Worcester daily spy., 1872-05-10

LAKE ERIE FILLING UP.-A correspondent
of the Boston Globe says: But intensely as
enjoy this lake view and confidently as expect
20 have my lake, my river, in heaven, | propose
to show reasons for believing that Lake Erie
the path of mighty commerce, and the admi-
ration Of the traveller and the dweer on its
Shore-wi not continue always. The time will
doubtless come when it will be a vast marsh
even when it will be the home of a teeming
population, and covered with vineyards and
orchards and thriving cities. A careful survey
has shown that while La'e Michigan has an
average depth of 1900 feet, Lake Superior of 800
feet, and Lake Ontario of 500 feet, Lake Erie has
an average depth Of 100 feet. The upper part
above Point Pelle island has an average depth
Of but thirty feet The middle position between
Pele island and Long Point is but 60 feet deep,
while the lower part below Long Point averages
only 120 feet. The bottom of the lake is quite
level, and composed of soft clay. This clay is
constantly accumulating, from sediment carried
down by tributary streams The south shore
IS composed OF easily dsintegrating blue, gray
and olive shoals of gray sandstone. The west
ern and northern coasts are made up of lime
stone of the Heidelberg group, which quickly
yields to the action OF the waves. Consequently
both shores constantly are contributing 10 fill
up the bed OF the lake. The work is not rapid,
but ii is as certain as fate.
There are frequent land slides on this shore,
which are quickly taken up and deposited in
sediment beneath the blue waters. Indeed
along the shore, especially after a storm, the
water can hardly be called blue. II is brown as
far as the eye can reach, with the clay washed
down from the hills and taken up along the
shore. Let this process cOntinue-and there is
nothing to prevent it-and the time must come
when the upper part Ol the lake, which is scarce
ly nayigable now in rough weather, will cease
TO be nayigable except through a very narrow
channel, when even the middle and lower por-
tioDs will cease to be covered with white sails,
and become vast marsh where the wild alder
and swamp whortleberry will grow. Even if
this did not come through the filling up process,
Niagara is slowly but surely cutting a ditch
that will one day drain Lake Erie. Every OBJ
serving man who has visited the great cataract
knows that 1t has cut its way up from Lake On
tario to its present position. 1t is now many
feet further up the river than ii was the first
| time that | listened to its roar, and gazed en-
tranced upon its wonders The soft limestone
| tnat lies beneath the table rock" is constantly
dissolying aud the table rock" cracks and
| drops away
Mhen the cataract shall have worn its way
pack 70 tIe head Of the rapids, its progress will
~ Huch raster than 1t is now. Ii is easy to see
.nal IL VIII Que DAY reach the deep waters of the
Niagara ryer. Then Lake Erie win he effec I'm.
any GRAINED, and there will be only a deep river
moving through its central channel Then
Mhat tdlgglhg and boring there will he 10 And
the treasure mat has gone down in sinking
shlpe' ahu VIII YET go down. For of all the
great lakes, Erie, owing to It's shaIlo,Dnass o, W y
the most tfeacherous to the navigator 4 se
we're storm lashes its waters into the utmos,
fury, and woe to the luckless sailors who ANA
themselves on lee shore. So great is tbn ,on,
merce carried over this lake that there is scarce.
ly storm which does not find vessels in his
unfortun ate position.