Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-15
Depth of the Niagara River.

The depth of the Niagara river, under tn,
Suspension Bridge, is estimated by the engi
neers to be 100 feet This, We believe, i,
deeper than any other rapidly raining stream
. in the world. Such are the dimensions of q
story which has been going the rounds of the
press" with gradully increasing proportions
Tor months 1t seems pity to deprive the
public organ of wonder of food so congenial to
It's appetite, yet we think it best to say what We
can to stop the deepening of this great chasm
lest it should endanger the unity Of our planet,
and separate New York and Canada by and by
into two different hcmisphercs.
We do not believe there is any great depth
OF water under the Suspension Bridge, proba-
bly, not over twenty-five or thirty feet The
sudden change from smooth to rough water is
Irreconcllablc with the idea of uniform deep
river which would produce a nearly eauable
descent from the Falls to the Whirlpool. Such
sudden break from nearly level current to
foaming rapid, with conspicuous decliyitv
in its surface, could no more exist in river
hundreds of feet deep, than belt of surf could
form across the Gulf Stream.
The whole appearance of the place indicates
that the comparatively quiet water above is
held back by an obstacle near the bridge, over
which the stream breaks and rolls in a huge
rapid or O. rift" 1t is like the flow of any RI
yer over bar, or over a deeply submerged
dam; and in this case, the dam is formed by
rocky ledges crossing the river at this point.
which have prevented its waters from wearing
its channel as deeply here as above And so
says the best authority on the subject, Profcs-
sor Hall, IN his report on the western geologi-
cal district OF the State, page 33S
Al one place about mile below the Falls
and where the channel is narrowest, the stream
glides with comparative stiffness, while below,
where the channel is broader, it is driven with
great velocity. These appearances
have their causes in the geological structure of
the place. Below the whirlpool there are no
hard strata in the bed Of the river, consequent
ly the channel is deeper and more TRANQUIL
than where such rocks exist At the whirlpool
and above thai place, the hard sandstone Iayer
is at or near the level of the river, and conse-
quently the chanlel is not worn SO deem
Again, after this hard mass has dipped below
the surface, the bed of the river is excavated
in softer rocks. hence the narrow channel and
smooth water mile below the Falls. Near
the Falls, the higher beds of sandstone and the
limestone OF the Clinton group, approaches the
ltNci vi thC ilNcI, anu lHuS causes WIDER shall
low channel and more tumultuous water"
This is certainly perfectly simple explana-
ton of these features of the river, supported bv
facts plainly visible to the eye of any practical
observer.
The hard sandstone which forms the riffs
about the whirlpool and bridge dips deeper and
deeper until, when nearly at the Falls, it is
perhaps 10 or 100 feet below the surface Of
the river, Of which it probably forms the floor.
This part Of the river, characterized by its boil
ing and eddying yet nearly level flow, n.ay
therefore be 20, so or 80 feet deep. Immedi-
ately below the Falls the Clinton lmestoncs
and subjacent sandstone so or 40 feet thick,
and very hard and massive, form still strong
er floor, to receive the pouring torrent, which
runs off swiftly and roughly
We know it is said that line and plummct
show far greater depth for this part of the
river, but they are very unreliable in rapid W;
ter the lead is carried away more or less, and
the line swept ont into long loops and bows
Moreover we may allow for the universal pro-
pcnsity to eXaggeration and mysticism which
makes all deep lakes, rivers and seas bottom
less. We have sounded ponds so reported, and
have found but five or ten fathomS, and we be-
lieyc the Niagara, above the whirlpool. could
its current be stied, would not require a much
longer line to find its BOTTOM Tribune.