TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 797 



tban existed at the mouth of the new Maas by the constructiou of the Vonne 

 Canal in 1827-21), eiiabliiip: vessels to enter by a somewhat deeper mouth to the 

 south ; but the available depth over the bar of this mouth was often only 12 feet, 

 and under the most favourable conditions vessels diawing more than 17j feet 

 could not go up to Rotterdam, and even then the route was very circuitous, and the 

 journey occupied at least eighteen hours. In 18o8 Mr. Caland proposed cuttings 

 new direct outlet for the Scheur branch of the Maas across the Hook of Holland, 

 continued across the foreshore into deep water by fascine-work jetties, and this 

 scheme was approved and commenced in 1863. The north jetty was carried out 

 in 1863-74 to a length of 2,187 yards, and the south jetty in 1864-70 for 2,515 

 yards ; the channel across the Hook was excavated, 1(54 feet wide and 10 feet deep, 

 in 1868-71 ; and the old outlet to the south of the Hook was closed by a dam in 

 1872. The new channel was first used by fishing vessels in 1871 and by steamers 

 in 1872. The jiver was also regulated by training works, in a gradually widening 

 channel, from Ilotterdam to the Hook. The scour, which had been relied upon for 

 widening the cut and deepening the channel across the foreshore between the 

 jetties, proved inadequate to accomplish this, and accordingly in 1882 the widen- 

 ing of the narrow cut by excavation and the deepening of the jetty channel by 

 dredging, and its narrowing 656 feet by a low training bend to the south, were 

 commenced. The river above has also been further regulated and deepened by 

 training and dredging, and the escape of the ebb tide into the old Maas has been 

 prevented by the contraction of the entrance to the junction channel. By these 

 works the river has been made to widen out uniformly from 330 yards at Rotter- 

 dam to 765 yards at the ends of the jetties; and not only has the navigable 

 channel been widened and deepened, but the flow has been rendered uniform and 

 the tidal scour has been increased. 



The minimum depth at low tide between the jetties and in front has gradually 

 been increased from 10 feet in 1882 up to 26 j feet in 1893, and the rise of tide 

 adds about 5^ feet. The maximum draught of the vessels navigating the new 

 channel has increased from 19|- feet in 1882 up to 25 feet in 1893 ; and the 

 number of vessels drawing 23 feet and over has risen from 16 in 1886 up to 150 in 

 1893. Vessels can now reach Rotterdam from the sea in two hours ; and the total 

 number of vessels using this new channel has increased from 6,946 in 1879, with a 

 capacity of 8,314,000 cubic metres, up to 9,628 in 1893, with a capacity of 

 20,432,000 cubic metres. 



Before the construction of the Moerdyk bridge, about twenty years ago, and 

 the extension of the railway to Rotterdam, passengers from England to Rotterdam 

 and Amsterdam had to go hy Ostend and Antwerp, and by steamer from Moerdyk 

 to Rotterdam ; and even after the completion of the railway the journey was a 

 long and circuitous one. Rotterdam also, thirty years ago, was a small town and 

 a somewhat insignificant port. The new deepened outlet and the extension of the 

 railway from Schiedam to the Hook, together with the improved accommodation 

 provided at Harwich, has opened a short cheap route to North Holland, and also 

 to the Continent beyond. The improvement, moreover, of the river has trans- 

 formed Rotterdam into a large port ; large basins surrounded by quays have been 

 found opening into the river, in addition to quays along the river ; and consider- 

 able extension works are in progress for providing further accommodation fov 

 vessels and the rapidly growing trade of the port. Having travelled to Rotterdam 

 in 1865 and 1867 by the old route, by railway from Antwerp in 1880, and down 

 the river from Rotterdam to the outlet, and last j'ear from Harwich to the Hook, 

 and also both up and down the river and through the port, I have myself had an 

 opportunity of witnessing the marvellous development of Rotterdam and the- 

 changes which the works since 1882 have made in the river between Rotterdam 

 and the sea. 



The total cost of the river works, up to tlieir completion this year, has 

 amounted to about 2,950,000/. 



