New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-21
NIAGARA FALLS.
SIGNS OF AN EARLY BREAKING DOWN OF THE
HORSESHOE LEDGE.
From The Buffalo Express.

From The Buffalo BIpr'ss
The interesting question of geological and
10 be consumed by the Falls OF Niagara in wearing their
way up the bed OF the Niagara River past Tonawanda
Lake Erie has been raised Of late by some remark
able signs observed in the rapids above Horseshoe Fall
OF the rock forming that magnificent cataract For
than year past, some watehtul residents OF t h
rapids at a point something less than half a
mile above the apex OF the horse shoe IN me cha-
and this motion has been OF character TO give rise 10
the supposOn that breach had been made by the cur
rent through the soft shale strata underlying the lime
stone that forms the present ledge OF the Falls Recently
the appearance Of the rapids at the point has
undergone marked change and so exactly IN connTma-
ton OF the the theory stated that those watching do
not doubt the speedy doom OF the famous Horseshoe
Cataract II the limestone ledge, which the river
now fails is supposed in course OF being undermined
by suberanean stream, breaking through as FAR back
as nearly half mile course the consequence, inevitable
and liable at moment, must be en- immense
breaking away Of the face OF the cataract changing s
perpendicular fall into shooting rapid, down steep
Some observers at the Falls anticipate tins grand catas
trophe at an early day. In confirmation OF these op-
IONS fns 1t stated in me Hon,lton Ontarol Tunes
that within few weeks past DR.. j. ". Osborne, at
Chippewa, has noted marked and constant change IN
the motion Of the rapids at the point Indicated ana IL Is
also reported that indications discovered OF the pour
ing OF suberranean stream into the gun below the
Falls, which the absence 81 the mist ~ ~ nGug no1
gentleman from the Falls. with whom II has c0nveIsed
fully believes that the days OF the Great Horseshoe are
If it be the fact that this grand catacysn is soon to
occur biologists will only be able 10 account for by the
supposton OF great fracture or assure IN inc south
ward dipping bed Of limestone over the outcr0png edgc
OF which the river falls Prof Halls elaborate survey OF
the geology Of the NIAGARA River region made IN 1872
showed that at the present site OF the Falls sheets OF
hard lime rock OF the formation known az the Mag
ara limestone the surface OF the country and form
the edge Of the cataract 10 the depth OF between 80 and
90 feet Under this extending to the foot OF the a are
the shay layers Of the same formation Al these strata
slope downward, against the current Of me 1rer al the
rate OF about Is feet TO the mile and In the rapids above
the fall the uppern0st layers Of the Niagara limestone
succeed, stratum above another, TIL about " leet
more is added TO the thickness OF the formation when all
disappear beneath the outer ofng edges OF the next
series above which that OF the shaes aud nars OF inc
OnOndaga salt group We see therefore, that both ABOVE
and below the hard limestone there soft shae lorna
tons easily 10 be cut by rapid current but the lower
OF these shae beds only be reached and the limestone
undermined by fracture in the limestone itself IL Is
very possble that such ssurc exists the point where
the changed motion OF the rapids has been observed and
that through II the river has found Its TO the under
| living sbales and cut subterranean passage
| Should the undermined ledge Of the Horseshoe give
way the Falls Will perhaps recede at step greater
distance they have been borne back by the wearing
of two or three centuries Sir VIM Lyell estimates the
average recession recent periods TO have about
foot year IL certain that considerable change In
the situation VI the Falls thas taken place since Father