The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-07
A Theory OF rke Lake II. ies-The Bo,tem
OF the Lahss UpAeavea ,, Isseou' Action.

Mr.. John Gregory, who has DO voted much tim.
gives his views on the subject to- he milwaukee,
News. He says:
residence Of abouttwent years in milwaukee,
enables me to say, with positive ce talnty, ina
the periodical rise and fall OF Lake 3 'perior' ss
well as OF Lake Michigan, are not "a 10 tn'
atusctlon OF the sun aud moon. Though ,he az
traction OF celestial bodies extend their n nuence'
20 ine waters OF our lakes, the forces do not &c
Tor o sufncient length of time to set n en- u
motion by reasons Of the limited areas OF th'
fluid surfaces exposed to such Influences.
For thousands Of years may be observed are
currence OF the flow and ebb of the tide in th'
open seas and oceans at regular intervals Of tn ne
Mhen we compare these regular recnrrences
tldal phenomena with the aspects of the moon, d
tne relative positions Of the sun, moon and ezra
during an entire cycle, we observe an uabroksa
relation, as regards time, which enables us Al
once to trace the cause OF the flowing and ebbfux
OF the tides to the attracting influence of the suu
and moon (see Gregory's astronomy fthis rsla,-
ton OF equality, in point Of time, were found aot
TO exist between the recurring periods OF the
flowing and ebbing Of the tides, as compared with
the aspects OF the moon, on the relative positions
OF The Sun, moon and earth, during an entire cyce
We could net. by any mode of reasoning founded
on the established rules OF logic refer the cause
OF the tides to the attracting influence Of the sun
and moon.
Let US apply this undeniable principle TO proye
The iallacy OF an opinion sometimes put for ward
on Tins subject by persons of respectable pre.
tensions, namely: that subterranean communi.
cation exists between the lakes and the sea or
oceans, and that the high stages OF water perI.
odlcally observed IN the former are produced bv
the spIig tides in the latter. From all the fats
could collect from written documents and from
intelligent persons who had long resided on the
borders of these great lakes, these high stages
rtcur AZ intervals or periods varying from Eve to
seven years, and sometimes to fourteen and nine.
teen Years: These periods have no relation
whatever, in point OF time TO the recurring
periods OF high tides in the ocean or sea- They
are too variable to be traced to any natural cause
constantly and uniformly acting.
therefore the idea of subterranean channels
communicating with the ocean should not be en-
tertained. If Alpine regions, occupying a high
position, and shedding their waters into the lakes
were found 10 exist, one might be apt TO refer the
cause 10 the meeting OF immense glaciers, which
might have taken more or less years 10 accumu-
late in The bosom Of such regions but geography
proves that no such regions exist nor is there auy
extraordinary accumulation Of ice or snow on
written record, or handed down to us by tradi-
uon therefore, we cannot refer these extraordi-
nary elevations IN the surface OF the lakes At rreg
ular intervals to accumulation Of snow. To what
then are we TO refer them!
Are we to refer the cause to increased rains
falling in the catchment basins of the lakes at un-
equal intervals No rain gauges having been
kept in the Lake Superior region that | am aware
Of the condition OF all its tributaries previous 20,
and during the gradual elevation Of the service.
can only be resorted to in the solution Of the pro-
blem.
Gentlemen connected with the copper mines of
Lake Superior informed me that during the years
1851 and 1852, the surface of the lake continued
to rise day by day while all the tributaries 10 il
were lower than they had been for many years
before. This information was corroborated by
sr. sterling, OF Pennsylvania, gentleman Of
great and correct observation, who travelled
around the lake in 1852, when the surface was
from five 10 six feet higher than usual, which
proves that the increased elevation of the surface
could by no means be due TO the unequal quantity
In
and during the year IN which the surface was
seen continually TO rise; from which il appears
that we must look TO some other cause than that
OF rain Tor the solution Of the problem under dis
cussion. In connection with this subject | nav
mention that the Fox river, the principal tributary
TO Lake Michigan. contributes less quantity OF
water than usual to that lake in 1852 while the
sur ace rose during that year from three to four
ieet higher than usual. Persons living on the
bank of the Mississippi river assured me that
that river was three feet lower during that year
than usual.
From all the facts above stated, in connection
with others, the conclusion is irresistible namely
that lgneous action, at different times, communi-
Gated an upward motion 10 the bottom Of the
lakes, which, Of course, caused the water to rise
while the upward motion continued. II this up
ward motion ceased, the surface of the lakes
would soon begin to descend by dscharging the
elevated surface through the usual natural char
nels. When the upward force would begin
again to act, so as TO communicate motion, the
ssme phenomenon would necessarily take place.
ana as there is no reason why this internal
gneous force should communicate at equal inter-
vsls of time, we cannot expect recurrence of
The above phenomenon at the end of equal
perods.
Our rivers show ample evidence of this up-
hesviDg force, as they are all Of considerable
1epth for some distance from the lakes a copdi-
hon OF things that could not exist under any other
than that Of an upheaving force,
which would necessarily drive back the elevated
surface waters into the rivers, just as we see them
It different points where the rivers discharge
themselves into the lakes.
These deep channels, now occupied by still
water, must have been excavated by the mechani-
'al action of water flowing from a higher to q
over point. Hence it appears that the water
must have been forced back into these deep chan
lels by an upward motion communicated TO the
bottom Of the lake and II is settled and con-
,eded fact that this phenomenon occhrred once,
here is no reason why IL should not occur again
md again under similar circumstances.