24 RECLAMATION OF CAPE COD SAND DUNES. 



Recent Work by the State, 

 preliminary operations. 



The artificial reclamation which had been prosecuted with more or 

 less vigor during the lirst half of the last centur}^ apparently received 

 but little attention until 1892, when the trustees of the public reserva- 

 tions were authorized to submit all available information concerning 

 the status of the sand encroachments and control, together with a com- 

 prehensive plan for the reclamation of the nonforested sand areas that 

 threatened the harbor. The committee made a careful personal exam- 

 ination of the land and presented, with their general report, a steno- 

 graphic transcript of the proceedings of a mass meeting of the rep- 

 resentative citizens of Provincetown and Truro, who presented such 

 information and suggestions as they were able to give concerning the 

 historic features of the sand areas and the most practical steps to be 

 taken for their reclamation. As a result of the trustees' report the 

 Province lands were placed in charge of a permanently employed 

 superintendent, Mr. James A. Small. 



The State at this time relinquished its right to the lands within and 

 immediately adjoining the city of Provincetown, leaving but 3,290 

 acres under State title. Of this area approximately 2,000 acres were 

 nonforested. 



Correspondence with various authorities revealed the fact that the 

 initial operations would have to })e more or less experimental, owing 

 to the lack of data concerning the previous reclamation operations 

 upon similar areas. Even the available details of the extensive grass 

 plantations made upon the same areas in the early part of the century 

 were purely matters of local tradition. 



There was expended during the ten years ending January 1, 1904, 

 the sum of $31,929.78 for the reclamation of these lands. The follow- 

 ing itemized statement has been furnished by the authorities: 



Beach grass planting ^^^7 f*50- ^ 



Introduction of \voo<ly growth fi, Oil. 78 



Construction and maintenance of roads 6, 250. 00 



Superintendence *^! 000. 00 



Incidental expenses, including survey 2, 71.S. 00 



Total 31,929.78 



ATTEMPTS WITHOUT BEACH GRASS. 



The three great dune ranges which lie between the timbered area 

 and the north shore of the Cape were entirely bare upon their north- 

 ern slopes, and were encroaching at the rate of 1.5 feet per year upon 

 the forest and toward the city and harbor from a quarter of a mile to 

 a mile distant (PI. IV, fig. 1). The less exposed areas were partially 

 covered with ])each grass, while the lower places were dominated by 



