Milford chronicle., 1936-01-10
INLET RALLY TO BE
HELD NEXT TUESDAY
[CoaIInaed 90 - Paeel


pair small projects ia the State, e
That Sussex county has had SUN
cient relief money expended there
in, and ID therefore not entitled Il
such a large grant; (3) That Their
Is not sufficient need for relief Il
Sussex TO justify such a grant; al
That all Of the money would b.
spent IN Eastern Sussex county anl
would not benefit the rest Of thu
county: and (5) That there are moi
enough men available on relief rolls
IN Sussex county to do the work.
II Is the contention Of those sup
porting the inlet project that, even
II this project did upset several
small projects in the county, It is
certainly of a more permanent ma
ture and would have more far
reaching benefits; whereas, they
say, many Of the small projects are
beneficial only IN that they furnish
work during actual construction,
the permanent reopening Of the in
let would give back permanent live
nh0Ods to more than 1000 men.
many Of whom are now on relief. It
has been estimated by the statisti-
cal staif assembling the project ap-
plication, that over 100000 Of an
nual revenue would eventually ac-
crue, after five years or so, to the
surrounding territory from the in
creases in sea food, shipping, resort,
boat building, and similar business
es upon the permanent reopening Of
the inlet.
For over a year, shipping, SPORT
ing, sea food, and mosquito control
interests have been conducting
campaign to secure funds for the
permanent reopening, and mainte-
nance with proper ietties, Of the in
let, which connects RehOboth and
Indian River Bays and their tTibu-
taries with the Atlantic Ocean, at a
point approximately seven miles be-
low RehOboth; at one time this in
let afforded .Dassageway for ocean
going sehooners, which piled regu-
larly from afar back in Sussex eoun-
ty out to Atlantic coastal ports,
carrying caroges Of farm, forest,
and water produce, and returned
with groceries, fertilizers, and lime;
at the same time, the grabbing, eel
ing, and fishing Industries flourish
ed in these inland waters.
The gradual closing Of the inlet,
in recent years, has not only caused
the cessation of this profitable traf-
&c, but so reduced the salinity Of
Rehoboth and Indian River Bays
and their tributaries, as to kill-oh
the plentiful supply Of crabs, FISH,
oysters, and CLANS that once fur
nished livings for large numbers OF
bayshore residents. Marsh grasses, /
which once drew great flocks Of mi-
gratory wild fowl, we're eliminated
by the clogging Of the inlet, with a
resultant scarcity Of wild ducks and
geese.
The interest OF the mosquito con-
troll commission, which has been one
Of the most active supporters Of the
move to secure funds for the per-
manent reopening Of this inlet, Is
based on the necessity Of having
sufficient tide range in these bays
to properly flush the bitches recent
ly installed In the surrounding
marshes, that larvae may be pre-
YenIed from breeding therein.
A petition circulated among the
voters Of Kent and Sussex counties
during. the autumn of 1884 secured
1895 signatures, or 23.19o of the to-
tai OF 35,562 accredited voters.
In the project proposal submitted
10 the WPA by the Sussex County
Levy Court, it was estimated that
approximately $40 men would be
employed for about a year, on either
the building Of the inlet or on dock
age facilities and manufacturing es-
tablishments which will be con-
structed as a natural result Of the
inlet opening. 1000
During 1884 a total Of $4,000
was appropriated by the State Leg
islature and the Sussex County
7 evv Court toward the estimated
project cost of s350,00O. 1t has been
estimated by engineers that the ma
terials required to construct the
fetties would not exceed in cost the
$4,000 already pledged by the
state and county, thereby overcom-
ing the Federal objection to pro-
iects which have high material COSTS
in proportion to the amounts spent /
for labor. During the autumn OF |
1885, the matter Of having WPA Ia
hor carry out the project, for which '
ne already appropriated $4,000 F.,
would be used 70 purchase mater J
Ials, was discussed with Banksoh
r. Hoicomb, Works Progress ADJ I
for Delaware, at that I
ime, Mr.. Holcomb expressed his in a
.ention of doing everything possible
o include this proposal among {
nose. he recommended for the State, a
" reason Of the fact that practical e
V all of the Federal money could be e
'pent for, labor If appropriated to e
his project. a
Around the first Of October, q e
rev Of engineers from the U. s. a
district Engineers Office in Phila- h
elphia, started making a survey OF
he area affected by the inlet, for l
he purpose Of preparing plans and d
for a permanent
iiet there. Il was understood at the y
me that the survey would require u
( least two months Of field work, Y
I'd then another month assimuiat-
ng and analysising the collected e
ata IN the Office. y y
Leaders Of the movement to re- !, :
pen the inlet are urging every IN =
crested person throughout Kent