As Seen from a Dutch Window 



6 33 



the pumps still lower down to stop until 

 the individual farmers would be forced 

 to throw their wind pumps out of gear. 

 This might_ cause some fields to become 

 submerged, but the principle is observed 

 that it is better for the water to rise 

 gently over a few fields than to have a 

 large canal burst its banks, and the rush- 

 ing waters endanger life as well as prop- 

 erty. 



This entire question of drainage, the 

 conduct of river waters to the sea, and 

 the protection of exposed shores are 

 under the direction of the Ministry of 

 Water Affairs. So important is this de- 

 partment that it might be called the Min- 

 istry of Interior Defense and Internal 

 Expansion. 



As you ride along in the cars you 

 sometimes see windmills so small that 

 you are inclined to think they are toys. 

 Not so. They are sentinels. With vane 

 outstretched it is always in the wind, 

 and is ready to respond just as soon as it 

 is thrown into gear. This is accom- 

 plished by a wooden float on the surface 

 of the water immediately under it. The 

 rising water lifts the float, and when it 

 reaches a height which threatens to sub- 

 merge the surrounding fields the ma- 

 chine is thrown into gear, and the re- 

 volving wings warn the farmer to start 

 his pump and keep it going until his 

 truthful ally coming to rest tells him that 

 the danger is past. 



DRIVING OUT THE) SEA 



Just outside of Amsterdam there was, 

 years ago, an inland sea over which ves- 

 sels sailed, and on which at one time a 

 fleet of seventy vessels gave battle. In 

 November, 1836, a violent west wind 

 drove the waters of the lake into the 

 very streets of Amsterdam. They swept 

 over fields, and covered the opposing 

 dikes, and even bridges. On Christmas 

 day a fierce east wind arose and hurled 

 the waters of the lake back again, and 

 did not rest until a part of Leyden was 

 inundated. An entire year was con- 

 sumed in freeing the submerged land, 

 and great losses resulted from the over- 

 flow. This was the final provocation. 



The challenge was accepted, and the bat- 

 tle was to be to the death. 



An encircling dike was constructed, 

 with a large canal on its outer face. Into 

 this great pumps, lifting a thousand 

 cubic feet at each stroke, poured the 

 water of the lake into the encircling 

 canal. After thirty-nine months the 

 commission charged with this work 

 made the laconic report, "The lake 

 is dry," and the medal they issued 

 in commemoration of the event con- 

 tained in Latin the inscription: "Haar- 

 lem Lake, after having for centuries as- 

 sailed the surrounding fields, to enlarge 

 itself by their destruction, conquered at 

 last by the force of machinery, has re- 

 turned to Holland its 44,280 acres of in- 

 vaded land." 



These acres are now occupied by 

 about twelve thousand people, and their 

 products are the choicest of the land. 

 In this vast plain, so recently the for- 

 aging ground of crabs, lobsters, and eels, 

 straight roads are bordered with feath- 

 ery-topped trees such as Hobbema 

 painted ; substantial and even elegant 

 farm-houses are seen on every hand ; 

 throughout the commune there are po- 

 lice, cemeteries, fire companies — all the 

 appliances of Dutch civilization — as well 

 organized as in any of the older districts. 



The commission is quite pardonable 

 when, after recounting the material ben- 

 efit resulting to the state, it says : "But 

 this is not all ; we have driven forever 

 from the bosom of our country a most 

 dangerous enemy ; we have at the same 

 time augmented the means for defending 

 our capital in time of war. We have 

 conquered a province in combat without 

 tears and without blood, where science 

 and genius took the place of generals, 

 and where workmen were the worthy 

 soldiers." 



There are still within the borders of 

 Holland thousands of acres of first-rate 

 mud aching to contribute toward the 

 making of Dutch cheese for the foreign 

 markets, but their existence is smothered 

 out by the same thousands of acres of 

 overlying brackish water. There are 

 also manv Dutch fingers itching to feel 



