Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-18

nnir.ei. FOX 10 IS Filed VIII NcSiiops or re-
fs'tcs, animals OF tl.e marine character, ana
ter.
The very peculiar fossils embedded Silci-
ons Rock, brought by MAJOR Lons OF the Corps !
of Engineers from the backs uf the river iii !
neis, warrant a like conclusion, = 10 the tract,
ls,"g between the Michigan ADD Mis>'ssir2l. |
lne 'ilils oil Cookies, and some other remains |
u :. new aud e\traordinAr, nature. distinguish |
shie IN taeai,are ieferrab.e only toereatuses OF
jhe SEA.
30, the petrfactions al hiicl,iIlimakinsc, col !
kctcd by itr. Stevenson, convince the gco,o-
siSt who examines them. that they were, a,
soaie former period, cover e., bv briuy iinid.
Fort finihes stands on n summit OF the island,
several hMi''red feet above the level ofLakc I
Huron. ihe rock which supports HAT militia
ry work, As LINE stoue i.itermiNed with flint,
aud running into chalk with varieeatiors of
iiuted bivalved shells These strata must have
been placed where they are, by the agency OF
an ancient ocean.
Thus, it appears that the regions bordering
on Ontario, Huron and Michigan bear witness
to a former submcrsion in salt water; which
having been drained otfby the falls and cata-
racts, has been succeeded by fresh water.
With these facts before him, the reader will
comprehend more clearly, the facts and reasO-
ming in the following letter, worthy of a Pallas
Hum bOdt.
Geological considerations on the condition of
the Middle Lakes of North America, address
Sed To the Hon. Samuel l.. Mitchin Profess
sor of Natural History in the University of
New-Yerk, sc. by Il. T. SticLney, ESD. da
ted indian Agency Office, Fort Wayne, jan.
~, 1917.
DEAR SIR have not had the pleasure of
seeing, or having any communication with YOU,
since left the City OF Washington in the
spring of 1872, for this place. have frequent
~ recoilected our last interview; it was in the
oihce OF the Secretary OF State-wheu YOU lee
tmfed me upon the necessity of greater indus
Try III collecting and arranging Geological OBJ
servationS. Unjust acknowledge my Incidence
notwithstanding.
But, as YOU have been so good as to open
the held OF enquiry in relation, to the inland
seas OF this continent in relation to the past
and present state OF their waters and inhabi-
tants; and as have spent several years in tho
neishhourhood of those seas. will try to as
s,st you IN carrying that inquiry little far
ther.
Is From such observations as have been a.
bic to make personally and some others sup
ported by the ties tlrnony OF great numbers 1
am OF opinion, that, 1T some remote period the
water of those seas west of Niagara Falls
were discharged through the Mississippi River
II there were any discharge--and for the fol.
lowing reasons:
list. believe thatr6 person who has viewed
Niagara Falls attentiyely, las doubted that AT
some period, the ridge of rock over which
the water now passes has been much higher
than it now is.
ID. That there is not much difference in
the level OF the water in the Lakes of Seas T.
rie, ST. Clair, Huron. and Michigan; perhaps
not more than tive feet.
Sd. That the height of land dividing the
water between the Seas and the Mississippi Ri
yer is very low; particularly where the lilo
nois and Chenango Rivers have their source
and discharge in opposite direcIops So low
that perogues pass three or four months in the
year without difficulty, from the Michigan Sea
TO the Illinois River. The height of land is
computed 1T about eighteen feet above the SUR
face of the sea.
ith. That all the western parts fthe States
OF Ohio, and Indiana, and the Illinois Terrific
ry, are of alluvial formation. That the Prai-.
mes produce convincing proofs to the obscr-
yer, that III has not been many centuries since
they have been covered with water; and that
water subsidized very gradually. From which,
all the higher spots of ground in the Prairies
have become clothed with forest trees, and
the lower have none; as although the low
er ground had not had time for the trees to
take root, aRd grow, since the water had subsi-
ded.
Now, if the ridge of rock at Niagara Falls
was one hundred feet higher than at present,
IT is evident from what has been stated. that
the water could have no other discharge from
those seas than through the Illinois River into
the Mississippi, and perhaps no discharge at all
But salt water fish might ever have found
their way annually mp the Mississippi and III.
llnols, and down the Chicago River and return
ifthey pleased.
!" but the most difficult part of the question in
deciding whe ther the water has been salt or not
IS, whetherevaporatiO be admitted to be safiici.
ent 10 counterbaance the influx of hundreds
OF rivers into the seas. five could believe
mat evaporation was sufficient 20 account for
the water of so many rivers, think we might
satisfactorily show the source of supply of tha
muriate of soda-there being MANY springs
highly charged with this salt, dischar~ing into
the American seas; beside other sources Of sun
ply. There arc two springs on Segana river.
discharSing into the Huron, of sufficient mar
nitude To satisfy me ii there were no o.
ther supply, that the whole mass ofwater miglt
become sufficiently imprcgnated in a few CEN
turies, Of water produced any changed 10 give
the saltwater character 10 its inhabitantsiftfe
were 10 other discharge than evaporation
And 1t may be observed, that if the rock of Nj
agaTa twenty feet higher tha1 il nov is
a Sreatpart OF the country is so low, that the
water wonid spread TO such an extent az pro
badly to make the surface two or three times
larger than at present aiid8f course the uuan-
tity OF water evapOrated would be in uronor
ton to the greater surface. And upon obscr
wing the very small quantity of water tijscharo-
ing from the Erie, by the straits of Niagara. com
pared with the many times greater ananf,ty
flowing into the Superior, Huron, Michigan.
81. Clair and Erie seas. And araiD MON com
pairing the quantity of water passing through
Inc straits of Niagara, with the quantity pass
sing into the st. Lawrence from Montreal To
quebec, by estimating the width deDth and
velocity OF each, we perceive, that there il not
so large quantity ofwater passing in any pi |
ven time through the lattcras the former
" The question has suggested itselftO me IL |
q dam were made across the straits of Mara |
rl, as the discharge Otthe Erie SEA, t,ventyfect |
higher than the present surface OF the wafer |
whether the waterin common would rise IN the |
height OF tie dam, with the increase of sur.
facet proportional increase OF evaDor,,- |
ton
" II stopping the discharge Of water thropcb