78 



The construction of the embankmemt will require nine years, 

 and the completion of the entire work, thirty-three years. 



AREA 01^ NKW JE:RSE:y TIDE MARSH. 



The total in the State is 296,500 acres. Atlantic, Cape May 

 and Cumberland Counties have each about 53,000 acres, and in 

 all more than half of the total. The area of the Hackensack 

 and Newark Bay meadows is 27,000 acres. The meadows bor- 

 dering on the Atlantic Ocean include about 125,000 acres. Those 

 bordering on the Delaware Bay and River about 120,0001 acres. 



The average amount of water to be removed is 1,610 gallons 

 daily for each acre drained. 



The ordinary cost of pumping an area of 1,000 acres would 

 be for fuel, $250; labor, $600; repairs and miscellaneous, $150; 

 total, $1,000, or $1 per acre annually. 



AREA OE SEUICES. 



Sluices should be set with the sill 6 inches below mean low 

 tide. The opening should be 3 feet high above the sill, and there 

 should be one foot width of opening for each 100 acres to be 

 drained. If necessary, they should be divided into a number of 

 gates, as it is best that no gate should be wider than 30 inches. 



Ditches should be of ample size and close enough together to 

 give prompt drainage. They should be cleaned out every spring. 

 There should in all cases be a ditch running along the edge of 

 the upland to intercept spring water. If irrigation is desired, 

 there should be a provision for fastening sluices shut, or even 

 better, a groove with stop plank should be provided, so arranged 

 that after the water has reached a certain height, it can over- 

 flow and escape. 



Mr. Howeli. — I would like to ask the speaker how in Holland 

 that project of two hundred millions of improvement is met by 

 their seven million population? 



Mr. VermeuIvE — The Zuider Zee Commission is financed by 

 the Dutch Government. The cost will be assessed on the im- 



