The state herald., 1897-06-11
WALLED LAKES IN THE WEST.
The Mysterious Constructions Attributed
to the Action of Ice.

When the Western country was first set
tied the newcomers, nnaccllst0med 70 tne
glacial lakes of the West were nstonlsheu 10
Ind many Of them walled along parts OF the
shore and some completely about their bor.
ders These walls are constructed 81 the
bouders so common everywhere. laid dry
or bcdded with earth, of more or less regu-
larity, with no regard to the size or shape
of the stones, except that they mt we'll ana
are so placed AS TO maintain their equlllb'
rium--that Is, stand firm, says the Milwau.
kee (Wisconsin) journal. Several lakes are
known whose shores, are thus walled an
around with the mechanical perfection be-
longing TO the cyclopan period. The walls
generally have II slope from the lake, and
nre banked up with earth on the land side.
This bank frequently has trees growing on
II. All this Is very wonderful, aud excited
the keemest curiosity among the early tray
clers. This curiosity is not yet dead Only
recently 1t has questioned the walls along
part OF Elkhart lake. and the subject has
got into local papers with brief proper ex-
PLANTATION.
In early university days, when the boys
went In swimming instead OF bathing, In
Lake Mendoza, there We're certain large
boulders from which they We're wont to
spring into the water. Some of these were
of tons weight, some projected above the
water. and some were under The place OF
every one was known to the swimmers 1t
was found the next season that they had to
be located over again, having changed po-
sltlon during the winter. Weight made no
plain to see that the Ice did 1t. crowding
them shorewnrd whenever 1t could reach
them. But as the bank there was steep, at
the foot Of the blum, they slid or worked
back more or less. In places, however, they
were piled on the shore, as where University
drive comes to the beach.
When the Milwaukee and Watertown
plank road was made II skirted Oconomo.
voc lake. There was lake wall there OF
modest pretensions. and this was made part
OF the bank holding the roadbed. The next
season 1t was found the wall had been
showed under the roadbcd NO as to lift the
plank away from the lake. To n boy OF nn
inquirlng turn Of mind the whole operation
was plain. The expansion of the Ice had
done 1t. The bank there was sloping. quite
so; II was easy for this great force to slide
the wall along. AT Madison, however much
II might slide the bonldcrs against the
blum they fell back into the water.
Now suppose the slope to be Just the right
angle between these two. that the force
would lift the stones by sliding one under
the other, and yet not let them fall back,
You will have the conditions for n lake wall
The stones In this process not rightly bal.
anced will fall one side or the other: those
balanced will retain their places. Those
falling into the water will have to try
again III they are rightly placed and re-
main. Meanwhile the whole structure has
been pushed back till the force and resist
ance are epunltzed, making the bank Of
earth behind, which In turn helps sustain
as to bring many rocks within reach OF the
Ice. Time, then. only is necessary TO build
the wall and the operation will CEASE when
all the rocks have been worked into the wall
and the Increased slIoaline provides friction
enough to check the lee. The wall then he
comes permanent. and the forest covers the
strange work with Its glory.