DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 71 



a storm of almost hurricane power from tlie east, veering a 

 few points to the south, and thus causing the waves to lash 

 and churn the shore, under these tidal and meteorological 

 influences all the business part of Coney Island would be 

 submerged, and the unprotected eastern and middle coast of 

 the island would be washed away. A northeast storm would 

 build out the coast, the shoal above spoken of would have a 

 tendency to force the volume of water against the shore, and 

 with the fury of the tempest the waves would do great damage. 

 One could readily imagine, with the syzygies of the tides, how 

 old Neptune, roused by the tempest to Lis fiercest fury, 

 would thunder against the Long Island coast and speed with 

 increasing velocity down this trend of the shore to spend his 

 energy in snowy billows on and near Coney Island. 



This open and straight coast line has a great advantage in 

 another w r ay. It prevents the damming up of the tide as is the 

 case where there are bays, &c Thus the sum of the height of 

 the tides caused by the sun and moon at Coney Island is only 

 5 \ feet, while the same tide at Boston is 11 feet, or 

 twice as much. This is caused by Massachusetts Bay afford- 

 ing place for the tides to cumulate, while with our open 

 coast they are freely dissipated. 



This also holds good as to long continued driving storms 

 from the east and south on our coast, where the storms alone 

 can only raise the level of the water 4 feet, and 8 feet at 

 Boston. The greatest height of submersion, outside of a tidal 

 wave, that can take place at Coney Island, is 9} 2 feet. This, 

 however, is sufficient to flood the whole island. In addition 

 to this the devastating force of the waves is sufficient to batter 

 and destroy everything in its sweep. The short time that the 

 tide is at its height is long enough to produce a wonderful 

 change in the appearance of things. The concourse is just six 

 feet above mean high tide. Several times during storms, at 

 the ordinary tide, the waves have dashed a foot above it. 

 Thus it is seen what would be necessary to contend against in 

 providing shore protections. It would not be wise to build 

 short of this. 



