Smyrna times., 1928-11-07
INDIAN RIVER BLAST RESTORES
S75O,0O0 FISHING INDUSTRY
SEVERAL HUNDRED WITNESS
OPENING OF INDIAN BAY TO SEA
Tide Water From Ocean Will Give I'm
petus to Fish and Crab Industry as
Well as Purify Body of Water


With roar that was heard for sew
eral miles and which caused a geyser
of water, sand and dust and stove
pipes to rise in the air for distance
of at least 100 feet, 2200 pounds of
dynamite Saturday afternoon remov-
ed the sand bar that blocked the In
dian Bay river from the Atlantic
Ocean in Sussex County near Days
borough. Former Governor Town
send expressed the opinion that the
blast had accomplished the desired re-
suit of restoring Indian River Bay
and Rehoboth Bay, which adjoins it to
tidewater salt bodies which it is hoped
will re-establish a $750,000 annual
seafood industry. From the engineer
ing standpoint the blast was consider
ed unusual because of the great diff
ficulty of successfully blasting sand.
This has been the subject of much dis
cussion by explosives experts and en-
gineers. Ten and fifteen foot sections
of stove pipe were sunk into the sand
at intervals for a distance of 40 feet.
There were two rows six feet apart
and forty pounds Of dynamite were
loaded in each section Of stove pipe.
Clogging of the inlet with sand wash
ed in BY the ocean had created a ser
ious problem in Indian River Bay.
The once tidewater bay had become a
land-locked body of water, with no
outlet The water had become more
Oh less stagnated, killing the fish
there and destroying a fish industry
that for years was profitable to resi-
dents Of the Indian River section. In
dian River Bay is regarded by many
persons AZ the most beautiful body Of
water in Delaware and the residents
Of Sussex County are greatly interest
ed in having tidewater flow restored
to preserve that body Of water at is
best.
Dynamite Placed BY dupont Experts
The dynamite was placed by ex-
perts from the DUPONT Company and
so holes had been drilled in an area Of
20 by 200 feet Lengths Of stove
pipe were sunk in the holes and the
dynamite was dropped down the pipes
and connected with wires to bat
terry AS the button was pressed
there was detonation that threw the
sand and water into the air for more
than 100 feet and the water on each
side Of the hole caused BY the explo-
sion, receded for many yards. AS the
reaction ensued the water began to
run toward the ocean and at 6 o'clock
Saturday night was runnig steadily
toward the sen. The hole caused by
the explosion is estimated at being 20
feet wide and IA feet deep and unless
il fills again will relieve the situation
which resulted in the death of many
fish and ending of the crab industry
at that point Following the blast
and as soon as tide was low enough,
force Of men and ? dredge were put
on the project to complete the work.
$40, 900 Appropriated for the Project
Following the recent appropriation
of $4,000 by the State (the Federal
Government being appealed to in
vain), to remove the obstruction in
the Indian River inlet a commission
was appointed which was headed by
former Governor Townsend. The
other members Of the commission are
w. ]. p. White and P. d. Lingo, who
were present at the opening of the in
let. r. d. Montgomery, engineer for
the commission, had charge of the OPP
Grafton. Congressman Robert .Hous-
ton and number Of other prominent |
Delawareans, particularly those who |
had formerly been engaged in the |
fishing industry in that part of the |
State, were present TO see for them
selves what effect the blast would |
have in opening up the channel to the