Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-08-22
OBSTINATE SENECA LAKE.

Frozen Owe. In Warm Weather and No
leo Whom It II Cold.
Seneca differs from nearly all Of Its
many sister lakes in this section of the
state in the matter Of Its seldom freez-
ing over. says the Rochester Democrat
and Chronicle. This is due to the great
depth Of the lake and the fact that 1t Is
fed largely by springs along It's shores,
and. as many believe. at its bottom.
During the summer season the lake
absorbs q vast amount OF heat. but
owing to the non-conducting proper
ties of water 1t is slow in throwing It
of in the winter. For this reason, OH
many cold winter mornings the lakes
surface is covered with vapor, which
indicates that the water Is warmer
than the atmosphere. This vapor is
always densest over tho deepest por
ttons Of the lake, showing that the
water along tho shores In the shallower
parts has. to some extent. become
colder. As the surface of the lake cools
the water gradually commingles with
that below. and finally tho whole body
Of tho lake becomes cooled. In addi-
ton, heavy body of snow melting in
the spring and flowing into tho lake.
especially in case Of freshet, tends
to cool the water and render the lake
liable to freezing II the surface Is not
too much disturbed by wind. For these
reasons tho lake sometimes freezes
over very late in the spring. even when
the temperature is from 15 degrees to
25 degrees above zero: as. for instance,
thin film of ice covered the lakes
surface on the mornings Of May 8, 1861,
May is. 1872, May 8. 1873. and April 30,
1884. On many mornings during the
last month and half the mercury hos
beon. down to zero or below, and at
Monterey one day last week the ther-
mometer registered so degrees below
zero, yet the lake has not sufficiently
cooled to freeze over. for no snow
water has run into 1t this season. In
toms cyclopedla states that 1t was
never known to be frozen over until
March 20. 1856, but. according to pub
lished statement Of the late Hon. WILL
liam c. Coon Burdett. he and party
Of about twenty skatcd across the lake
from Glen Eldridge to Watkins and
back on the morning Of Feb. 2s. 1855.
The ice was then five inches thick In
the middle Of the lake and was clear
and solid. On March 8. 1868, tho lake
again froGe over, and in 1876 for pc
riod Of four weeks and two days prior
to March IL It was frozen over go that
persons could cross it many miles from
the head. On Feb. 21. 1885. It froze
over from shore to shore out as far as
the eye could reach and four days To-
ter grand carnival was hold on the
Ice in the evening. About 1000 persons
assembled. coming from Elmira and
other places by train and from all the
surrounding country in sleighs. The
moon. nearly full, rode high in o cloud
less sky and the scene was one Of a
most inspiring nature. Chinese lam
terms and torchlights lent their charm
to the surroundings, while the glare Of
rockets and bombs lighted up the sky.
Hardlng's Cornet band Of Havana was
present and dancing and skating were
among the sports enjoyed. Jan. 16.
1898, an unusually early date, the head
Of the lake froze over from shore to
shore. out distance Of about twenty
rods. but the ice lasted only few days.
By observation many people have come
to expect the lake to freeze over once
In every ten years. and, according to
such q series, 1t should freeze this win
ter, for by reference to the dates men
toned above 1t will be seen that 1t
froze over in 1856. in 1868. In 1875 and
in 1885. i,Ii