Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1863-12-23
Encroachment of the Sea.

II i well known TO biologists that the sea
has been gradually encroaching upon several
portions Of the American coast; but its ad-
vance has been most noted on certain parts
of New jersey. \ correspondent Of the
New York Ereni,lg Post, writing from Cape
Nav, gives some interesting information up
on the subject. He says;
On the west side of Cape Nav, at point
where the shore is most boldly outlined, the
solid gravel bank, from y to Is feet high,
wears away about one foot year; the fOun-
cations Of the houses built ut the first settle
ment, us Carlv as 1881, wore long since I'M
dcrnincd, and the waters Of the bay now
cover the place where they once stood. At
this cape. the most southcrly point Of the
New Jersey coast, observation-disclosures OF the
tides is equally rapid, 4 full mile having
been washed GwaS since the RcvOiutIOu.-
During that period, according to the report
Of the State Geological Survey, 4 militia ar
tillery company had its prac,icing ground
here. Their cuu was placed near house
which stood lust aside OF the present shore
line aud their target was set up threc-quar-
tiers I mile east. This last point WAS ut the
outer edge OF the cultivated ground, between
which and the waters edge there are sand hills
or beaches 4 quarter of mile in extent
The whole nf this Is now gone and one of
u,
account Of the constant advance Of the tide.
Old observers upon the Atlantic and Bay
shores all agree rs TO the gradual advance o:
the ocean upon thcuyaantiS. Narrow friugcS
Of wood which the salt water, and numerous
;Sland>-SpaccS of land fouud surrounded
bv salt mIrSll-which, within the memory
OF men now living, have been cultivated, and
others which we're in woods, have been en-
irclv lost in the advancing marsh, and their
location i only 20 be known by the shallow
ness OF the mud which covers them. III all
the salt marshes on this shore, StumpS OF
trees. Of the common species OF the country,
are found with the roots still fast in the
solid ground a: the bottom Of the marsh, and
this 1t depths far bclOw low water mark
Similar Submerged forests, it may be inci-
Grntally remarked, are observed on the Mas
ssrhu<e;;> AMI Other coasts.
The period during which this subsistence
has been in progress cannot he c$tlmItcd
with auv degree OF accuracy. From the best
Cyi,;cucr that can be gathered. il would seem
G. be certain that two feet in hundred wears
Is not above the rate II which the shore Is
now sinking. These changes on the New
Jersey coast DO 10; appear To be confined to
the more southern shore. The same thing
has been observed in the Sllt marshes on the
Raritan, and NJ the mouths Of the Hackeu-
sack and PaS>a'c rivers.
Mr. Ivcll, in his work on the Principles
Of Zoology, SAYS: :" Recent observations
have disclosed - Us the wonderful fact that
not only n, west coast of South Amcrica,
bu; also Other large areas, as Scandinavia
and certain archipclagocS in the Pacific, arc
slowly and in>cn>ibly rising: while other
regions, such Is Greenland, and parts OF the
Pacific and Indian oceans, in which atoll> or
circular coral islands, abound, are rs gradu-
ally sinking" Professor Hitchcock, in his
report IN the Geology Of Massachusetts,,
mentions the same phenomena exhibited
there. Mr.. Lyell, in his First Visit 10 .Ame-
rica, Speaking Of the coast OF Georgia. GAYS ::
- even suspect that this coast is now sink
Ing down 1t i slow and insensihle rate, for
the sea is cnc-oaching and gaining at many
points ON the fresh water marshes" Bar
nam, the 5otani>t, writing in 1892, testified
THAT along the coasts of Carolina, Georgia
and Florida. the tides enrroach upon the
marshes which were once high land covered
with forests.