New areas of activity are developed following Dalgas' death

1894 - 1932

When E. M. Dalgas died in 1894, it marked the beginning of a new era in which a number of powerful figures – including Dalgas’ own son Chr. Dalgas – fought for the control of the company and the definition of the company’s objectives and tasks.

At the same time, new areas of activity were developed. From the beginning of the 1890s DDH became involved in work concerning the supply of marl to the newly reclaimed heathland. This consisted of both the localisation of deposits of marl and the establishment of railway lines for the transport of the marl.

Another new area was development of the heathland bogs, either in the form of agricultural cultivation of the bogs or the establishment of peat production in the bogs. Peat production was particularly important due to the need for domestic sources of energy during the First World War.

With regard to planting, a great debate emerged concerning the choice of tree species on the heaths, and the debate led to the development of new experimental forest activities which contributed new knowledge to Danish forest and plantation management.

A significant change in DDH ’s status occurred in 1921 when the state obtained a seat on the board as part of significant governmental involvement in the company’s reclamation activities.