Commerce and Navigation, who served as Board chairman; Victor Gelineau, Director of the 

 New Jersey Board of Commerce and Navigation; Harrison P. Lindabury, Henry J. Sherman, 

 and Edward J. Murphy, all of the New Jersey Board of Commerce and Navigation. Secretary 

 for the group was Edward H. RusseU, also of the same State agency. Tliis Engineering 

 Advisory Board performed its work in a systematic manner and after a year's time produced 

 a thorough report entitled, "Report by Board of Commerce and Navigation on the Erosion 

 and Protection of the New Jersey Beaches— 1922." 



The Board reconvened the next year (Victor Gehneau now served as chairman) and 

 continued its study of coastal changes, including resurveys of beaches examined previously. 

 This work resulted in a second pubUcation, "Report on Erosion and Protection of New 

 Jersey Beaches— 1924." 



In the meantime, Douglas Johnson was pursuing his interest in coastal matters, haviirg 

 been instrumental in the formation of a Committee on ShoreHne Studies under tlie Division 

 of Geology and Geography of the National Research Council in Washington, D.C. In 

 addition to Johnson, who served as first chairman, the other initial members of this 

 Committee were Isaiali Bowman, Director, American Geographical Society, and Nevin M. 

 Fenneman, Professor of Geology and Geography, University of Cincinnati. By April 1923 

 this Committee had added to its study program "the general field of shoreUne physiography 

 and engineering."^^ A few years later, a fourth member joined the Committee— Comdr. 

 Raymond S. Patton of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. This group's increased activity 

 in shore erosion matters was based on three main considerations: "(a) The great social and 

 ecoriomic importance of the beaches of our [the U.S.] Atlantic and Gulf coasts; (b) the 

 constant attrition of valuable lands which in many localities is resulting in large economic 

 losses, and in some cases threatened the continued existence of communities; and (c) the 

 present empirical basis of engineering practice in shore protection, which has been found 

 inadequate to meet the situation."^^ 



As part of its investigation, the Committee undertook a survey of opinion regarding some 

 form of organized effort to deal with coastal problems. In May 1926, it 



"sent out a circular letter to some two hundred addresses along the Atlantic and 

 Gulf coasts, stating its conception of the problem, making certain specific 

 inquiries regarding conditions along the different sections of the coast, and 

 requesting an expression of opinion as to the feasibility of securing pubhc support 

 for the cooperative study which the Committee had in mind." 



Although overall response was favorable, it was the officials from the State of New Jersey 

 who "evidenced a keen and constructive interest in the Committee's inquiries." 

 Mr. J. Spencer Smith, president of the New Jersey State Board of Commerce and Navigation 

 took up the Committee's project with New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore. The outcome 

 was that "Governor Moore invited the Governors of the other Atlantic and Gulf Coast 



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