The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-05-26

PROBABILITIES, OF ITS DRYING Up.

"A correspondent of the Boston Glo1,
says: But intensely a. enjoy this lake
| view, propose to show reasons for believ.
ing that Lake Erie--the path Of mighty
commerce, and the admiration of the
traveller and the dweller on its shore-will
not continue always. The time win doubt.
less come when It will be q vast marsh-
even when it will be the home of q teemiup
poPniation, and covered with vineya ards
sno orchards and thriving cities. A careful
gan haa an average depth of 1900 feet.
Lake Sapssior Of 900 feet and Lake Ontario
OF SOO feet, Lake Erie has sn average deDth
o. i@o feet. The upper part above Point
. neiIe isiaad has 40 average depth Of but
t lily rect. TIE middle position between
G1eep, whf3e tho lower part, below Long
Point, averages only 100 feet. The bottom
OF the lake 10 quito level, and composed Of
soie clay. This clay 10 constantly accumu-
h ,a1ng irom sedinent carried down by tri-
posed Of easily disintegrating blue sray
and olive shales and gray sandstone. The
Western and northern coasts are made ND
OF Hmeseone Of the Heidelberg group,
which Quickly yields to the action Of tie
. wsssc; Cos;saasns'y both shores are con.
the lake. Tho work is not rapid, but it IL
a. certain ~ fate.
There are frequent land slides on this
snorc, Which are quickly taken up and de-
POSTED Ia sediment beneath the blue
:, waters, Indeed. alons the shore. esPeciel-
~ after . Storm the water can hardly Be !
called blue. II 10 brown as far a. che eye |
can reach, with the clay washed down !
from heaills and takan ap along the shore. !
Let this process continue-and tho time !
must come when tho upper part Of the lake,
which is scarcely navigabie now in rough
weather, will cease to be navigabls except
through q very narrow chanel, when even I
the middle and lower portions Will cease
to be covered with white tails, and become
q vast marsh where the swamp alder and I
wild whortleberry will grow. Even If this
did eG! not come through the filing up process
Niagara is slowly but surely emitting
ditch that will one day drain Lake Erie.
Every observing man who has visited the
great cataract knows that it has cut it's
way up from Lake Ontario to its present
position. 1t ia now many feet further up
the river than it was the frst time listen I
ca to its roar, and gazed entranced upon
Its wonders. The soft limestone that lies
beneath the "table rock'' is constantly dis
solving and then the liable rockn cracks
aud drops away.
When the cataract shall have worn it's
way back to the head Of the rapids, its pro-
gress will be much faster than it ia now.
1t is easy to see that it will one day reach
the deep waters of the Niagara river.
Then Lake Erie will be effectually drained,
and there will only be deep river flowing {
through it's central channel. Then what '
digging and boring there will be to find
the treasures that have gone down in
sinking ships and will yet 60 down. For t
Of all the great lakes, Erie, owing to its {
is the most treacherous to the {
navigator. A severe storm lashes it's waters t
INTO the utmost fury, and woe to the luck
ess sailors that find themselves on q lee
'hore. So great is the commerce carried
yer this lake, that there is scarcely a
torn which does not find vessels in this
position. p