RECLAMATION OF TIDE LANDS. 393 



CAUSES OF FAILURE. 



From a personal inspection in a number of places and the testimony 

 of trustworthy people along the coast where the reclamation of salt 

 marsh has been carried on, the following are noted as the chief causes 

 of failure : 



(1) The inefficiency of the dikes because of poor construction from 

 a lack of knowledge as to how to do the work or a false economy 

 practiced in the construction of the same. 



(2) The failure of the tide gates to keep out salt water and their 

 lack of capacity to vent the accumulation of fresh water at low tide. 



(3) The lack of proper care of the dikes after they are constructed. 

 In nearly 100 cases of failure investigated the reason assigned was 



that the "dike went out." Upon a further examination in most 

 cases it was easy to see why the dike went out. It was located too 

 near the shore and was cut away by the action of the water; was too 

 low and was overtopped b}^ the waves; did not have sufficient cross 

 section to withstand the pressure; was built on a poorly prepared 

 base, or was destroyed by muskrats. While the embankment stood, 

 the reclamation was a success and disaster only followed its giving 

 way. (See PI. XII.) It has been thoroughly demonstrated in many 

 places that an earth embankment will stand if properly constructed, 

 and there is little excuse for failure. Nowhere is the old maxim 

 "whatever is worth doing is worth doing well" more forcibly illus- 

 trated than in the building of a dike. Many persons have under- 

 taken this work without knowledge as to how it should be done and 

 have persisted in carrymg on a practice that was radicall}" wrong, 

 while others have had but little confidence in the ultimate success 

 of their undertaking and have not been willing to put in sufficient 

 funds to properly do the work. It has been their aim, if after a time 

 the work proved profitable, to enlarge and strengthen the embank- 

 ment, but this method can not be successfull}^ carried out, because 

 the earth while it is yet fresh, to withstand the action of the water, 

 must be put up in the proper manner and of sufficient quantit3^ If 

 the embankment is too low and is once overtopped by the waves it 

 will practically be destroyed. If the cross section is too small or has 

 steep slopes it will not withstand the action of the waves and will 

 give way when most needed. 



Another reason for insufficient embankments having been con- 

 structed is the lack of proper appliances for doing the work. It is 

 only within recent years that dredges have been constructed suitable 

 for this work and where it was put up by hand labor it was difficult, 

 because of the water, to secure the necessary material near the work, 

 and the cost of handling earth in that way made large and substantial 



