Senator ROBERT C. HENDRICKSON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. FEBRUARY 25, 1954. DEAR BOB: Your letter of February 2 has been received, and I am pleased to have your comments relative to the importance of the beach erosion program. You may rest assured this matter will be given close attention by the Civil Functions Subcommittee. With best personal regards, I remain, Sincerely yours, WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND. Senator YOUNG. I would like to place in the record at this point a letter from Senator Smith together with a telegram he received from Mr. Charles A. Erdman, Jr. (The letter and telegram referred to follows:) SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, United States Capitol, Washington, D. C. FEBRUARY 27, 1954. GENTLEMEN. I am enclosing herewith a telegram which I have received from Mr. Charles R. Erdman, Jr., commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Economic Development, with regard to inclusion in the civil functions appropriation bill of funds to continue a cooperative study with the United States Beach Erosion Board. I am advised that representatives of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association are testifying before your subcommittee on Monday and any consideration which may be extended to the study of beach erosion in the section from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey will be very much appreciated. With many thanks for your attention, I remain, Always cordially yours, Hon. H. ALEXANDER SMITH, Senate Office Building: H. ALEXANDER SMITH. TRENTON, N. J., February 26, 1954. Have wired Senator Knowland asking his favorable consideration of item in civil functions appropriation to continue cooperative study with United States Beach Erosion Board now underway. Section from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet has been finished and reports expected in May. Not appropriate funds at this time would leave southern half of project unfinished. Your interest in this matter is earnestly solicited. CHAS. R. ERDMAN, Jr. Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Economic Development. Senator YOUNG. The next witness is Admiral Colbert. BEACH EROSION STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. L. O. COLBERT (RETIRED), VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION PREPARED STATEMENT Admiral COLBERT. I have a statement to be placed in the record. Senator YOUNG. That may be done. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT BY REAR ADM. L. O. COLBERT (RETIRED), UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY, VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION, NEWARK, N. J. In commencing my presentation I should like to submit the declaration of of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE This association is formed in recognition of the fact that our coasts and shores of our lakes and rivers constitute important assets for promoting the health and physical well-being of the people of this Nation; and that their contiguity to our great centers of population affords an opportunity for wholesome and necessary rest and recreation not equally available in any other form. The purpose of the association is to bring together for cooperation and mutual helpfulness the many agencies, interests, and individuals concerned with the protection and proper utilization of these lands, and in all legitimate ways to foster that sound, farsighted, and economical development and preservation of the lands which will aid in placing their benefits within the reach of the largest possible number of our people, in accordance with the ideals of a democratic Nation. Almost 9 years ago—April 24, 1945-a House subcommittee of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors held a hearing on two antierosion measures H. R. 2032 and 2033, 79th Congress, 1st session. Congress passed both these measures which received Executive approval and are now Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 1st session and Public Law 727, 79th Congress, 2d session. One of these acts authorized general overall investigation by the Beach Erosion Board and the other declared it to be Federal policy to assist financially in construction of shoreprotective measures. Armed by Congress with these two very progressive acts, the Beach Erosion Board has now assembled and trained a professional staff-the only one in the United States-which has accumulated much needed scientific data and has performed an unequaled shore conservation service for the public. The Board is a clearinghouse for shore-preservation information and development. In its general devolpment investigations, the Board studies the forces of wave action, the source and composition of the material above and below highand low-water marks, the history of shore processes from past surveys and records, and finally, the development of techniques and methods for the improvement, stabilization, and protection of the shores and beaches. This is research work which is essential to provide a firm basis for millions of dollars spent on construction of protective works and shore structures. The items listed as development studies in the budget for this work have been reduced to $80,000 from an average annual expenditure for the past 2 years of about $200,000 requested by the Board. We believe that the full amount requested should be restored. When I appeared at the 1945 hearing, I stated that the importance of beaches in our national economy and recreational program could not be overestimated; that their popularity is constantly increasing; that statistics compiled by the Department of the Interior showed that bathing and water activities are by far the most popular form of recreation in this country; that reports compiled by the National Park Service from 248 communities showed 120 million people visited ocean, lake, and gulf beaches during 1942. Those words are just as true today as they were in 1945 except that more than 120 million people use the beaches now. I think it can be firmly argued that a national resource which so many people enjoy must be preserved and developed. It would be false economy not to do so. Millions of dollars are spent to build highways, parkways, and bridges to bring people to our shore areas but by comparison only pennies are spent to protect and develop that which the roads and bridges serve. Great progress in shore preservation has occurred since the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association was organized in 1926. The last 10 years have brought about a tremendous increase in scientific knowledge and practical know-how because of the enlarged scope of the activities of the Beach Erosion Board under authority of Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 1st session and Public Law 727, 79th Congress, 2d session; and we must not forget that the Beach Erosion Board is also concerned with navigation since the Board is required by law to study and report on the effect of inlets on beaches for 10 miles in each direction. As vice president of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association and in behalf of the board of directors and the members of the association, I have been requested to present to this committee their support of the operations of the United States Beach Erosion Board and to respectfully request that the item for development studies be increased to permit continued operations at or near the level of the past 2 years and that the item of cooperative studies be increased to accommodate the studies that are expected in fiscal year 1955. FEBRUARY 25, 1954. Senator ROBERT C. HENDRICKSON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR BOB: Your letter of February 2 has been received, and I am pleased to have your comments relative to the importance of the beach erosion program. You may rest assured this matter will be given close attention by the Civil Functions Subcommittee. With best personal regards, I remain, Sincerely yours, WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND. Senator YOUNG. I would like to place in the record at this point a letter from Senator Smith together with a telegram he received from Mr. Charles A. Erdman, Jr. (The letter and telegram referred to follows:) SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, United States Capitol, Washington, D. C. FEBRUARY 27, 1954. GENTLEMEN. I am enclosing herewith a telegram which I have received from Mr. Charles R. Erdman, Jr., commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Economic Development, with regard to inclusion in the civil functions appropriation bill of funds to continue a cooperative study with the United States Beach Erosion Board. I am advised that representatives of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association are testifying before your subcommittee on Monday and any consideration which may be extended to the study of beach erosion in the section from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey will be very much appreciated. With many thanks for your attention, I remain, Always cordially yours, H. ALEXANDER SMITH, Hon. H. ALEXANDER SMITH, Senate Office Building: TRENTON, N. J., February 26, 1954. Have wired Senator Knowland asking his favorable consideration of item in civil functions appropriation to continue cooperative study with United States Beach Erosion Board now underway. Section from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet has been finished and reports expected in May. Not appropriate funds at this time would leave southern half of project unfinished. Your interest in this matter is earnestly solicited. CHAS. R. ERDMAN, Jr. Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Economic Development. Senator YoUNG. The next witness is Admiral Colbert. BEACH EROSION STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. L. O. COLBERT (RETIRED), VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION PREPARED STATEMENT Admiral COLBERT. I have a statement to be placed in the record. Senator YOUNG. That may be done. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT BY REAR ADM. L. O. COLBERT (RETIRED), UNITED STATES Coast and GEODETIC SURVEY, VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION, NEWARK, N. J. In commencing my presentation I should like to submit the declaration of purpose of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE This association is formed in recognition of the fact that our coasts and shores of our lakes and rivers constitute important assets for promoting the health and hysical well-being of the people of this Nation; and that their contiguity to our treat centers of population affords an opportunity for wholesome and necessary est and recreation not equally available in any other form. The purpose of the association is to bring together for cooperation and mutual helpfulness the many agencies, interests, and individuals concerned with the protection and proper utilization of these lands, and in all legitimate ways to Coster that sound, farsighted, and economical development and preservation of he lands which will aid in placing their benefits within the reach of the largest possible number of our people, in accordance with the ideals of a democratic Nation. Almost 9 years ago-April 24, 1945-a House subcommittee of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors held a hearing on two antierosion measures H. R. 2032 and 2033, 79th Congress, 1st session. Congress passed both these measures which received Executive approval and are now Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 1st session and Public Law 727, 79th Congress, 2d session. One of these acts authorized general overall investigation by the Beach Erosion Board and the other declared it to be Federal policy to assist financially in construction of shoreprotective measures. Armed by Congress with these two very progressive acts, the Beach Erosion Board has now assembled and trained a professional staff-the only one in the United States-which has accumulated much needed scientific data and has performed an unequaled shore conservation service for the public. The Board is a clearinghouse for shore-preservation information and development. In its general devolpment investigations, the Board studies the forces of wave action, the source and composition of the material above and below highand low-water marks, the history of shore processes from past surveys and records, and finally, the development of techniques and methods for the improvement, stabilization, and protection of the shores and beaches. This is research work which is essential to provide a firm basis for millions of dollars spent on construction of protective works and shore structures. The items listed as development studies in the budget for this work have been reduced to $80,000 from an average annual expenditure for the past 2 years of about $200.000 requested by the Board. We believe that the full amount requested should be restored. When I appeared at the 1945 hearing, I stated that the importance of beaches in our national economy and recreational program could not be overestimated ; that their popularity is constantly increasing; that statistics compiled by the Department of the Interior showed that bathing and water activities are by far the most popular form of recreation in this country; that reports compiled by the National Park Service from 248 communities showed 120 million people visited ocean, lake, and gulf beaches during 1942. Those words are just as true today as they were in 1945 except that more than 120 million people use the beaches now. I think it can be firmly argued that a national resource which so many people enjoy must be preserved and developed. It would be false economy not to do so. Millions of dollars are spent to build highways, parkways, and bridges to bring people to our shore areas but by comparison only pennies are spent to protect and develop that which the roads and bridges serve. Great progress in shore preservation has occurred since the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association was organized in 1926. The last 10 years have brought about a tremendous increase in scientific knowledge and practical know-how because of the enlarged scope of the activities of the Beach Erosion Board under authority of Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 1st session and Public Law 727, 79th Congress, 2d session: and we must not forget that the Beach Erosion Board is also concerned with navigation since the Board is required by law to study and report on the effect of inlets on beaches for 10 miles in each direction. As vice president of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association and in behalf of the board of directors and the members of the association, I have been requested to present to this committee their support of the operations of the United States Beach Erosion Board and to respectfully request that the item for development studies be increased to permit continued operations at or near the level of the past 2 years and that the item of cooperative studies be increased to accommodate the studies that are expected in fiscal year 1955. GENERAL STATEMENT Admiral COLBERT. For the record, we are speaking on two items for the Beach Erosion Board. I believe they are noted in the budget as development studies first, and as cooperative studies second. I am Rear Adm. L. O. Colbert, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, retired. I am vice president of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. I have in my statement a statement of the purposes of the association. I would like to be brief and say a few words in regard to that. The formation of this association in 1926 was under the sponsorship of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences and it was by reason of findings on a committee on shoreline investigations of the council. The committee had determined the need to invite public attention to the necessity for the preservation of our shores and beaches. It was through the efforts of this cooperative association that legislation was enacted in 1930 which created the United States Beach Erosion Board under the Corps of Engineers, and it authorized the cooperative studies with the agencies of the various States for the protective works. AUTHORIZATION ACT In 1945 Congress passed Public Law 166 in the 79th Congress, the first session. This act authorized general investigations of erosion on the Atlantic, gulf, Pacific, and the shores of the Great Lakes. As a result of this act the Board has trained a professional staff which is accumulating scientific data on the causes of shore erosions and other measures needed to protect the shores and beaches. Heretofore there has been no work of that nature in our engineering societies or engineering work. It has been necessary to build up a staff from scratch. They had some work going on in England. In this country we have built up a staff. DEVELOPMENT INVESTIGATIONS In its general development investigations, the Board studies the forces of wave action, the source and composition of the material above and below high and low water marks, the history of shore processes from past surveys and records, and finally the development of techniques and methods for the improvement, stabilization, and protection of the shores and beaches. This is research work which is essential to provide a firm basis for millions of dollars spent on construction of protective works and shore structures. Senator ELLENDER. That is purely advisory? Admiral COLBERT. Yes, sir, entirely. Senator ELLENDER. In both instances? Admiral COLBERT. No. I would like to talk about development studies first, if I may. This item for development studies this year has been reduced to $80,000 from an average annual expenditure of about $200,000 in the last 2 years. In other words, we are building up a staff of engineers, the only people who are able to do this type of work in this country, and then we are cutting it down under the appropriation which we are considering. The association wishes to recommend to your very careful consideration the restoration of the full amount. |