The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-05-06
RECLAIlIING COASTLAND
sWAMPS AND SALT MARSHES MADE
VALUABLE FOR FARMING.

Low ana Worthless Sea Beaches Trans
formed Into Beautiful Building Sites
First step IL TO Make the Sea Land
Building Agent.
Holland presents the best example
of anation's attemptto reclaim valuable
land from the sea. and France and Eng
land have followed suit in some notable
instances. but the United States has. by
virtue of its extensive coast line. pos
sibilities and promises I'm this direction
that must eventually eclipse anything
heretofore attempted in Europe. Pub
lie and private interests are being
awakened to the necessity of reclaim
ing coast marshes and in shutting out
the sea permanently from beaches
which offer excellent building sites for
summer homes. The fact that coast
marshes harbor and breed mosquitoes
and poisonous fever germs is another
reason for developing the lands so
that such nuisances will be forever
abolished. Tidal swamps and salt
marshes are numerous all along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. and their
value as farming land has been re-
peatedly demonstrated, and their re-
clamation is n matter of great none
tary importance, fully as much as the
irrigation of the Sem-arid lands OF the
West
If at the same time the mosquitoes
and malarial germs which Turk in these
marshes could be abolished. the re
clamatiOn of the low worthless sea
coast property would prove of inesti-
mable value to all who reside near the
sea or so down to it for summer vaca-
tions. The Investigations of the De
partment of Agriculture have been
conducted for years with special refer
ence to retaining the marshes eco
nomically and permanently. As the
low fenS of England have been re-
claimed TO the extent of some .OOOOOO
acres, It is believed that several times
That amount of land along our two
coasts can be converted into good
farming land at an expense much less
than that required to irrigate the semi
arid lands Of the West. Agricultural
engineers all along the coast have stu
died the problems presented. and i'm
several instances private companies
have undertaken the work of saving
the salt meadows for farming purposes.
Closely allied to this subject is that
of saving from the sea land already
formed and i'm excellent condition for
building or farming purposes. The en-.
croachment of the sea upon the land is
steady ana disastrous at many places
along the coast. washing away valua-
bic beaches and farming land during
every heavy storm. SO uncertain is
this constant destruction of the coast
that great engineering feats have been
attempted in the past to protect the
land. Lighthouses have had TO be
moved repeatedly on beaches threat
ened by the tides and currents and val
liable seashore property has been un
dermined and tumbled into the ocean
until whole summer communities have
been ruined. Breakwaters and other
protective means have been construct
ed at great expense, but often without
satisfactory results. cs.-,a,s-,,.s
Ten years ago the Department OF
Agriculture decided that investig9-
tions on this subject should be made
along a line that was somewhat novel
to many. 1t was felt that GRASSES
were the most effective agencies for
shutting ont the sen. Sand-bindnc
grasses could hold the beaches in com
pact forms so that even the waves of
the ocean could not break through the
barrier. At Provincetown. ON Game
Goa, the first most effective exDeri
mentS were made with sand-biudino
grasses. These were planted To- hold
the drifting sands in place, and where
Ihe pants became thoroughly estab
llShed. both the winds and waves were
rendered powerless in moving the fine
sands. Beach and sand-blndinp grasses
are now being planted from Maine m
fIorida by private and public means
ana they are gradually forming a com
pact continuous barrier to the sen
which will be shut out for all time
Inc sand-storms of Cape Cod and Cane
hatteras are gradually being elimin-
ated, ard the beaches viii change less
and less as the roots of the grass
spread.
III establishing permanent bulwarks
against the encroaching sea. the Coy
eminent mas provided working pIans
which all private properly owners can
ADOPT ana follow. The first stem is IN
convert the sea into q land-buildjno I'm
stead of land-destroyins agent. This
is accomplished by utilizing the tides
ana currents in depositing floating
sand mt desirable points. Hedgerovys
OF brush and spiles are built out into