The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-22
Stability Of Niagara.

Inc l0Qulrlng and specu alive visitor at
Niagara has read many items in the papers
aboutcbasges in the physical aspect "f rn-
falls, and from the appearance of the ir-
regular line of the American fall ard the
deep angle of the Horseshoe, he is apt To
imblbe erroneous notions in regard u the
rapidity of the change. He often supposes
that Ii he were to return here next wear.
and annually for years following, be would
be able to mark the progress of the catar-
act on its back ward journey u Buffalo, to
the extent of some feet. Bot this is err
roneous. The Oldest residents of the vi
cinity can see hardly suy appreciable diff
ference between the faifs as they are now,
and as they were fifty years ago. 1t is
true, that tie constant friction Of the water
loosens aud chafes away the limestone
rock at the edge of the fall bat the pro-
cess 10 so slow that it's effects cannot be
said to visibly alter the general appear
ance. At rare intervals great masses of
rock are detached, and piles of them may
be seen below, except of course, within the
horseshoe, where the water is of vast
depth, and the mist always hanging like q
curtain. Bot the general effect is always
the same. 1t is difficult for an old habitne
OF the place to point out any particular
feature in the whole face of the Niagar.
that is substantially different from what il
has been in the past. Biologists tell
that taking long series of years T."
gether, the rate of the recession may I've
u,
the stability of the present location for a
very long series of years past, thie seems,
alter all, little better than mere conjec-
ture.
The earliest visit to the falls Of which we
have any record was Father Hennepin's
wonder struck with the sight that he esti
mated their height at about four times the
| actual truth. He left q sketch of the
scene, showing their appearance at that
time, and 1t does not materially differ from
the views of Niagara at the present day,
excepting as to one feature, described as
follows: "There is q third fall from the
Canada side toward the east, facing the
line OF the main fall, and caused by a great
rock that turned the divided current in
this direction" In l75Oa Swede, one Klam,
visited this place and found that the great
rock bad fallen into the great stream. And
this is really the only marked change in the
| appearance of Niagara that can be discov-
cred from the first day it was known to white
men and this made no difference in the
| position Of the cataract. The rude skethes
ofthe French missionary exhibited the same
| Niagara which we see to-day, and appar-
emily in the same place. do not appre-
bend that our elaborate epgraviDgs Of the |
scene will lose much of their fidelity when |
examined two centuries hence. /. is uu-
questionable that at some time, Cyl les ago, J
the falls were seven miles north of their |
present position, and poured their waters
over the face Of the mountain ridge at
Lewiston /; and the best contemporary au- |
thorities agree that cycies hence they will |
have worn their way TO point abont fonr !
miles up the river, where, in the course of
other indefinite cycles, their character. will |
entirely change. The wearing away pro- !
Gees will then be confined entirely TO the |
crown of the fall 30 that after the lapse Of |
q sufficient number Of hundreds Of centuries |
there will be no cataract ut ALL but an i'm |
menee inclined plane, down the bed of
which the volume of water will shoot With |
an amazing velocity unknown to the rapids |
of the present Niagara.
These are the well founded speculations |
Of geology, which are supposed 60 be we'll |
known to every hotel keeper, haekman,
guide, and trinket seller here, and which |
are regarded by them with smiling COM
plRcency. They should be no less comfort |
ing to the general public of tourists and
sightseers. The stability of such grand
works of nature is not the least wonderful
of their attributes. Were Methusela him
self alive, and permitted to approach Mia
CARA by way of the Prospect park entrance
ION payment of twenty five ceDts), it
would be a great satisfaction to HIM to
know that he cOnld return in five or six hun-
dred years aud find no special change in
the appearance of the cataract and in
lees degree We may enjoy the came assur.
ance.