Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07

them containing a prosperous little com
| munity, the second q
Disappearing few families. and tn,
Islands. are r.n,a,x dis,nnearin,
into the waters of the bay, according Il
experts Of the United States geological
survey who have just completed an ex
! tensive investigation. Erosion OF tn,
SOIL caused by the action of the waves
is responsible for this unique situation
The islands, known as Tlghman, Sharp.
and James. are located on the eastern
shore of the bay around the mouth OF
the. Choptank river
| The human tragedy which is being en-
acted on two of those islands by reason
| of tho action of the waves, which even
f, tualiy will destroy the farms and carry
the land into the water. is evidently moi
appreciated by the scientific experts Of
the geological survey. who entitle theil
report, Erosion and Sedment3tion il
Chesapeake Bay Around the Mouth OF
the Choptank River" The report itself
gives evidence of the scientific interest
only, J. Fred Hunter, one of the survey
testing feature of the study is the rapid
destruction of the three islands. He
adds that Sharps Island Is disappearing
most rapidly and will probably be entirely
efaced before 1850.
Tilgman Island is the largest and the
most northerly of the three islands. 1,
is more that three and one-half miles
long and has an acreage of more than
| three square miles, providing homes fol
many prosperous farmers and fishermen
At it's north end are located the towns
of Tilghman and Avalon, with a popu-
lation of several hundred people.
During the f1fty-three years from 1871
to 1900. the area of Tilghman Island de-
creased from 2.015 acres to 1.6S6 acres, q
total loss of 800 acres. The maximum en-
| croachment of the sea has been on the
southern cape, Black Walnut point, which
has receded a quarter of mile in the
last sixty-three years The survey ex-
perts say that Tilghman Island will have
a much longer life than the two others
and makes a guess that the island will be
only memory in $40 years.
James Island is the southernmost of the
trio of islands and Is next to Tilghmar
Island in size, being nearly two miles
long and >three-auarters OF a mile wide
and having a present area of 400 acres
Although now deserted. except for few
families. the island had at one time a
much larger population, as shown by the
presence of twenty houses. a schoolhouse
and a church. In area the island de-
| creased from 975 acres In 1S4S to 500 acres
| in 1891 It has thus suffered a loss of 42t
acres, or 43 per cent, in fifty-three years
showing an annual loss of eight acres. II
| is expected by the geological survey that
| this island will completely disappear
within $50 years.
Sharps Island is the smallest of the
three and is the one expected to fade from
view first because 1t is unprotected OF
any side from the action of the waves
Lees than a generation ago this island
was a summer resort and supported q
| number of people throughout the year
| The north end was well wooded and the
| island was a favorite ground for hunting
ducks and small game. The days Of its
prosperity are now but memory and the
| life of the island is thing Of the past
| The trees have disappeared save for a
| meager half dozen: the houses have beer
washed away except for the large hotel
which stands alone in the center of the
island. a crumbling monument to the ac-
| tivity Of other days. The site of an ar
| tesian well has been transgressed by the