The Jersey City news., 1906-02-05

Nue ""aS oA LIE ocean Slue anu " Inc
blowing Of sand by easterly winds they
are encroaching on the tide marches be-
hind (west) of them. Locally, there has
been an eastwardly growth by the cur
rent borne accretion to the beach front,
but these are the exception
During the past summer Professor
Lewis NJ. Haupt, who for many years
has made special study of coast
changes and wave and current action,
gave some attention to recent changes
upon the New Jersey coast and prepared
for the survey paper which accom-
panies his report. Several features of his
report are Of especial significance. In ad-
dition to recording the successive
changes which have. taken place at the
various inlets, he has put on record
number of instances where remedial
works constructed at great expense have
utterly failed to accomplish the desired
end because of improper design or loca-
ton. They have been Of value of strik-
ing examples of the futility of combating
the waves and currents ON wrong prinei-
pies, and are warnings Of how not to do
it. Apart from this the money spent has
been worse than wasted, since these fail
ures have in large degree hindered the
adoption of other plans based on wider
experience
Professor Haupt furthermore presents
good evidence to show that by properly
constructed jetties, so shaped and placed
as to guide the currents in desired direc-
tions, the powerful action of tidal scour
may be made effective to remove bars
and keep open channels. Results at
tanned elsewhere show that such jetties
may be constructed at but fraction of
the cost of works heretofore eontem-
plated, and at expenditures not above
the resources of the communities most
directly interested
1t is also pointed out that owing TO
the enormous demands made upon the
national treasury for river and harior
Improvement. demands which cannot be
fully met for years to come, there is
small chance of obtaining national aid
for Improvement along our coast, since
the tonnage is restricted by bars. To
a certain extent congress has established
the policy of permitting local interests
to undertake improvements of local char
acter, but the way is so hedged about
with restrictions that little can be done.
There is need for further legslastiom by
congress, giving more power to state and
municipal governments to initiate and
carry forward Improvements in naviga-
BILE waters, particularly in those cases
which have been reported as not of
sufficient national Importance to war
rant national improvement. Such has
been the case with remedial measures
at Absecon Inlet and others on the New
Jersey coast. As the case now stands
the government engineers have reported
adversely for government aid. and yet
local authorities are not free to under
take the work themselves, even in iso-
lated positions, without governmental
approval of plans.
Under these circumstances there is
much justice in the demand that Congress
confer upon localities the right to carry
forward improvements in navigable
waters which have been denied national
aid, according to local plans and without
regard to the approval or disapproval
of the. War Department. The policy
which refuses government aid and for
bids local endeavor, except under con-
dltlons which are prohlbltory, when ap-
piled to New Jersey, has abandoned the
inlets and bays of our coast to the va
garies of the waves and currents, and
will make their improvement under ex-
isting conditions impossible. All persons
to whom fhe fullest development of the
States beaches and bays and inlets is a
matter of Importance should unite in
urging their Senators and Representa-
tives to secure from Congress legislation
permitting localities to make such i'm
provements, if desired. at their own ex-
pense according to their plans, and to
charge tolls thereon. Such policy would
accord with that under which the enor-
NOUS railroad systems and most of the
waterways were originally built by pri-
vate capital as commercial enterprises.
ALLEGED DIS0RDERLY HOUSE