The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-22

of land is being brought under cuItfva-
ton. which absorbs more rainfall and con-
sequently 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
from the sun.
The meteorological cause for Changing
lake levels and the causes which come
from an increasing population will doubt
less continue and cannot probably be con-
trolled. But there are artificial causes
which are likely to influence lake levels
seriously unless care Is taken TO regulate
and check them. Among these causes
are the Chicago drainage, canal the pro-
Ject for cutting a ship canal between
Lakes Erie and ST. Clair and the plan
of cutting fourteen-foot channel through
out 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 100000 cubic feet of water per min
ute from Lake Michigan. and ultimately
double that amount The ship canal he
tween Lakes st. Clair and Erie, as pro-
jected, will be twenty-one feet deep and
seventy-two feet wide at the bottom. ana
TO supply II will require an additional
drainage OF water from Lakes Huron ana
Michigan, and consequently from Lake SUI
perior. The enlargement of the Welland
lowering the level Of Lake Erie. ana N
the channel of the st. Lawrence river Is
deepened so as 20 admit larger steamers
and more of them to the lake trade an in
creased demand viii be made for water
from the lakes and a further decline IN
ooth Lake Erie and Ontario Is probable.
This constant drainage can not 20 on
without materially lowering the level of
water In every one Of the great chain or
lake.. But as commerce demands thia
drainage Il will probably continue. and
the question Is whether the harm done
can be counteracted IN any practicable
manner The only feasible plan Is the one
proposed OF erecting dams al the outicts
OF tho great lakes and so keeping the lev
els al the desired hight. This plan Mas
been suggested many times, and was g.
riously considered In 1896, when the low
water In the lakes made some OF the har-
bors almost inaccessible. Another argu-
ment In its favor Is the constantly In
creasing size OF lake steamers which re-
quire a greater depth OF water. The Man
II intelligently discussed by w A Jones
In the May number Of the "Fnrineerlno
Magazine" who would occupy the outlet
Of Lakes Superior Huron, Erie and On-
tario with great dams having ample dis
charge capacity controlled by movable
gates" Eminent engineers have deciar-
ed the idea entirely practicable.
That scrupulous care must be taken TO
preserve the lake route OF commerce ID
clear 90 every ono who understands the
immensely OF the traffic which passes that
way. That commerce amounted la 1895 to
about b.oO,00 tons, valued az 100000 .0o0.
and Il u constantly increasing The value
OF the lake route IL shown In anofhcr
way. II once cost &c to carry a buahel OF
wheat from Chicago TO the Atlantic sea-
board by the lake route. whereas now tho
cost Is less than Sc. This makes the pre-
scryation OF the water route a question
Of national moment. the treatment OF
which demands the highest technical skill