Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-05-25
TIDES OF THE LAKES.

TIDES OF THE LAKES.
The following letter from Major b. f. Stick
new, an old and respected resident OF the Lake
country. was written to VIM. II. Newton, ESQ.,,
Chief Engineer of the Toledo and Cleveland
Railroad, in reply to the question addressed by
him to Major s.:
TOLEDO, Feb. 3, 1851.
Dear Sir IL had the pleasure OF receiving
yours of the Goth ultimo yesterday, putting to
me several interrogations in relation to the MI
ami rivers of Lake Erie, at and near Toledo.
The Miami river at Toledo, and indeed as far
up as the foot Of the rapids, is in effect an arm
of Lake Erie In the greatest freshets in the riv-
er there is but little rise here or current on that
account There is lunar tide here, Ms regular
as on the ocean. The sheet of water of Lake
Erie being small, the rise and fall is less in pro-
portion. The form of the Lake, and the mouth
of the Miami bay and river opening to the east,
and being at the western extreme of the lake,
makes the tide more apparent than at any other
point
The winds produce irregularity in the tides
here as on the ocean. The prevailing winds
here are southwest the river being in that d.
rection here, in the time of gales the water is
blown out quite low. To these two causes are
attributable the rise and fall that takes place dali
ly, or within short periods Of time. There is an
annual rise and fall in all the lakes; in Lake
Erie it is at its height about the last of July or
first of August, and at the lowest about the first
of March. There is rise takes place from
greater fall Of rain and snow, and that takes prn-
cipaly in the regions of country drained by the
rivers falling into the Lakes Superior, Huron,
and Michigan. The lakes are low when there is
a small quantity of rain and snow.
g. he ftar
fall of rain or the melting of snow to perceive
nearly 40 years, the water in Lake Erie was at its
highest point in 1884, and at its lowest in 1921
From its lowest point in 1921 to its highest
point in 1884, was thirteenth The greatest
rise from low to high water in six hours was
about five feet, Chat appeared to be entirely
from tide.) The observation was made the first
of November, 1921. The wind had been blow
ing three days with nearly equal velocity-as
appeared from my windguage-from the south
west The tide made out six hours with the
wind, averaging five feet
At this time made observations upon the
tides for two weeks, four times in twenty-four
hours. Ii is not common that the water rises
and falls more than two or three feet from wind
only. In one instance recollect, from severe
gale in winter from the east, that the water rose
about 20 inches higher than the present wharves
at Toledo.
The ice does not choke or dam between Tole-
do and the lake.
There has been no observable change in the
channel between what is called the mouth Of
the river and Toledo In the Miami bay there
has been one great change. The light house
was built at the northwest end of Turtle island.
Thirty years ago the island was about three
miles long, from southeast to northwest, and
think as much as fifteen feet high in the highest
part of it, covered with bushes and vines. Now
the island is swept away, and steamboats, pass
through where the island was. There is no
more land where the lighthouse is than what is
protected by sea.wall, and this is very small.
The ice goes out of the river here very qui-
city. have not known any injuries done by
the ice in passing out except once, and that was
very trifing. In 1888, when we were building
the first wharf at Toledo, we had laid up some
timbers without securing them, and cake flee
swung round and knocked some of the timbers
out Of place.
Thus, sir, have given you the general facts
resulting from my observations, as far as sup
pose is necessary for your purpose. To give
you the whole in minute detail wouldrequire
volume. Respectfully, Yours,
B. F. STICKNEY.
VIM. Ii. NEWTON, Esq.