.A 13 1954c CONTENTS Text of H. R. 1031___ Allen, Col. J. U., Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. Page 1 15, 31, 47, 65, 79,113, 125, 133 Auer, Frederick M., planning engineer, department of public works, Concord, N. H., representing Hon. Hugh Gregg, Governor of New Hampshire Baxter, John P., executive secretary of Hon. Albert P. Morano, a Rep- Butler, Charles F., chairman, board of commissioners, Hampton Beach Campbell, Hon. Courtney, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida__. Casey, William F., commissioner of public works, Atlantic City- 68 119 144 Cotton, Hon. Norris, a Representative in Congress from the State of Doyle, Thomas E., attorney Dwyer, John R., president, Firch Banking Co_--_. Gillis, R. J., deputy administrator, department of forests and waters, Goding, Ray L., president, chamber of commerce, Hampton Beach, Hand, Hon. T. Millet, a Representative in Congress from the State of 4, 106, 135 Kearns, Hon. Carroll D., a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania Lane, Hon. Thomas J., a Representative in Congress from the State of Massachusetts McDonald, Joseph, civil engineer, Virginia Beach_ Merrow, Hon. Chester Earl, a Representative in Congress from the Milne, Col. W. D., Deputy Chief of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, Murray, Hon. P. F., mayor, Virginia Beach__. Redden, Alvin F., executive secretary, New Hampshire Seacoast Robeson, Hon. Edward J., Jr., a Representative in Congress from the Swinton, George R., city engineer, Atlantic City__. Lobey, Alton P., vice president, New Hampshire Seacoast Regional Upton, Hon. Robert W., a United States Senator from the State of 72 149 8 102 Utt, Hon. James B., a Representative in Congress from the State of Walton, Hermeth, representing Emergency Committee of Atlantic 7 Warner, Willis H., chairman of the board of supervisors, Orange White, Josiah, representing, Marlborough-Bleubeim Hotel, Atlantic vol.2 Additional information submitted for the record Allen, Col. J. U., extension of remarks, re Narragansett Pier, etc. Page 109 73 Bush, Hon. Prescott, a United States Senator from the State of Connecticut, letters to Hon. Homer D. Angell: April 5, 1954, re Hammonasset River, etc- 111 112 115 Flood, Harry B., town. manager, Stratford, Conn., letter, April 9, 1954, to Hon. Albert P. Morano_ 119 Gregg, Hon. Hugh, Governor of New Hampshire, letter, April 5, 1954, to chairman_ 73 New Hampshire State bill No. 281, paragraph, submitted by Mr. 71 Saltonstall, Hon. Leverett, a United States Senator from the State of Seely-Brown, Hon. Horace, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the 116 Virginia Beach, material, submitted by E. H. Church : Report, final____ Wick, Hosey, chairman, board county commissioners, Pinellas County, 150 Cleveland and Lakewood, Ohio, Edgewater and White City Parks_. 140 Cold Spring Inlet (Cape May Harbor), N. J. 135 Hammonasset River to East River, area 2, Connecticut.. New Haven Harbor to Housatonic River, area 3, Connecticut_. 116 105 Ohio Shoreline of Lake Erie between Vermillion and Sheffield Lake BEACH EROSION PROJECTS FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1953 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. H. R. 1031—A BILL AUTHORIZING THE PROSECUTION OF THE WORK OF IMPROVEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF BEACH EROSION CONTROL AT ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:35 a. m., in room 1302, New House Office Building, Hon. Homer D. Angell (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. ANGELL. We have before us H. R. 1031, introduced by our colleague Mr. Hand. If there is no objection we will ask that this bill be inserted in the record at this point. (H. R. 1031 is as follows:) [H. R. 1031, 83d Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL Authorizing the prosecution of the work of improvement for purposes of beach erosion control at Atlantic City, New Jersey Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the work of improvement for purposes of beach erosion control at Atlantic City, New Jersey, is hereby adopted and authorized to be prosecuted under the direction of the Secretary of the Army and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers in accordance with the plans and subject to the conditions recommended by the Chief of Engineers in House Document Numbered 538, Eighty-first Congress. Mr. ANGELL. We have Colonel Milne of the Corps of Engineers present. Because the colonel must get to a meeting of the Appropriations Committee we will hear him at this time on this bill. Colonel, will you please explain the bill for the committee? STATEMENT OF COL. W. D. MILNE, DEPUTY CHIEF OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS Colonel MILNE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take just a little time to get into the background of the work that the Corps of Engineers has done in conjunction with the State of New Jersey in studying the Atlantic City area. I believe that background will probably be beneficial to the committee in understanding the purpose of the bill before you at this time. In conjunction with the State of New Jersey the Corps of Engineers undertook a cooperative study of the Atlantic City area to determine what if anything could be done to prevent the very serious beach erosion problem that faces the inhabitants of that particular area. Our district made a detailed study with the local people and came up with a report recommending rather extensive beach-erosion-protective measures. That report was considered by the Beach Erosion Board and they recommended certain modification. The report was then transmitted to the Congress and it is now before the Congress for action. The bill which you have under consideration this morning simply recommends authorization of the report that the Corps of Engineers has previously recommended to the Congress. Mr. Chairman, will it be all right if I go to the map? Colonel MILNE. This map outlines the work that has been recommended by the Corps of Engineers to the Congress for accomplishment. The problem at Atlantic City is one of beach erosion. We have here the Absecon Inlet which is the entrance channel to Atlantic City, and then your major beach areas along the Atlantic Ocean are here. There has been a tendency for the channel to move to the south. In its move to the south there has been extensive damage done along this particular side of the inlet, as well as a material damage to the beaches in that the littoral drift has been interrupted, and the flow of sand to replenish these beaches is not always present, with the result that the beaches have been and are in the process of gradually deteriorating. The city itself has spent a considerable amount of money to rectify its particular problem. In our report we considered a number of things that should be done. First, at Absecon Inlet the channel should be stabilized so that it no longer has this tendency to move in this particular direction. Also we felt that construction of groins along the beach here should be done in order to trap sand, insuring that that beach is stabilized and built up. Specifically, the corps recommended these steps: A steel-sheet-pile bulkhead at this particular point. The construction of a series of groins along Maine Avenue here, to build up this beach. The extension of an existing stone jetty on this side of Absecon Inlet down to this point, which would prevent Brigantine Island from extending on out in the channel. The construction of a series of stone and groin jetties along this particular beach here to entrap the sand. The overall cost of that particular project which we recommended in the document that we transmitted to the Congress was $4,738,000. In accordance with the beach-erosion law the Federal Government where the property is publicly owned can participate up to one-third the full cost. So the Federal participation is $1,579,000 and the local interests would participate to the extent of $3,159,000. Since that report was completed there has been, of course, an increase in the construction costs. As of the fall of 1952 the revised total cost is $5,740,000, with the Federal share being $1,913,000 and the non-Federal share being $3,827,000. I might point out that in accordance with the beach-erosion law local interests not only have to pay two-thirds of the cost of the project, but they must also gives assurances to the Federal Government that they will maintain all of the works that are constructed. The State of New Jersey has given its assurances both as to their participation in the initial capital outlay as well as their participation in its maintenance. I would also like to point out two other things. One is the extremely high benefit-cost ratio of this project. I do not believe I have to tell this committee of the value of Atlantic City to the State of New Jersey or, for that matter to the country as a whole. We estimate that the benefit-cost ratio of this particular project is in the neighborhood of 16 to 1. It is one of the highest benefit-cost ratios of any project I have ever testified on. The other thing I would like to point out to the committee is the fact that Atlantic City has not waited for the Federal Government to authorize this project, but has gone ahead on their own and has done a great deal of the work in accordance with the project document that the Corps of Engineers has submitted. We have not been asked for our comments on this bill for transmittal to the Secretary of the Army so I cannot testify or tell this committee what the position of the Secretary of the Army or the Bureau of the Budget is, but speaking for the Office of Chief of Engineers we are in favor of enacting the bill. Mr. ANGELL. Colonel Milne, what is the share of the total cost that the Federal Government would have to provide? Colonel MILNE. One-third of the total cost, and we estimate it to be $1,913,000. Mr. ANGELL. Is that in addition to moneys that have already been expended by the city for some of these improvements? Colonel MILNE. The city or State share is $3,827,000. Mr. ANGELL. But in addition to that, have the city and State done additional work? Colonel MILNE. The State and city have done some work included in that $3,827,000. Mr. ANGELL. Are there any questions? Mr. AUCHINCLOSs. I would like to ask a question. Mr. ANGELL. Mr. Auchincloss. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Colonel, from what you said it appears to me. that you are very enthusiastic about this project. Colonel MILNE. It is an extremely good project, Mr. Auchincloss. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Is it about the best you can think of in the country? Colonel MILNE. Well, that is a very difficult question, but from a beach-erosion standpoint it is an extremely worthy project. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Some day you will come up to the northern cost of New Jersey, in my district, and look over some other worthy projects. Colonel MILNE. We are making a cooperative study now in parts of New Jersey. Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Thank you. Mr. MACK. Will the building of this project lessen the likelihood of shore installations being washed into the sea? Colonel MILNE. Yes, sir. That is, particularly along Maine Avenue, where there is a definite threat to the loss of that particular avenue and the shore installations. This project will relieve that problem. Mr. MACK. Do any of these installations, or does any of this land that might be lost belong to the Federal, State, or local government? |