclosed and that the undertaking, being 

 one for the national good, should be under- 

 taken by the Government. They produced an 

 elaborate scheme at an estimated cost of 15| 

 millions sterling. The Commission summed up 

 their report by stating that the " carrying out 

 of the scheme would greatly increase the means 



