The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-03-06
WATER LEVEL IN THE LAKES.
Speculation cs 20 the Result of Opening
the Chicago Drainage Canal.

the Chicago Drainage Canal.
Tho probable effect of the opening Of
the Chicago drainage canal upon tho
water level of tho great lakes has been
the subject Of discussion ever since that
tremendous project took shape. A cry
of alarm was raised several years ago
when Il was announced that the diver.
sion Of water from Lake Michigan In
nnything like the quantity required to
I'LL the canal then being constructed
across Illinois to the Mississippi valley
would seriously interfere with tho navi-
CATION Of tho SC. Clair and Detroit riv-
ers and render 1t impossible for heavy
draft vessels to enter most Of the har-
bors on the lower lakes The Chicago
engineers have done their best ever since
to dispel that belief They have main
tanned that the taking from the lakes of
all the water that will ever be required
for tho canal will not lower the lake
level moro than three inches, and tho
Chicago newspapers have all Endorsed
tho opinions expressed by tho Chicago
engineers, as q matter of course.
Professor G. Frederick Wright of
Oberlin college, who has perhaps made q
more careful study of the geology and
geography of tho lake region than any
other man in the United States, does
not agree with tho Chicago engineers,
however. Professor Wright shows that
the quantity Of water required to bo
turned into tho drainage canal when IL
is first opened will be equal to about 8
per cent of tho quantity that now flows
over Niagara. When tho population of
Chicago reaches 1000, 900, the law un-
der which the canal was constructed
provides that the quantity of water
passing through IL shall be doubled.
That means that ut least 10 per cent rs
much water rs now passes over Niagara
will bo diverted from the lakes TO the
Mississippi Major Ruffner of the corps
OF engineers of tho United States army
estimates that when the drainage canal
is first opened tho result will be to lower
tho level Of Lakes Michigan, Huron and
Eric and tho connecting rivers ut least
nine inches, and that when tho canal is
operated to its full capacity tho fall in
the water Lowell will bo 18 inches. This,
Professor Wright says, may havo but
little effect in tho rainy season, but dur
ing tho late summer and autumn he Is
certain that it will seriously interfere
with navigation. Ho declares that tho
vessel owners and all who are interested
in tho commerce Of tho lakes should
realize tho danger and do all they can
TO avert it. AS preventive measure he
suggests that dam be constructed
across the lower end of Lake Superior
at tho $500, (which will raise the level
of that lako two feet and store enough
water during tho rainy season to supply
tho lower lakes during the late summer
and fall.
Professor Wright says that tho level
of tho lakes is such that If tho continent
were to dip 30 feet to tho west all the
water which now goes over Niagara
would flow over Illinois and into the
Mississippi, and II tho dip were 100 feet
to the north tho water of tho lakes
would go through Lake Nipissipg mot
the Ottawa river, and the Niagara
would become dry.
Certainly his suggestions are worthy
tho attention of lake men and vessel
owners, and an investigation should be
started to determine what the actual
effect of the opening of the Chicago ca
nal will be. Chicago ought not to bo
deprived Of this means of disposing of
its sewage, but If there is any way of
preventing such a serious interference
with the navigation of tho lower lakes
as is threatened action should be taken
at onco to avert it.-Cleveland Leader.