34 TORREYA 



area would be laid out in "trailer lots" and placed on the market. The legis- 

 lation was not enacted but the eyes of people with diverse interests in Island 

 Beach had been opened to the possibilities, and the possibilities were not 

 pleasant. Regaining a clear title to the area after its subdivision and sale 

 to thousands of small owners would be neither easy nor cheap. 



In November of 1940 a meeting was called by Governor Moore. Repre- 

 sentatives of State departments, local governments, civic groups, societies, 

 and individuals were invited to discuss the possible future of the area. A 

 member of the National Park Service gave general information on the estab- 

 lishment and administration of reservations under their jurisdiction. Many 

 possibilities were presented. It was decided to appoint a committee to approach 

 members of the legislature for their views and for information on the prob- 

 ability of purchase and development of the area by the State. The group was 

 reassembled on August 30, 1941 and the committee reported that responsible 

 members of the legislature saw no prospects of the State being able to finance 

 a proposition of this size. There was general agreement among the many 

 groups represented that the greatest hope of saving this area from com- 

 mercialization lay in getting it under the administration of the National Park 

 Service. 



Came the war. This exposed and almost uninhabited area was immediately 

 placed under constant surveillance. It has remained under army control and 

 more or less closed to civilians. In 1942 when the army's projection of the 

 roadway to the end of the bar was decided upon, the Chief of Engineers 

 was advised of the unique and important natural history embodied in the area. 



During the past two years there has been a considerable reorganization 

 of the state government in New Jersey. In the course of this a Department 

 of Economic Development has been set up. One of its acts has been a survey 

 of projects of public works that might be undertaken should it become de- 

 sirable for the State to supplement business and industry in the maintenance 

 of employment levels. Among the recommendations to the Governor was that 

 of acquiring Island Beach for development as a state park and public play- 

 ground. One of our members, Dr. George H. Shull, addressed an open letter 

 to the Governor opposing this recommendation in view of the importance of 

 maintaining the status quo in this last example of such an area. There has 

 been some exchange of ideas on the philosophy of public beach and play- 

 ground to be used by a great many as compared with the preservation of a 

 natural area to be used by relatively few. No one has objected to the acquisi- 

 tion and development of some equally or more desirable site for public use 

 but there is no other area suitable for preservation as a natural seashore area 

 in New Jersey, and quite possibly none the equal of Island Beach north of 

 Cape Hatteras. 



