The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-07-26

of resisting erosion to very consider
able degree. As aforesaid, the strata
Immediately underlying it are compara.
lively soft and yield easily to the action
Nof frost and spray. They gradually
crumbl le away, and the superintendent
rock, being therefore pressed by the
water above and left unsupported be-
low, falls in huge masses from time to
time into the. boiling caldron be-
meath. This process continued from
day to day and year to year is con-
tinually altering the appearance of the
falls.
= The rate Of retrogression is q matter
of much dispute. In fact, from the
causes alluded to, it is very irregular.
The Canadian or Horseshoe fall receded
FIVE feet during the year 1867, at a
point of greatest erosion. The average,
for q distance Of more than two thirds
of its front, was about three feet. On
either side of this space its yetrogression
varied from two feet togO. Since then
(now nearly three years1 their total re-
PROGRESSION along the /" front" alluded
to does not exceed six feet. This
would seem to indicate that the present
rate of retrogression is very irregular
and less than three feet per annum.
We ascertained those facts by taking
points along the front of the precipice
and driving mon pins into the ground
at various Places, in Goat Island and on
the Canadian shore, these pins leach
set consisting of three rods) being set
in line with each other, and with the
points aforesaid, on the verge of the
precipice. Some of the pins were re-
moved, but from those remaining, max
ing due allowance for the variations in
the volume of water, we were enabled
to come to the foregoing conclusion.
The volume of water passing over the
precipice is much thicker, or deeper,
than it was lin 1868 or 1861, yet the
gross height of the water and preci-
pice remains unaltered. This would
seem to indicate that the river bed has
in the mean time suffered from
erosion. Sir Charles Lyell is of opinion
mile in 5000 years. Our own investiga-
tions lead US TO believe that had Sir
Charles said 10000 years he would be
much nearer the truth. We are in
clined to believe that about 10000
years irxve now elapsed since they fell
over the precipice at Queenston, and
that 100000 more will elapse ere they
will reach Lake Erie, the distance from
their present site to Queenston being
seven miles, and the distance to Lake
Erie being about twenty. The future
rate of retrogression will be less than
that Of the first. f@.
The retrogression of the American
Falls has been remarka BILE in one or two
places, but with these EXCEPTIONS it is
= 'nahersiaaat I'm about ,O0e years the ,sur win
have passed the "three sisters" on the
one side and the site of Mr.. Street, NJ.
P, on the other. They will then be at
the site of the rapids, and although the
sea level of the precipice will be higher
than ut present, yet will the falls be
lower. The gorge or ravinc will be
| formed along the Canadian shore. It's
future site is we'll marked at present.
| II Is much lower than the bed of the
river elsewhere, although, strange to
say, the waters are much higher than
| on either side. The rapidity of the
current neutralizes, to certain extent,
the tendency of the waters to seek
their own level. The waters in this
fchannel, from the rapids, are literally
spilled up in heaps" SO that their aver
age height is six inches greater than
| that of those less subject to the potent
influence of the currents. As the iric.
ton Of the stream grooves out and
Edeepens the channel, and as the Horse
shoe Fall recedes, the rush of water 10
the Canada Falls will become greater
and greater, and at last the American
Falls will disappear altogether. Three
thousand years hence there will be but
one cataract, and its height will be less
than that OF the modern falls.
! Certainly appearances in the face and
surface of the rocks, on either side oi
the present gorge, seem to indicate that
since the falls came into being theii
number from time TO time varied from
one TO half a dozen. There are three
at present, including the Luna Fall
and when Niagara was first discovered
in 1878 by Father Hennepin, there
we're four cataracts. At the time Q
fourth fall thundered over the preci
pice between the present margin and
the site of the museum, on the Canada
side. Table Rock was a part of the
precipice. About eight thousand year,
ago the river fell in one unbroken
sheet, over precipice $50 feet high
into what is now called the whirlpool
Receding from this place. they divided
in twain, but again united, when they
had reached a point about half mile
iabove the Suspension Bridge. During
all this time the site of the town of Mag
ara Falls was covered with water. The
| river was shallow and broad, and iti
current comparatively speaking, no
livery rapid. Goat Island was then un
der water, and the adjacent shores wer'
i densely wooded. The current that day
heaped huge piles of nd and drift
wood on the Canadian shore. /
swept over the plateau on either sid'
of the present gorge and fell in "a cir
/ cular sheet OF water" over the precipic'
which was then situate near the site o
Bender's Cave, half mile from Ciiftol
bridge. As the river eat its way back
ward. the falls became wider and Of les
height, but the channel became deppe
and the current more rapid. Goat lslant
and the site of the Niagara Falls city
gradually appeared above the waters
and were soon decked with trees, etc
Goat Island at that time was Q portion
OF the main land. The river gradual
4 receded until it had passed the site 9
Biddle's stairs-sbout the center q
Goat Island. About that time an tir
/ usual severe winter or series Of winter
!, occurred. In the spring the channs
above the falls became blocked upwit
ice; HGull Island" and o few smalle
4" "contreres" forming the resting points