General EDGERTON. The statute permits the Board to recommend to the Congress that the United States pay one-third. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Is there a statute to that effect and what statute is it? General EDGERTON. Public Law 727, Seventy-ninth Congress. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Seventy-ninth Congress. Is that part of the Rivers and Harbors Act of the Seventy-ninth Congress? General EDGERTON. Separate act, I think. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Separate act? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. WHITTINGTON. What are the other provisions, General, of that act, except that the Government in these projects approved should contribute one-third of the cost? What do the local people do to maintain it? General EDGERTON. They are required to maintain the project, to adopt the project as recommended, to furnish the lands and rightsof-way, to save the United States harmless from claims for damages, and perhaps other provisions. Mr. WHITTINGTON. You say that this is a separate project on which you submitted a report? What is the first? General EDGERTON. Not the second on which we have submitted a report. Mr. WHITTINGTON. I mean authorized. There has been one previously authorized. General EDGERTON. Harrison County, Miss. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Authorized last year. General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. WHITTINGTON. In the Rivers and Harbors Act. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Now you can proceed with this particular item. Mr. LARCADE. Will you proceed, General? General EDGERTON. There is a map on the board which perhaps you can see that will indicate some of the features of the project. The report on Winthrop Beach, Mass., as contained in House Document 764, Eightieth Congress, was made under authority of section 2 of the River and Harbor Act approved July 3, 1930, as amended and supplemented. The Metropolitan District Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cooperated in this study by furnishing 50 percent of the cost thereof. Winthrop Beach is located on the east coast of Massachusetts, 3 miles north of the main entrance channel to Boston Harbor. The beach is about 2 miles long between two headlands of glacial formation. Winthrop Beach is a highly developed, densely populated suburban residential area. Most of the houses are occupied all year. The beach, being accessible to the northern portion of Boston's metropolitan area, is used by large numbers of visitors. The beach is publicly owned and open to the public without cost or restriction. Winthrop Shore Drive lies immediately behind the beach. Almost the entire shore is protected by heavy sea walls. Part of the area is protected by an offshore breakwater. The remainder is subject to heavy wave attack, which damages Winthrop Shore Drive and buildings despite existing sea walls. The beach is in poor condition. The purpose of the study was to determine the best method of prevening further erosion, stabilizing and improving the beach, and protecting the sea wall. The Beach Erosion Board recommends a plan of improvement comprising (1) reconstruction of 400 linear feet of existing sea wall; (2) raising the height of the existing wall 2 to 3 feet for a length of 1,800 feet; (3) construction of eight stone groins; and (4) placement of 200,000 cubic yards of sand fill. The Beach Erosion Board states its opinion that the public benefits to be derived at Winthrop Beach from the plan of improvement are sufficient to justify Federal participation in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 727, Seventy-ninth Congress, approved August 13, 1946. The Chief of Engineers, after due consideration of these reports, concurs in the views and recommendations of the Board. As the shore is publicly owned, the recommended Federal participation is one-third of the cost of the work. In accordance with section 4 of Executive Order No. 9384, the report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget for information as to the relationship of the proposed report to the program of the President. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there would be no objection to the submission of the report to Congress. The Metropolitan District Commission, an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, indicated its concurrence in the proposed plan of improvement and its intention to meet the conditions associated with Federal participation, subject to its ability to secure necessary authorization from the Massachusetts Legislature. Mr. Chairman, at this point I have two letters which I would like to read, due to the fact that they reflect local interest in this project. K. M. PATTEE, THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Executive Officer, Office of Division Engineer, New England Division, Boston, Mass. DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your report on the beach erosion of Winthrop Beach, as of August 5, 1947. I have gone over the entire recommendations of the report. We have now come to the conclusion where the Metropolitan District Commission thoroughly agrees with your Board. In your letter you have requested that particular attention be paid to paragraphs 85 and 87. In regard to paragraph 86, I have today directed my engineers in charge of this work to go ahead with detail plans and specifications of the work as set forth in this report, and to have all the plans and specifications approved by the local Army engineers before any work will be done. 86-A. This department agrees to take care of all maintenance and repairs after the completion of the work. 86-B. This department agrees that any necessary lands, easements, and rights-of-way will be taken by this Department. 86-C. This department agrees to any claims of damages after the prosecution of the work will be in the hands of this department and no Federal aid requested. The metropolitan district commission will submit a b' to the legislature this coming session, January 1, for the additional course of cut stone on the top of the existing sea wall for approximately 1,600 feet, the construction of groins and the placement of sand fill, and the construction of an additional sea wall similar to that now between Trident and Wave Avenues, at an approximate cost of $550,000. May I say that the metropolitan district commission at its meeting of today, voted that the commission will work in cooperation with the United States Army engineers in the way that this work is to be done. Very truly yours, The next letter I have is dated November 15, 1948: WILLIAM T. MORRISSEY, Commissioner. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, November 15, 1948. The Honorable the SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, (Through the budget officer for the Department of the Army). MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 20, 1947, submitting the proposed report of the Chief of Engineers, on a cooperative study for beach erosion control at Winthrop Beach, Mass., prepared under provisions of section 2 of the River and Harbor Act approved July 3, 1930, as amended and supplemented. I am authorized by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget to advise you that while there would be no objection to the submission of the proposed report to Congress, the project should be considered one of low priority in view of the marginal benefit-cost ratio of 1.0. Sincerely yours, L. C. MARTIN, Assistant Director, Estimates. Federal participation is recommended provided that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: (1) Adopts the recommended plan of improvement; (2) submits for approval by the Chief of Engineers detailed plans and specifications and arrangements for the prosecution of the new work of protection and improvement prior to commencement thereof; and (3) provides all necessary lands, easements, and rights-of-way; and provided further that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts gives satisfactory assurances that it will: First, maintain and repair the new work during its useful life as may be required to serve the intended purpose; second, hold and save the United States free from any damage claims that may arise either before, during, or after prosecution of the work. The estimated cost of the recommended plan of improvement, revised to January 1949 price levels, is $657,000; the estimated Federal participation is $219,000. Annual charges estimated on this basis are as follows: Federal, interest and amortization, is $9,474; non-Federal, interest and amortization, is $20,512; and non-Federal, maintenance, is $15,000, making a total of $44,986. Average annual tangible benefits, revised to January 1949 price levels, have been estimated at $45,800 consisting of $18,500 for the prevention of loss of property as a result of storms; $4,500 for enhancement of land values because of complete sea wall protection; and $22,800 as the recreational benefit resulting from substantial and dependable increase in the usability of the beach measured by the increased earning power of the property in the area immediately landward of the improvement, chiefly increased rentals for lodging of recreationists. In addition, however, there are other benefits including elimination of disruption of traffic and communications and relief and care of storm victims; and benefits resulting from the completion of the protective measures which will provide an incentive to property owners to increase their investments through improvement of their land and structures. Federal participation in the cost of this project as recommended is considered to be justified on the basis of evaluated benefits which indicate a benefit cost ratio of 1.02 to 1. Unevaluated recreational benefits add support to the justification of the project. I will be glad to answer any questions that I can that the committee may care to ask. Mr. L'ARCADE. General, there must be a very heavy movement there since it is necessary to have five groins in the area. General EDGERTON. The groining project is primarily for the artifical fill which is to be put in. The sand movement is not great. There is not sufficient sand movement to maintain the beach without artificial fill. Mr. LARCADE. How many recessions have there been in this particular beach in recent years? General EDGERTON. The recession of shore line has not been very great because of the existence of the walls; but the beach is in very poor condition. I could not tell you the number of feet it has receded; but most of the sand of the beach has disappeared, leaving a cobble beach. Mr. LARCADE. Unless this improvement is made, is the property adjacent to the beach subject to damage? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. And the beach wall itself is subject to damage. One of the benefits to be derived from the artificial fill is in the protection of the sea wall itself. It requires for its safety in the storms that are experienced on the coast a substantial offshore beach to provide for the safety of the wall. Mr. LARCADE. Is the sea wall being undermined at this time? General EDGERTON. It has been attacked. Its undermining is threatened. The whole project is so important that of course the State has participated in the maintenance of the wall at great expense. This is a superior method of maintaining the shore line and improving the beach. Mr. LARCADE. Do you know the original cost of the sea wall construction? General EDGERTON. No, sir. Mr. LARCADE. Was it built by local authority? General EDGERTON. Built by local interests; yes, sir. Mr. LARCADE. Are there any questions? Mr. DONDERO. General, what did you say the estimated cost of this project would be? General EDGERTON. The figure is $657,000. Mr. DONDERO. If the property outside of the local public beach is also being eroded, would the fact that the Government will take care of one section of the coast and private property remain unprotected, would that have a tendency to wash back of the Government improvement and eventually wipe out what we are trying to do? General EDGERTON. No; say, in this case the entire coast, beach line, is in public ownership and is in the Mr. DONDERO. I am in favor of this type of work because I have seen some of the disaster that has been brought about by washing away of coast lines, particularly on the Great Lakes area and also the State of New Jersey, the State of our colleague, Mr. Auchincloss. General EDGERTON. This sort of damage is very widespread throughout the shore lines of the United States. Mr. DONDERO. One more question. Are you seeking to protect this. beach by laying an apron of cement or concrete so as to prevent the action of the sea against the coast? General EDGERTON. No, sir; instead, we are laying in sand which is the cheapest and best method that can be devised in the present state of the art. Mr. DONDERO. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Mr. PICKETT. I notice the proposed construction of various groins. do not go all the way up to what I believe is called Grover's Point. Will the construction of those groins and the stoppage of them at the northernmost point-have the effect of causing a greatly increased erosion to that part of the beach around Grover's Point? General EDGERTON. No, sir. Mr. PICKETT. You have studied that carefully? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. PICKETT. You think the situation is amply taken care of up as far as Grover's Point with the proposed point? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. PICKETT. Have the local interests already given their assurances for participation to the extent required? General EDGERTON. Yes. According to the letter read. Mr. PICKETT. They are satisfactory and for practical effect, guaranteed? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, there is one thing I omitted. The law that you referred to, passed some 2 or 3 years ago General EDGERTON. Yes. Mr. DONDERO. That law, did it not come from this committee? Mr. LARCADE. They had a special committee set up? Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question? Mr. LARCADE. Mr. Auchincloss. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. General, you are going to put an artificial fill here? General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. AUCHIN CLOSS. What kind of fill and where does it come from? General EDGERTON. I think from offshore. I have, myself, not the knowledge; but it is in these reports. I can find it for you. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. It would be interesting if you put it in the record. Mr. LARCADE. How much beach do you propose to build up there, General? General EDGERTON. The widths are shown here: about 250 feet. General EDGERTON. Yes, sir. Mr. LARCADE. What is the length of the groins? General EDGERTON. The length of the groins vary somewhat. They are from about 300 feet. Mr. LARCADE. That area is highly populated with dwellings? |