Evening star., 1940-01-11
Acquisition Of Tenth
OF Coast Line Urqed
To Insure Recreation
Beach Association Hears
Wirth Recommend U. S.
And State Ownership

Early acquisition by both Federal
and State Governments of at least
10 per cent of the total coastline OF
the United States for recreation pur-
poses was urged yesterday by Conrad
L. Wirth, supervisor of recreation
and land planning of the National
Park Service.
Addressing the 14th annual meet
in of the American Shore and
Beach Preservation Association in
the National Research Council
Building, the speaker called on gov
ernmental agencies to acquire ocean,
river and lake properties for park
and recreational purposes without
further delay"
The National Park Service, he de-
clared, had concluded that pleasure
seekers should have available at
least 10 per cent of ocean frontage
on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts
and the Gulf of Mexico. Inroads of
pollution and the steady progress
of private monopoly make immedi-
ate action essential, Mr.. Wlrth
stated.
Population Would be Guide.
This percentage, he said, would
provide about one mile of frontage
for each 10000 population within
y,,i1ac Two cnno yQr inf pI
the frontage should include at least
five miles in every so miles of shore
line, distributed in relation to pop
ulation.
Representative Jennings Randolph
chairman of the House District Com
mittee, in giving the address OF
welcome to the delegates, stated the
people of Washington and nearby
areas were especially interested in
the development of the shore of the
Potomac River and its tributaries
for summer homes and recreational
uses.
Dean S. S. Steinberg of the College
of Engineering of Maryland Uni
verSity, attending the meeting as
the Governor personal representa-
tive, revealed that a program for
preservation and development of
Maryland's bay and seaside resorts
is being studied under Gov. Herbert
r. O'Conor.
Following the afternoon session,
the group held a banquet at the
Carlton Hotel last night. Guests
included Senator Francis T. Maloney
of Connecticut and Representatives
William H. Sutphin, Frank c. Os-
mers, jr., and George N. Seger, all
of New Jersey.
Problems Explored.
Papers or shore and beach prob
lens were read earlier in the day
by Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Robins,
assistant to the chief of Army engi-
neers; j. Alexander Crothers, pres
ident of the American Association of
Port Authorities; F. E. Schmitt, edi-
tor of the Engineering NeWs-Record; /;
Col. Jarvis j. Balm, chairman of the
United States Beach Erosion Board
and Commissioner Alfred A. Lafoun-
tain of the New Jersey State Board
of Commerce and Navigation.
Directors reelected to the asso-
citation board yesterday are Rear
Admiral Leo o. Colbert, director OF
the United States Coast and Geo
detic Survey here; j. Spencer Smith
of Newark and Tenafly, N. j.; Gen.
Richard K. Hale, associate commits
sioner of the State department OF
public works, Boston, Mass, and
George Ashworth of Hampton
Beach, N. H.
Mr.. Smith, who is president of the
association, presided at the meeting
and declared that the group was lin
step with those forces that are
successfully striving to bring tc
fruition the spirit of brotherhood
between men, regardless of race
creed or class"