Milford chronicle., 1921-02-04
MAY ERECT JETTY
TO RECLAIM BEACH
CONTINUED from first page)
1ition that would tend at least to erode
This beach"

ditiOn that would tend at least 10 eroue
this beach"
Seek Federal Action
Engineer CressOn, in 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, part1cu-
larly at the point of devising and
agreeing upon plan of future action.
He further recommends that the gen
eral assembly adopt a dissolution re-
questing the government ITO construct
a rip-rap breakwater near HenlOpen,
to counteract the effect Of the Harbor
Of Refuge Breakwater, and as pre-
liminary to undertaking the work, to
confer with representatives of the
State to agree upon devices and i'm
provements 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 con-
ditions in July, 1906, with Surf ave-
nue. 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 practically its entire length and
the 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 encroaching upon the land,
the beach is receding and RehobOth
is threatened with disaster as con-
sequence.
Effects Whole State
'"The situation is a very serious one,
not only for the residents and prop
erty owners of Rehoboth, but also for
the people of the entire State. Della
ware has prided itself upon having so
excellent a health and recreation
ocean resort, as well as upon their
bathing beach as fine as any along the
Atlantic coast.
"The problem is to determine if pos
sible, the causes of the beach erosion,
and based upon that determination, to
advise means for arresting it and of
reclaiming whatever of the beach that
is lost that can be reclaimed, without
serious detriment to the conditions of
the beaches to the north and to the
south. And this must be done within a
reasonable expenditure of money.
The following statement in the re-
port relative to 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 1853
and is of great historic interest apart
from it's use in aiding navigation.
When it was built it was well back
from the shore on hill thought to
be safe against attack by the sea.
The 1S45 maps shows the high water
line to be some 1900 feet from the
base of the lighthouse-the 1882 sur
vev shows the high water line to be
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 14O feet from the base Of the
June IL, 1919, it was
73 feet from the lighthouse and in
November, 1920, it was S5 feet from
the base of the lighthouse, from the
top of the bank" (These figures are
from the records Of the Lighthouse
!,
All Devices Have Failed
The report speaks of steps taken
at various times by Rehoboth to con-
troll the erosions and to protect its :
"Since 1900 it has construct {
ed bulkheads and jetties, at an ex-
pense of some $4,000, but the devices
built have failed to perform the duty
for which they were designed and
have been washed away and other
wise destroyed by the attacks of the
ocean," !
The report again speaking of the I
effect of the breakwater constructed |
1y the government says: eff the gov 3
srnment has placed structure which, I
however, successful it may have been
n the past for the purpose for which
t was designed, has DETECTED the cur b
'ent on to the beach and caused its o
estruction-then unquestiOnably, the Il
community and State so damaged have g
certain right to redress at the hands C.
f the government. Many instances p
re on record, where public and pri- c.
ate interests have sought govern it
lent aid in protecting beaches, but it o.
as been the proper policy of the gov C,
rnment not to spend public funds tt
)r the benefit of private lands, even m
lough the project may be meritorious
ut perhaps the situation under con- G
Iteration is different. Of
"A community has built up back hi
ON the beach, comparatively safe fe
ON the inroads of the ocean, but OF
avice built by the government for
her purposes, has apparently tend a
tn direct the ocean currents against G;
S beach to its loss.
plans are submitted with the report a
II the storm jetty and the groynes W,
for the protection OF gr
10 beach front. The committee sent tn
It uuestionaires to many persons
no have been familiar with condl- so
ons at Rehoboth and vicinity Tor tn
,ars seeking their observation as to No
e encroachments of the ocean and We
e replies to these questionaires are TT
ntained in the report. mt
In conclusion the report says: 1t MI
perfectly evident that the beach at an
q lighthouse and south thereof to vi,
shoboth and beyond has been reced-
2 for many years, and that the forces no
nuding this beach have been at no
ork for the HarDor OF ReIuse oleS.A- sh
ater was built by the government. an
n=an an1