The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-03-08
DEFICIENCIES SEEN
IN PRESENT EROSION
CONTROL PRACTICE
Veteran Coaster Thinks Further
Consideration Should Be Given
To Sensible Planning


A number of deficiencies in pres
emit practices of erosion control
along our coast are pointed out by
Maynard Daniels, who owns a
tourist center on the northern part
of Bodie Island Beach. AS an old
observer, who has spent most OF
his life in this area, and is well
acquainted with the ways of the
sea, we think his comments worth
reading, and are printing them as
follows:
To The Editor:
"Here is something that needs
immediate action.
81 have contemplated writing
about the beach erosion problem
with increasing convictions since
this past summer. Last night l re-
read copy of letter from Joe Du
Bots, Secretary, All Seashore High
way Association Inc, Morehead
City, to Aycock Brown, which the
Dare County Tourist Bureau sent
to all operators on Feb. "a, 1866.
This memo specifically addressed
Dare County residents and vaca-
ton operators imploring them to
get all letters started that you can
for the purpose of obtaining Fed
eral aid for flood control. That let
ter stated: "Here is something
that needs immediate action"
"That is the point l am making
to the same addresses at this time
Now is the time to voice our opin-
ions on the proper use of any
forthcoming aid.. If the Coastland
Times is available l feel this is
the most expedient method OF
bringing this matter to the atten.
ton of all concerned. l am directly
concerned as a property owner or
upper Bodie Island. Others SHOULD
be concerned by the effect that the
beach resort as a tourist attraction
in many ways has on the economy
of this area. Then there is the
justifiable concern of all Dare
County residents in the manner
that federal funds have been useC
in the past and may be used il
the future.
II am expressing this concern
because of what happened this past
summer and to propose that mean!
be used. to halt the damage now
taking place. In line with this pro.
posal it is imperative that the pas
use of relief funds should be re-
viewed. The authorization of the
bulldozing operation and the over
all expenditure of these funds is {
responsibility that should be re
solved. We need only to appraist
what has happened to the beacl
since the bulldozing operation las
summer in order to ascertain tn,
damage that has resulted from tn,
execution of this plan.
There have been no winds Of
hurricane force since last spring
yet between so and 100 yards o
beach front have been washed
away this past fall and up to tn,
present time. This was caused b,
disturbing the natural slope of tn,
beach and the hard time-packe,
sand in the bulldozing operation
which was entirely without reasol
in serving a useful purpose disre
garding the harm it did.
"Here is an example of ba,
planning. waste of funds, and ;
condition that calls for immediat.
relief measures. The fine sand ha
been pushed up where it has drie,
out and become wind-blown. Thi
left loose gravel exposed and evel
a mild sea cuts the soft unnatura
slope into a relatively steep banl
where each successive wave at higl
water cuts the bank further bacl
and then back wash drags tn
gravel into the ocean. Formerl,
the waves broke on the flat natu
raj slope and spent themselve
without doing damage. This fla
natural slope must again be, bull
up.
eve note that the Hurricane Re
Mobilization Committee has made
recent study of Outer Banks ero
Ision. / believe that this is an op
perfume time to express ourselve