Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-16

So serious has the gradual but sure
disappearance of Englands coast line
become that royal commission has
been appointed to. study the matter and
devise some means to stop the ravages
of the greedy sea, says London cable
dispatch to the New York American
and Journal. 1t is known that places
that We're beaches 4 few years ago now
lie beneath the surface of the ocean
and that towns that once were far in
land are now Tapped by the incoming
tide
Cases of erosion or 'encroachment by
the sea have long been known in prac-
tically all portions of the English coast
line, but the facts that the progress Of
the land destroying ocean is going
steadily on and that the island is being
gradually eaten away by the hungry
waves are now considered seriously.
1t has been found that between 1861
and 1900 no less than 1000 acres that
once were English territory have been
claimed by the ocean as its bed. More
over, the amount of annual loss is in
creasing from year 10 year. and unless
something is done to stop the encrOach-
ment of waters upon the land it can be
almost calculated when England shall
have ceased to exist. eXceptNas Il little
group of rocky islets.
Startling az this may seem, it is far
from being mere scientific specula-
ton or the alarming cry of some the
oriSt, but IL rather the unpleasant and
serious fact that will soon. ii is be
lieved. make the saving of England
from the ocean a national problem.
That England might really disappear
from the map of the world can be per
haps appreciated when 1t is realized
that all the space that is now occupied
by the North sea and the English chan
mel was once dry land.
Great glaciers that slid down on this
immense territory destroyed the land
before them and dug a place for the
sea. They divided the lands and
made England. but their melting and
processes of deposit gave her a soft
and insecure coat. The cliffs that seem
impregnable fortresses are as play
things to the incessant tapping of the |
waves.
Each tide. indeed, takes a bit of Eng |
land away with it. Some of the worst |
effects of this erosion are to he seen |
in Sussex, where Langney fort. just |
beyond EastbOurne, is actually falling |
into the sea. The waves have eaten |
into the brick foundatiO of the forti-
fcations TO such an extent that this !
once valuable piece, of coast defense
has been recently Abandoned.
1t was not many years ago that the
map of the Suffolk coast showed little
bays and jutting points of land. Now
for miles it is straight almost as If |
cut with knife. The site of Dunwich,
that once was Il prosperous market
town, is now far out under fathoms of
water. and East6n Bevent, the most
easterlt point in England, is far out
beyond the general coast line.
In the southeastern portion of York
shire the greed of the sea seems now
TO be at its worst, for there the cliffs
almost crumbie. ras the waves lash
them. What is TO be the solution of
he subject is not known at this time.
The commission has hardly entered
mo it's work, but the members are de-
ermined to end the losses of territory
hat England is yearly sustaining in
his way. Redemption of land will be
as well, and much of the
destruction of recent years will be
made up for.