Milford chronicle., 1935-01-18

So impressed was one Of the OIL
cials Of the American Shore and
Beach Preservation Association with
what Delaware had done to protect
Its beach highways by sand dune
building, when he inspected the Re
hoboth Beach Bethany Beach High
way some time ago that he request
ed W. W. Mack to prepare a paper
to be read at the annual meeting Of
the association in Washington. The
paper was read, and ELECTED consid-
cradle comment because Of the low
cost Of the large amount Of prOtec-
tion offered and because It outlined
a method that may be extensively
used IN the future along beach fronts
where highways are to be construct
ed along the ocean line. The paper
follows:
"RehObOth Beach. the principal
seaside resort of Delaware, is To-
Gated Oh the Atlantic Ocean six
miles south of Cape HenlOpen. while
twelve miles further south is Beth
any Beach, the watering resort OF
next importance In Delaware. Be
tween these two resorts is bar
rier beach and marsh separated
form the mainland by the Re-
hObOth and Indian River Bays, and
unbrOken except for the Indian
River Inlet, which closes Irregular
ly unless kept open by periodical
dredging.
"The greater part Of this interven-
ing territory is public land under
the jurisdiction Of the State High
way Department, and is entirely un
developed, the only dwelling being
the Indian River station of the u.
S. Coast Guards, which was inacces-
sible except by trail OF uncertain
passabilily.
"The region possesses considerable
recreatiOnaf possibilities, viz: Boat
ing. sailing, grabbing, cunning and
surf fishing, and the demand for a
highway connecting these resorts
without the 3S-mile detour around
the head of the bays induced the
State Highway Department to con-
slider the construction Of a highway
along the barrier beach.
Road Back From Shore
Surveys we're made and it was
decided to locate the road well back
from the shore near the junction Of
the barrier dunes with the marsh
and at approximately elevation 6.2.
This low grade line was adopted in
order that storm tides coming over
the barrier beach would encounter
little resistance and erosion be re-
duced to a minimum.
'-The average dune height on the
barrier is approximately 100 while
the many breaks between had an
elevation of about 80 and. we're
flooded during heavy northeast and
easterly storms. which poured a
huge volume of sea water over the
beach into the bays.
1T was anticipated that any en-
bankment which was constructed
for. highway would be seriously
damaged several times during the
average year, and some protection
was deemed necessary. In securing
his protection low cost was a con-
of greatest importance,
and it was decided that a timber
sand fence was cheapest and af-
lorded excellent possibilities of pro-
.ectiye value.
Accordingly, fences were con-
itructed connecting the dunes to
,atch the drifting sand and make |
| continuous barrier.
These fences were built of in. |
~ in. by in. oak posts spaced s !
eet apart. plaRked with rough 1 i'm. /
,oards to a height of six feet. |
openings were left between the
boarding in. in width, and care
vas taken to extend the fence well !
nto the dunes to pervent wind /
rOsiOn at the ends. Local ma
erial was delivered by team and
ruek and the fence was erected by