Evening journal., 1921-01-31
TE7T7ES WOULD SA VE
REHOBO7H, EXPERTS
TELL LEGISLATORS


the most desirable.
The report Is accompanied by nu-
merOus statements, maps and ph0to-
graphs showing conditions In the VI
cinitv Of RehOboih as far back as
i7s6 and at various times since then.
IL is inbmaied~ in the report that the
erection OF the HarbOr or hefuSe
Breakwatcr has probably caused much =
of the trouble at RehOboth and that
therefore the government is partly !,
responsive. on this point the report =
says:
water. completed in 1901, stands in
location and in such form as to tend
TO defect under certain conditions
OF tide and weather thc cbb tide .
toward the Delaware coast to the
south OF the cape, and in so throw
ing the currents. particularly dur1nS
northeast storms, on TO this shore, mas
created a condition that woHld tend
at least to erode this beach"
Engineer iCresson, i'm the report,
suggests that the subject should be
Investigated by the Federal Govern-
ment and the State together, with
the view Of coming TO an agreement
as TO what should be done, particu-
larly at the point OF devising ana
agreeing upon plan OF future &C.
tiOn. He further recommends that
the General Assembly adopt a reso-
Intion reolIestipg the government ITO
construct a rip-rap breakwater near
Henlopen. TO cOunterart the effhct OF
the Habor OF Refuge Breakwater. and
as a preliminary 90 Undertaking the
work. TO confer with representatives
OF the state to agree upon devices and
improvements TO reclaim the beach,
which has been so eroded.
Present conditions OF the beach are
described in the introduction to the
report as follows: photographs re-
produced in this report show the
conditions in July, 1906, with SURF
avenue extending along the ocean
front and a boardwalk and ample
beach oceanward.
THE conditions in 1920 are vastly
different-Surf avenue as an ocean
front street has been washed away
over prarticaly its entire length and
/ tne cottages and hotels built on the
land side OF this avenue are seriously
endangered by the encroachment OF
the sea.
Great forces are at work-the .
! ocean is encnOaching upon the land,
[ the beach is Jreceding and RehobOth
( is threatened with disaster as a con-
sequence.
THE situation is a very serious :
one, not only for the residents and
property owners OF Rehoboth but also
for the people OF the entire State.
/ Delaware has prided itself upon hay-
ing so excellent a health and recrea-
| tiOn ocean resort, as well as upon
/ their bathing beach as fine. as any
alone the Atldntib coast
"The problem Is TO determine II
/ h., -,
/ sion, and based upon that determina-
/ ton, 30 advise means for arresting
ii and Of reclaiming whatever OF the
beach that is lost that Can be re
claimed, without serious detriment
| to the condition OF the beaches tO
the north and 70 the south. And
| this must be done within a reason
able expenditure OF money"
The following statement in the re-
port relative 10 Cape Henlopen Light
house gives an excellent idea OF how
fast the ocean is encroaching on the
land and the dangerous conditions as
a result:
"The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse
was built by the British about 1865
and Is OF great historic interest
apart from its use in aiding naviga-
tion. When il was built it was well
back from The shore on hiH thought
10 be safe against attack by the sea.
The 1915 maps shows the high water
line TO be some 1900 feet from the
base Of the lighthousc-the 1882 sur
vey shows the high water line to he
some 700 feet back from the light
house.
'The ocean has been attacking the
bank upon which the lighthouse is
built and in 1913 the top OF the bank
was i40 feet from the base OF the
structure-on June fi, 1919. it was
73 feet from the lighthouse and in
November, 1920, il was % feet from
the base Of the lighthouse, from the
top OF the bank" (These figures arc
from the records OF the Lighthouse
| Bureau)
The report speaks OF steps taken al
various times by Rehoboth 10 con
troll the erosions and to protect its
property "Since 1900 10 has con
structed bulkheads and jetties, at an
expense OF some $4,000, but the de-
vices built have failed to perform the
duty for which they were designed
and have been washed away and
Otherwise destroyed by the attacks
OF the ocean,"
The report again speaking Of the
| effect Of the breakwater constructed
by the government says: IF the gov
ernment has placed a structure which,
Il however, successful ii may have been
4 in the past for the purpose for which
/ 10 was designed has DETECTED the
\ current on b the beach and caused its
\ destructiOn-then unquestionably the
II community and State so damaged have
H a certain right TO redress at the
\ hands OF the government. Many in
v stances are on record, where public
\ and private interests have sought gov
/ ernment aid in protecting beaches,
I but it has been the proper policy OF
\ the government not to spend public
l funds for the benefit Of private lands
even though the project may be
:, meritorious, but perhaps the situa-
h ton under consideration is different.
II "A community has built mp back
II , from the beach, comparatively safe
II from the inroads OF Ole ocean. but a
II device built by the government for
II other purposes, has apparently tended
II TO direct the ocean currents against
n its beach TO its loss"
II Plans are submitted with the re-
II rOrt for the storm ietty and the
II grOynes recommended for the protec-
II ltion OF the beach front. The commit
II tee sent out questionnaires to many
II persons who have been familiar with
II conditions at Rehoboth and vicinity
II for years seeking, their observation
U as to the encroachments OF the ocean
II and the replies to these question
/. naires are contained in the report.
II In conclusion the rcDOrt saws. s'It