New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27
4 stOT1y SETTLING SEABOARD.

Il
The scientists are at il again. They are try
ing to scare the entire Atlantic seaboard from
Cane Cod to the Caroinas out of It's boots-ln
case scaboards wear boOts-by spreading the
reDort that 1t is settling. Settling slowly but
settling surely and continuously, 30 tnat' IN the
distressing words Of The NeCOWY Jo"Fa"t'
&" il is only question of time when the greatest
city on the continent Will be submerged
This in All conscience sake is bad enough news
to be brought to the attention OF nervous
New Yorker who loves his city and his nome
and objects to the nasty damp feeling
that goes with being submerged Bnt
The ,JOnynGl makes bad worse by
adding that "a great many people on the south
western shore OF Lake Michigan have always
"mamtained that Chicago IS bound to be the
metropolis OF the future" Obviously the
reflection that Chicago is SO seltiShly intent
upon being the metropolis of the future that
If would stand stolidly by and see the entire
Atlantic seaboard settle without organizing
itself into lie-saving station in behalf OF
the submerged island Of Manhattan adds to
the horror of the prospect which the people OF
the Atlantic seaboard now have to face. How
ever, we cannot but regard the report as libel
upon Chicago. New-York helped save her
from fire and we believe she would scOrn to see
us perish by getting TOO much water IN ours
without forwarding dams, dykes and sub
marine diving bells to our assistance.
And there is another solid comfort for the
slowly settling Atlantic seabOard, including
1.-THE greatest city on the cOntinent"-that Is the
realization of the fact that it i ga question of
timen when the casualty is going to get in its
effective work. \ question OF time is the most
elastic term known TO the children OF men,
When Mcthusclah put on his first swaddling
clothes it was only question of time when his
funeral would be held. Sometimes question
of time Is a question OF such an exceedingly
large quantity of time that for all practical
purposes it is a question Of eternity. one Of
the most eminent biologists OF the United
States has expressed the opinion that the subsi-
dcnce of the coast line is at the rate Of
not more than quarter OF an inch Il
year. Other biologists OF good repute say
an eighth of an inch. These figures are well
calculated t. rclsSurc not only the New l oTkcr
of to-day but his children and his chidren's
children for untold generations. The last
trump is likely to sound before the Atlantic
scab0ard is drowned ont
P.S.-Spclking of a settling coast line, we feel
il to be only our fratcrnal duty to warn Chicago
of a menace to her prosperity and longevity
of which SO may not be taking heed. The
menace is Lake Michigan. At present that
great body of restless water is slowly but
surely encroachIng upon the shores OF NlScon-
sin. Within n comparatively few years Racine,
" ne nell city" of the State, has lost a
section of one of its avenues by the rcssiless
impact Of the waves of the lake. Other places
on the shore tell the same story. Now 1t may
be only a question OF time when Lake
Michigan in obedience to some mysterious law,
will suspend It's assault upon Wisconsin and
beat against Che go's shore line. Let this
happen and then it viii be only another ques-
ton of time when Chicago will be cncroachcd
out of existence. But it is with this Chicago
peril. like the related one which New \ ork
faces with comparative scrcnlty-lt IL not
imminent enough to have m appreciate effect
on the real estate market.