result if the improvements under consideration were built. Particular reference was to be 

 given to erosion and accretion "for a distance of not less than ten miles on either side of the 

 said entrance."®^ Because of its concern with erosion problems on Federal property, as well 

 as those associated with the Corps of Engineers' harbor activities, responsibUity for "this new 

 legislative directive was given to the Shore Protection Board by order of the Office, Chief of 

 Engineers.^ ^ However, it was a matter of general interest to the BED as well. 



c. The BEB Study of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. In 1935, the BEB conducted an 

 investigation of beach conditions, at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Located 20 miles southwest 

 of Portland, Old Orchard Beach was a popular seashore resort, the largest percentage of its 

 vacationers coming from Canada. The area was not subject to erosion except temporarily 

 during severe storms. With the advantage of hindsight, the events associated with this BEB 

 study make it of special historical interest. 



Maine Representative Simon M. Hamlin introduced a bill (H.R. 5539) in February 1935 

 requesting an appropriation of $500,000, "out of any sums available for the emergency 

 construction of pubUc works." This money was to be used to buUd a 3-mile-long seawall and 

 promenade at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The bill was reviewed by the Committee on Rivers 

 and Harbors, which concluded that the matter should be given to the BEB for its 

 consideration. In a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt dated March 11, 1935, Maine 

 Governor Louis J. Brann stated that "alarming changes and great loss of property" had been 

 occurring at Old Orchard Beach during the past few years. Brann asked that the President 

 expedite the BEB survey and concluded his letter by saying: 



"I am very anxious to have this matter decided because it will be a tremendous 

 factor in solving our unemployment situation in Western Maine, a situation which 

 I assure you is very critical." 



Governor Brann 's main intent seems to have been to create jobs for the unemployed in the 

 area, this being during the Depression, and he hoped to do this by way of construction of a 

 large. Federally financed, shore protection project. In late May, the Governor sent a 

 telegram to BEB civilian member Richard K. Hale, inviting the Board to come to Old 

 Orchard Beach for a personal inspection of the site. 



On June 24, 1935, the Maine State Planning Board, acting as the cooperating State 

 agency, filed a formal application to the BEB for the Old Orchard Beach study. The Chief of 

 Engineers approved the application on 17 July. In the meantime, however, the proposed 

 seawall had received pubUcity in the local newspapers, and many of the area residents 

 became strongly opposed to the idea. As early as March 6, 1935, the BEB began to receive 

 letters protesting against the construction of the structure.®" 



During the next 2 months, work on the study gradually progressed, with individual 

 members of the BEB or its staff making trips to Old Orchard Beach to secure needed 

 information. Then in late August, as a result of the continuing protests, it was decided that 



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