San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-02
The Mystery OF the Great Lakes.

On Lake Superior, IN 1853, when
Alexander Mackenzie was at the Grand
Portage on the north shore opposite
Isle Royal, he mentions "a sudden fall
of the water, equal TO four feet, which
soon returned with rush, and contin-
ued to vibrate several hours" Whit.
ney and Foster, in their geological re-
port of the Upper Peninsula of Mich
gan, record that in the summer of 1884
the water above the falls ut the Sault
st. Mary, in calm day, suddenly fell
two aud one-half feet, and in half an
hour came surging back with great
velocity. The same thing happened at
the same place in 1912, below the falls ;
the current of the river rushing rapid
ly up stream toward the cataract.
The most remarkable rise of water
was recorded by DR.. Foster to have
been seen by him in August, 1916. He
says that on that day, when he was
coasting in III OPEN boat betwe, Copper
Harbor and Eagle River, he observed
the water to rise up fourth of a mile to
the northwest, to the hight of twenty
fec. 1t curled over like an immense
surge, crested with foam, ord swept to-
ward the shore, diminishing as it adj
vanced. The yoyageurs paused on
their oars, having first headed the boat
so as to cut the wave, II passed with
out doing us any injury, succeeded by
two or three swells, spent its force on
the shore, and the lake resumed it's
wonted tranquility" The lake was
calm, with clouds ut the northwest,
indicating that different currents of air
were moving in opposite directions.
In November, 1851, at Copper Har-
Dor, the water rose suddenly, in u per-
feet calm, one foot three inches, and at
another time two and one-half feet. At
the Sault Canal July 16,1S55, there was q
series of fluctuations during the day,
until maximum fall of two feet ten
inches was reached. Then the upward
movement commenced until the pre-
vious level was reached toward evening.
The wind changed during these fuc-
tuations from northwest to southeast.
At Superior City, September II, 1865,
the water of the lake fell twenty-five
inches within one hour, and within fif-
teen minutes rose twenty-five inches
above the ordinary level, making fifty
inches change in fifteen minutes. The
wind was blowing strong from the
northwest.
At Milwaukee, in April, 1858, huge
wave rushed into the river from the
lake, and retired as suddenly. Twenty
later the water returned in
two waves, and in few minutes re-
turned to its old level. The difference
in half or three-quarters of an hour
was full six feet.
A number of sudden fluctuations of
level are recorded on Lake Erie. Mr..
Taylor, an old settler of Rockport, is
quoted by Col. Whittlesey as stating
in 1911, about three miles west of
Rocky River, during calm, hot sum-
mer day, he ssw white-crested wave
approach rapidly toward the beach. 1t
carried a barrel Of salt several rods,
over what had been dry ground into a
ravine.
Col. Whittlesey says he has never
seen an intance of perfect quiescence
on the waters of North American lakes.
On a shelving sandy beach there is al
ways slight wave-like ripple, even
when the atmosphere appears to be
perfectly tranquil, but there never can
be thoroughly quiet atmosphere over
a large area of water. Until better
theory is found he adopts that of at
movement as the cause of
the undulations under consideration.
There is source of perpetual motion
in the atmosphere in the perpetual
presence of unequally heated areas.
Water is SO sensitive to aerial currents
that they cannot take place without
an effect upon the equlli-
brium of its surface. He shows that
all movements of flowing water are in
q wave-like or undulatory form, and
deduces by analogy, that movements
Of the atmosphere take the same form,
producing pulsations in the waters over
which they move On all shores there
is daily land and water breeze, aris-
ing from the unequal effect of solar
neat for that day, upon the land and
the water. AS these movements are
almost incessant, and the cause is ever
present, if it is granted that they fol-
ow the general law of undulations he
thinks we have in them an explanation
Of those low but regular pulsations,
which take place in the waters of all
seas and lakes.
Taking the oscillations together,
small and great, Col. Whittlesey says
he cause cannot be said to be demon
Itrated, but the best hypothesis is that
Of unequal atmospheric or barometric
pressure, sometimes in storms of wind
ind at others by unequal heat. |
It may add something to the sum OF
Information on the general subject of
connection with water levels
% say that after the foregoing was in
ype the London TelegTdph of January |