The evening times., 1899-08-07
CHANGES IN THE BAY SHORE.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey nj
Work in the Chesapeake.


Attention has been directed to the chang
ing character of the eastern shore line of
Chesapeake Bay. The erosion which is the
cause of this alteration has been known to
the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey for a number of years. At present
there are several expeditions in the field
making an extensive survey of the bay,
with a view of ascertaining precisely the
changes which have taken place in the last
half century. No survey of this kind has
been made on Chesapeake Bay for more
than forty years, and the officials in charge
of the work expect to obtain much inter
esting matter.
John W. Dom, of the Coast and Geo.
detic Survey, is now working on Kent
Island with shore party to the eastward
confining himself 10 typographical work in
the shoal water along the coast and to
mapping out the coast line. In a short
tiruo the steamer Bache. under the charge
of Capt. p. A. Welcker, will be utilized
for thorough exploration of the eastern
bay, with view of ascertaining the cor
rect autobiography and the topography of
the shore. At the end of this season il is
expected that most of the work will be N
hand, and when comparisons have been
uldQS lES survey VIII tQe results.
The work already done shows that on
Spry Island, Kent Island, Fox Island, Pop
lar Island, Tilgham Island, Barren Island
and other islands acres have been washed
away and the entire appearance of the
islands altered. Spry Island has been chang
ed from elliptical to circular form. Farms
have been entirely washed away in some
instances. A quarter of mile has disap-
peared from Tilgham Island. The hydro
graphical work shows that the erosion is
not confined to the shore, but that in many
instances the character of the channels
and also of the creeks, inlets and rivers
is undergoing a marked alteration. This
is especially true of the channels about
Poole's Island. and il is said there is three
feet more of water through Elk river to
the Delaware Canal than there was some
years ago.
In a number of instances the creeks and
smaller rivers emptying into Chesapeake
Bay are filling up. For years they have
been naVigable for the small steamers
that ply in those waters, bringing pro-
duce to Baltimore. 1t is feared that these
channels may. in time become SO obstructed
as TO render their passage difficult, If not
entirely impossible, for even these small
water craft. There seems to be little ero-
sion in the lower bay, and the hydrogra-
ply of the deeper waters remains unchans-
ed. The Baltimore channel is kept well
dredged and is in no danger OF becoming
choked Curtis Bay is regarded as par
ticularly well protected against such dan
ger.
While the report of the work of the
] Coast Survey will deal with the destruc-
ton of farming property in this vicinity
| it will make no recommendation for i'm
provements with view to protecting the
land or stopping the erosion. This would
be matter for Congress and especial,
the River and Harbor Committee TO dea
with. While the damage done is great
there seems to be no practical method o
preventing it, as to jetty the shore of The
bay would require a vast sum.