The Detroit times., 1914-06-08
Federal Government Is
Conserving Human Life

IAN extensive investigation. Erosion
OF the soil, caused By the action OIL
the waves, Is responsible for this
unique situation. The islands. known
as Tilghman, Sharps and James, are
located on the eastern shore Oh tnel
toay around the mouth or the Chop
tank river
The human tragedy which is being
enacted on two OF those islands Boy
reason OF the action OF the waves,
which eventually will destroy theI
farms and carry the land into theI
water Is evidently not appreciated
/ by the scientific experts OF the geo.
logical survey, who entitle their re.
port Erosion and Sedimentation inI
\ Chesapeake Bay Around the Mouth OIL
the Choptank River" The report IT,.
self gives evidence OF the scientihcI
Interest only. j Fred Hunter, one OIL
the survey men being led TO say that
1.-The most interesting feature OF the
study IL the rapid destruction OF the
three islands. lie adds that SharpsI
Island is disappearing most rapidly
and will probably be entirely effaced
before 1860.
! Tllghman Island Is the largest and
the most northerly OF the three ISL.
ands. IL is more than three and one.
half miles long and has an ACREAGE
or more than three square miles. pro-
viding homes for many prosperous
farmers and fishermen AT It's north
ette-afe located tire towns of aFffgif-
man and Avalon, with a population OF
several hundred people.
! During the % years from lS47 10
1900. the area OF Tnghman Island de-
creased from 2.0l5 acres TO 1856
acres a total loss OF 32g acres. The
maximum encroachment OF the sea
has been on the southern cape, Black
Walnut point which has receded a
quarter OF mile in the last SO yeers.
The survey experts say that Thigh
man Island Will have much longer
! life than the two others and makes
i a guess that the island will be only
a memory In go years.
James Island is the southermost OF
the trio or islands and II next 10
Tilghman Island In size. being nearly
two miles long and three-quarters OF
a mile wide. and having present
area OF 490 acres. Although now de-
serted, except for a few families, the
island had at one time a much larger
population, as shown by the presenca
OK 20 houses. q schoolhouse and a
church In area the island decreased
from 975 acres In lS4S 10 555 acres In
1901 II has thus suffered a loss OF
: 42O acres. or 43 per cent, In SO years.
showing an annual loss OF eight
acres. II is expected by the geologi-
cal survey that this island will com
pletely disappear within 100 years
, Sharps Island Is the smallest OF the
, three and is the one expected TO fade
from view first, because It is unpro-
: teetpd- on any side from the action of
the waves .ess than q generation
, ago this island was a summer resort
: and supported a 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 It's pros
: perlty are now but a memory and the
life OF the island is a thing OF the
; past. The trees have disappeared
save for a meager half dozen: the
+ houses have been washed away ex
cept for the large hotel. which stands
: alone In the center OF the island, a
: crumbling monument 10 the activity
, OF other days The site OF an arte
! sian we'll has been transgressed by
the waves, so that II now presents
) the unique feature OF we'll IN the
J midst OF the waters OF the bay The
> survivors 81. the piling that made up
l the long pier which formerly invited
j the voyager only add TO the melan.
: choly OF the deserted and dreary
scene In 1s4s the island contained
1873 acres: I'm 1900 but 81 acres re-
NAMED There had been an average
5 annual loss OF ca acres. The area OF
the island in 1910 was SO acres, show,
' ing a loss OF So per cent in 60 years
2 The geological survey expert saws Il
: is fairly safe to predict that Sharps
, Island will be entirely gone by 1850
} and that II Is not beyond the range
: of possibility that the island will dis.
I appear before 1910.