Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-07-07


sheaM 6e handed IN as early as ~ o'clock on
Friday, to Insure insertion.
RISE on THE LAgEs.--It is easy enough to
account for an elevation in the waters of the
Great Lakes, even ofseverol years continuance,
i, describing all thoughts Of hidden and pre-
ternatural agency, wo-merely apply the result
Of our own experience and observation to the
subject. Every person must have observed,
that it Is no uncommon thing for several years,
Of more than medium heat, cold, wetness or
drouth to succeed each other. Thus for sew
eral years the summers have been more wet
than usual, and most men, especially farmers,
have observed it, though they have not appli-
ed their observations to the settlement Of the
matter before us. IN the same manner, winds
from particular point, Of compass often pre-
dominate for years in succession; as in the
present case, southwest winds have prevailed
for three or four seasons, and especially during
the present, bringing with them, according to
3 the theory set up in our last number, continual
showers for long time, and in this case for
two or three months, commencing in April
and continuing to the present time.
lnthis manner, then, IL appears, the whole
ofthe difficulty may be settled. The south
west winds prevailing, throw large quantities
Of rain into the valley of the lakes, and rise
of fwater is the consequence. The same pro-
cess is repeated during series of years, and
at length induces the belief that the rise is reg
ular and periodical. A depression follows
the other extreme, and that being also contin.
ued for several successive years, strengthens
the belief, and imagination, and a fondness for
the strange and punaccountable does the rest,
and hence the septsnnial and other periodical
tide of the lakes.
A close observerof Lake Erie, in allits phases
cannot but have observed difference in the
level of the waters, at different seasons of the
year. The lake is highsrin June and July than
in any other months ofthoyear, and it is low
est during the winter months. This is easily
accounted for. In tho winter the tributary
streams of all the lakes are fast closed up with
frost, and they are making Representations
Of snow and ice, but little Of which they i'm
part to their lakes. The high aporthcrn lati-
.udes in which the rivers Of lake Superior,
and many of those of Lake Huron arise, rem
ders their breaking up very late in the season,
and the long distance through which the sur
plus waters must pass 10 reach Lake Erie, pre-
vents their reaching hat lake until about June,
at which time they burst forth in their accu-
mulated strength and occasion high stage Of
water. Added TO this, the tributaries of Erie,
or at least those ofits western extremity, are
swollen to high degree, by the rains that in
variably fall in this section about that time in
the year, and pour heavier foods through
their mouths, than during any other season,
thus adding another cause for the annual rise
Of the lake.
These are the results Of the obtervat.nns Of
several years residence upon the shores of Lake
Erie, and we ofaD them as affording the only
rational conclusions to be drawn from the facts
of the case.