The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
THE GREAT LAKES.
Natural and Artificial Causes Affect
ing These Bodies of Water.
prase


Reports from the great fresh water lakes
are to the effect that their level is much
above what it was last year at this season.
Fishermen on Lake Ontario, for instance,
claim that the water of that lake is eigh-
teen inches higher than it was in May,
1896, and three feet above the level of last
summer This increased volume of water
is doubtless due to the melting of the
great body of snow which fell last winter
on the drainage area of these basins, and
TO the abundant rains of the spring. The
same heavy precipitation elsewhere has
caused the greatest floods in the Missis-
sippi river that this generation has known.
Two years ago, in 1885, the level OF the
lakes was extraordinarily low, and much
apprehension was felt lest a permanent
change had taken place and that hereafter
lower level of water would be the rule.
This condition. however, was easily at
tributable to the dryness of the season,
a much smaller quantity of water having
fallen over the drainage area than the
average The level of the lakes is known
to oScillate from year TO year, but there
IS no trustworthy data on which to base
calculation in the matter. The conditions
are constantly changing also. n larger
area of land is being brought under Gull
tivation which absorbs more rainfall and
conseouentIv less runs off into the creeks
and streams which help to feed the lakes.
More forests are also being cut down, and
a larger surface exposed to evaporation
The meteorological cause for changing
lake levels and the causes which come from
an increasing population Will doubtless con-
tinue and cannot probably be controlled
But there are artificial causes which are
likely to influence lake levels seriously I'M
less care is taken to regulate and check
them Among these causes are the Chicago
drainage canal, the project for cutting a
ship canal between Lakes Erie and st. Clair
and the plan of cutting a fourteen-foot
channel throughout the whole length OF the
St. Lawrence river. There are other
schemes but these are the most important
The Chicago drainage canal will, as soon as
finished, take BOG, 900 cubic feet of water per
minute from Lake Michigan, and ultimately
t1af Ghi al ha-
tween Lakes St Clair and Erie, as project
ed will be twenty-one feet deep and sew
enty-two feet wide at the bottom, and to
supply it will require an additional drain
age of water from Lakes Huron and Mich
igan, and consequently from Lake Superior
The enlargement of the Welland canal has
already had some effect in lowering the
levels of Lake Erie, and If the channel of
the st. Lawrence river is deepened so as to
admit larger steamers and more of them
TO the lake trade. an increased demand will
be made for water from the lakes and a
further decline in both Lakes Erie and
This constant drainage cannot go on with
out materially lowering the level OF water
in every one of the great chain of lakess
But as commerce demands this drainage,
it will probably continue, and the question
is whether the harm done can be counter
acted in any practicable manner. The only
feasible plan Is the one proposed of erect
ing dams at the outlets of the great lakes,
and so keeping the levels at the desired
height. This plan has been suggested many
times and was seriously considered in 1885,
when the low water in the lakes made
some of the harbors almost inaccessible An
other argument in it's TaVor IS the con-
stantly increasing size OF lake steamers.
which require a greater depth of water.
The plan is intelligently discussed by w
A. Jones in the May number of the Engi-
neering Magazine, who would occupy the
outlet of Lake Superior. Huron, Erie and
Ontario with great dams having ample dis
charge capacity, controlled by movable
gates. Prominent engineers have declared
the idea entirely practicable.
preserve the lake route of commerce Is
clear to every one who understands the