The suburban citizen., 1902-03-15
RECLAIMINGC COASTLAND
sWAMPS AND SALT MARSHES MADE
VALUABLE FOR FARMING.

-FtrSt step IL TO MAKE Ahe sea LAhu
Building Agent.
Holland presents the best example
# anation' attemptto reclaim valuable
land from the sea, and France and Eng
and have followed suit in some notable
Instances, but the United States has, by
virtue Of its extensive coast line. pos.
sibilities and promises in 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 a matter of great none
tary Importance. fully as much as the
irrigation Of the semi-arid lands Of the
West.
If at the same time the mosquitoes
and malarial germs which lurk in these
marshes could be abolished, the re-
Slamation Of the low, worthless sea-
roast property would prove Of inesti-
mable value TO all who reside near the
sea or go down to it for summer vaca-
NOns. The investigations of the De-
partment of Agriculture have been
conducted for years with special refer
ence to reclaiming the marshes eco
nomically and permanently. AS the
bow fens Of England have been re-
claimed to the extent of some 100000
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 in
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 in excellent condition for
building or farming purposes. The en-
croachment Of the sea upon the land is
steady and disastrous at many places
along the coast, washing away valua-
BILE 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.
Ten years ago the Department Of
Agriculture decided that investiga-
tons on this subject should be made
along a line that was somewhat novel
to many. y was felt that grasses
were the most effective agencies for
shutting ou? the sea. Sand-binding
grasses could hold the beaches in COM
pact forms so that even the waves of
the ocean could not break through the
barrier. 1T Provincetown. on Cane
Cod, the Sirst most effective expert
ments were made with sand-binding
grasses. These were planted to hold
the drifting sands in place, and where
the plaBis became thoroughly estab-
lished, both the winds and waves were
rendered powerless in moving the fine
sands Beach and sand binding grasses
are now being planted from Maine to
Florida by private and public means,
and they are gradually forming a com.
pact continuous barrier to the sea,
which will be shut out for all time.
The sand-storms Of Cape Cod and Cape
Hattcras are gradually being ellmin.
ated, and the beaches will change less
and less as the roots Of the grass
spread.
In establishing permanent bulwarks
against the encroaching sea, the Gov.
ernment has provided working plans
which all private property owners can
adopt AMI fellow. The first step Is to
convert the sea into a land-building in.
stead of q land-destroying agent. This
is accomplished by utilizing the tides
and currents in depositing floating
sand at desirable points. Hedgerows
of brush and splles are built out into
the sea at right angles to the currents
and tides. These when DETECTED
sharply TO one side deposit the floating
sand particles in the acute angle thus
FORMED, or IL the water flows over the
barrier the bushes and twigs catcl
great quantities Of the loose sand ant
gradually build up a sandbar and ther
q beach.
Whole beaches have not only beer
saved in this way, but new ones bull
up at little expense. The Government