Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson says he is hopeful that legislators will restore money for the protection of the state's beaches against erosion, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Claudette. We share that hope. Erosion is a constant and severe problem. Almost every other coastal state in the nation has managed that problem better than has Texas, even before the budget cutbacks. If barrier islands are breached and barge traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway is interrupted, Patterson noted, huge economic losses would result. Not to mention damage to the tourism and eco-tourism industry. The General Land Office, which Patterson runs...