The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-22
WATER LEVEL IN THE LAKES.
Speculation as to the Result OF OpeninE
the Chicago Drainage Canal.

! CpCCAtALtOH ~ W liz ING8uIB Oh NDGn{nE
the Chicago Drainage Canal.
The probable effect of the opening of
the Chicago drainage canal upon the
water level 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
when it was announced that the diver
sion of water from Lake Michigan in
anything like tho quantity required to
Ill the canal then being constructed
across Illinois to the Mississippi valley
would seriously interfere with the navi-
CATION of the st. Clair and Detroit riv-
ers 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 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 the canal will not lower the lake
level more than three inches, and the
Chicago newspapers have all Endorsed
the opinions expressed by the Chicago
engineers, as a matter of course.
Professor G.. Frederick Wright of
Oberlin college, who has perhaps made a
more careful study of the geology and
geography of the lake region than any
other man in 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 {, 200, 600. the law un-
der which the canal was constructed
provides that the quantity of water
passing through 1t 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 its full capacity the fall in
the water level will be 10 inches. This,
Professor Wright says, may have but
little effect in the rainSseason, but dur.
ing the late summe and autumn he is
certain that it will seriously interfere
with navigation. He declares that the
vessel owners and all who are interested
in the commerce Of the lakes should
realize the danger and do all they can
to avert it. As a preventive measure he
suggests that a dam be constructed
across the lower end of Lake Superior
at the 800" 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 late summer
and fall.
Professor Wright says that the level
OF the lakes is such that if the continent
were to dip 30 feet to the west all the
water which now goes over Niagara
would flow over Illinois and into the
Mississippi, and il the dip We're 100 feet
to the north the water of the lakes
would go through Lake Nipissing mot
the Ottawa river, and the Niagara
would become dry.
Certainly his suggestions are worthy
the 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 be
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 the lower lakes
as is threatened action should be taken
at once to avert il. -Cleveland Leader.