Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-03-11
WATER LEVEL IN TIE LAKES.
Speculation as to tise Result of Opening
 tha Ghfcngo Iraissara rlnnaI

Speculation as to ffse Result of Opening
 the Chicago Drainage Canal.
 The probable effect of she opening of the Chicago drainage canal upon the water leyol of the great lakes has been the subject of discussion ever since that tremendous project took shape. A cry of alarm was raised several years ago whom it was announced that the diver sion of water from Lako Michigan in anything like the quantity required to fill the canal then being constructed across Illinois to the Mississippi valley would seriously interfere with thenavi- gation of the St Clair and Detroit riv- CTS and render it impossible for heavy draft vessels to enter most of the har- bors on the lower lakes The Chicago engineers have done their bestover since to dispel that belief They have main tained that the taking from the lakes of all the water that will ever be required for tho canal will not lower the lake level more than three inches, and the Chicago newspapers have all indorsed the opinions expressed by the Chicago engineers, as a matter of course.
 4OIoSsOI VI. T t6Q0ElOk WIIS4b Ol Oberlin college, who has perhaps made a more careful study of the geology and geography of the lake region than any other man ill the United States, does not agree with the Chicago engineers however. Professor Wright shows that the quantity of water required to be turned into the drainage canal when it is first opened will be equal to about 5 per cent of the quantity that now flows over Niagara. When the population of Chicago reaches ,, 900, GOO, the law un- der which the canal was constructed provides that the quantity of water passing through it shall be doubled. That means that at least 10 per cent as much water as now passes over Niagara will be diverted from the lakes to the Mississippi. Major Ruffner of the corps of engineers of the United States army | estimates that when the drainage canal is first opened the result will be to lower the level of Lakes Michigan. Huron and Erie and the connecting rivers at least nine inches, and that when the canal is operated to it's full capacity the fall in tho water level will be s18 inches. This, Professor Wright says, niay have but little effect in tho rainy season, but dur ing the late summer and autumn he ia certain that it will seriously interfere with navigation. He declares that the vessel owners and all who aeo interested in tho commerce of the lakes should realize the danger and do all they can to avert it. As preventive measure he suggests that q dam be constructed across the lower end of Lake Superior atthe "Soo, which will raise the level of that lake two feet and store enough water during the rainy season to supply the lower lakes during the lato summer and fall. =z=========
 Professor Wright says that the level of the lakes is such thatif the. continent wero to dip 90 feet to the west all the water which now goes over Niagara would flow over Illinois and into the Mississippi, and if the dip were 100 feet to the north the water of the lakes would go through Lake NipjssiDg inot the Ottawa river, and the Niagara would become dry.
 Certainly his suggestions are worthy the attention of lako 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 be deprived of this means of disposing of it's sewage, but if there is any way of preventing such I serious interference with the navigation of the lower lakes as is threatened action should be taken at once to avert it.-Cleyoland Leader