52 THE GREAT WAR 



of subsistence of the people, and add to the 

 importance of the country." 



No practical step has hitherto been taken to 

 carry out the recommendation of the Commis- 

 sion. The present Dutch Government, however, 

 have announced their intention to introduce a 

 Bill into Parliament immediately to carry out 

 this gigantic undertaking. The undertaking in- 

 volves the formation of a new Province of Hol- 

 land by the reclamation of 815 square miles of 

 the Zuiderzee, and the conversion of the re- 

 mainder into an inland lake. This fresh-water 

 lake will supply the surrounding districts with 

 fresh water at all times, and will raise the value 

 of hundreds of thousands of hectares (a hectare 

 is equivalent to 2J English acres) of land in those 

 districts. The estimated cost of the work is, as 

 stated, 15,750,000 exclusive of interest, and the 

 time required for its completion is thirty-three 

 years. In seventeen years, portions of these 

 holdings will be fit for habitation and culti- 

 vation. They will gradually be offered for sale 

 in small lots. It is intended that the conditions 

 of sale shall be such as to enable the purchasers 

 to become freeholders in forty-five years. Model 

 villages with 125 acres of land adjoining will be 



