THE 



DRAINAGE 



OF 



FENS AND LOW LANDS. 



CHAPTER L 



INTRODUCTION. 



The object of this book is to give a general description of 

 the works and machines used in draining low land, with such 

 information and practical hints as may be of service to those 

 having to superintend drainage districts or to design new 

 works. Living in the midst of the Fenland, where, with the 

 exception of Holland, the science of drainage has been 

 applied to the improvement of land on a larger scale than 

 any other part of the world, and having been engaged pro- 

 fessionally as an hydraulic engineer for the last twenty-five 

 years, the author has had the opportunity of collecting 

 together a large amount of facts and experience relating to 

 this particular subject, and hopes that, by rendering these 

 accessible to others who have not had the same opportunities, 

 he may be doing some service, 



A civil engineer called in to advise as to drainage has not, 

 as a rule, had the experience necessary to enable him to 

 design the details of machinery required for the purpose, but 

 he ought to have sufficient knowledge of the subject to enable 

 him to judge as to what type of machinery is best suited for 



B 



