The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-26
Government Engineers Hold
Hearing on Deepening of
AbSecOn Inlet Channel.
Two Jetties Proposed
Local Citizens Claim Oyster and
Clam Industry Would Be
Destroyed.
A War Dept. Matter

When Federal engineers, members
of the State Board of Commerce and
Navigation and municipal officers OF
this city and Atlantic City, with a
number of private citizens, gathered
in Atlantic City on Saturday to at
tend a hearing on the project to dam
some outlets of Lakes Bay, Col. Earl
Brown. of the u. S. Engineers, stated
that Atlantic City was the largest
coast city in the entire United States
without a harbor. The main objec-
ton TO the proposition came from this
city, represented by City Solicitor
Louis d. Champion, for the city, Hugh
Collins and others for the oyster and
clam industry.
The proposition is in connection
with giving Atlantic City a channel
sufficient in depth to allow ocean-go-
ing ships to enter that port. While
all the people here desire to see At
lantic City made a port of entry,
knowing that this would be of inesti-
mable benefit to Pleasantville, the OBJ
jections were along two lines; one
that to divert the waters of Lakes Bay
would be a menace to health, and the
other that it would destroy the oyster
and clam industry. 1t was argued
that if connected with Beach Thor
oughfare the sewage in that waterway
would back up into Lakes Bay and
destroy an industry which yields $75,-
900 a year. 1t was also stated that
the project would gradually cause the
drying up of a portion of the bay.
Colonel Brown explained that all
such questions would be properly laid
before the War Department Board ap-
pointed to consider the deepening or
the Inlet proposition and that they
would receive due consideration. IT
was explained that no improvement
project did not work some hardship
on some one, but that the benefit to
be derived by the majority must be
considered. s4aiH4, II tztHE
The plan of the
for the cutting OF ofHihe uDp<f
ton of Lakes. Bay with a dam thus
diverting the How of-the water tc The
Absecon Inletx instead of going out
through Longport as at the present,
and cutting away the beach there. In
order to do this it will be necessary
10 cut a canal 400 feet across Shelter
Island, connecting up with the inland
waterway just beyond Venice PARK
As a result of this undertaking all
the water from the bay would flow
through Absecon Inlet causing an in
creased velocity of the water How
that would accomplish the removal Oh
the sand bar and the maintaining OF
a deeper channel than would be pos
sible If dredging were resorted to.
In connection with this plan it is
proposed to construct two jetties-one
to run into the sea from Brigantine
Beach and the other from Atlantic
City. This, if accomplished, would
narrow the channel and serve to fus
Their increase the tidal flow.
If the proposal is carried out il viii
make Atlantic City a port of entry
and no doubt large steamship COM
panies will include the resort as a.
stopping point for their ships. Ac-
cording to Samuel p. Leeds several
steamship companies have already eX-
pressed their willingness to establish
branches here if the harbor is deep
ened to 20 feet.
The cost is estimated at around
$ 3 ZOO, 900 according to engineers, but
they say it will more than pay in the
end, for it will obviate the necessity
of maintaining dredges for all time.
The State is expected to contribute a
portion towards the undertaking and
the Federal Government the balance.
The matter will be laid before
the War Department and will then so
to the Congressional Committee on
Commerce and Navigation. The State
project of closing the channels OF
Lakes Bay>by erecting a dam will be
considered by the State Board CT
Commerce and Navigation.