The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-17
Empting the Great Lakes.

empting the Great Lakes.
couple of scientists have been airing
their theories before the Convention of
American Scientists at Detroit during the
last week in papers predicting some such
catastrophe for the cities OF Detroit and
Chicago as befen Sodom and Gomorran,
though not through the same agencies, nor
do they intimate that it will be for TIE
same cause. The basis OF their theory Is
that there has been going on for centuries
rise in the shore lines Of the lake basin
to the north and northwest. with a relative
depression or subsistence in the south ana
southwest, that viii ultimately nave the
effect Of turning the iow OF the upper iakes,
Erie included. into the Mississippi. THESE
changes, il is claimed, are all OF one sort
and affect the whole lake basin-the relative
elevation and subsistence at two points
hundred miles apart being at the rate OF
five inches in a century, the fitting process
being invariably towards the south and
southwest.
AS a result Of these surface changes II
is maintained by one OF these theorists
CDR. J. W. Spencer Of Washington that
IN the course OF time Niagara VIII cease
TO exist entirely. as all the waters Of the
great lakes will be turned over Chicago and
drained into the Mississippi" and this the
DRY appears TO have the approval OF Pro-
lessor G. K. Gilbert, another member or
the convention. AS 10 the final effect or
these changes on Chicago and the country
adjacent to 1t Professor Gilbert IS reported
as saying:
1T is especially important at Chicago, be-
cause that city stands on a low plain near
the level Of Lake Michigan. and the tilt
| ing Of the land makes the lake gradually
ercroach on the plain. The mean level OF
the lake rises at Chicago about ten incAes
in a century
In further elucidation OF his theory Dr.
Spencer is reported to have predicted that
Unless the authorities of Chicago and
Detroit made preparations for this chanse
a catastrophe a thousand times more awful
than the Jamestown disaster would occur
He said that it was high time for the city
fathers of Detroit and Chicago TO begin
raising the level of their streets by dozens
and hundreds of feet
These theories open a wide field for spec
ulation and play of the imagination, says
the Chicago Tribune Startling as they ap-
pear at first sight, il may afford some con-
ISOLATION to the present generation to know
that the process is to be gradual and that
the climax will not be reached for some
thing like three thousand years. Then,
again, we are told that Detroit is to go FIRST,
which may fiatter the vanity of that ambi-
t.ous little city somewhat, though 1t Will
scarcely tend 10 advance the price OF real
estate II anything could hasten the ca
astrophe for Chicago it would probably be
the multiplication OF "skyscrapers." for
which there has been such a rage during
the last few years.
In view of the consequences foreshad-
owed the warning given TO the cities OF De-
troit and Chicago would have been more
valuable II ii had been accompanied by
some practical instruction as to the man
ner in which a subsistence OF hundreds OF
feet might be counteracted. On this point
they are singularly silent, though appar-
entity conscious of the momentous conse-
ouences of their message TO the localities
interested. But even that may be accom-
plshed by some such enterprise as Chicago
has displayed in building Up her streets in
the last generation. And, if necessary. she
could no doubt build a new city on the
SUBMITS of the skyscrapers-a task not one
whit more difficult than what has been ac-
conplished since the great fire IN 1S11.
But. after all, who's afraid? Conced.ng
that the theories Of these scientists are cor
rect-though they are not sustained by the
subsistence OF the water in Lake Michi-
gan in the last fifty years-what assurance
have they that geological conditions may
rot change from the time they have set
for the final catastrophe? The rainfall has
been diminished by the denudation of the
country of its forests. Then, again. the
great Chicago Drainage Canal now ap-
preaching OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to carry OIL
at least 10000 cubic feet of the surplus
waters of Lake Michigan in a m:nute-wili
tend TO avert the very calamity predicted
OF course. the greater pressure of surplus
waters the larger would be the flow.
But. ''if worst comes 10 worst, chicago
has not only shown her ability TO elevate
herself out of the mud in former years,
but could in the time named protect he self
by dixie and Portland cement wall. The
city can be approached by entertainments
and elevated railways, and here a new
Venice could be built that would command
the commerce. not only OF the lakes and
the Gulf of Mexico, but OF ricn and pros
nerous Alaska. including the klondike gold
region. The ship canal problem would be
successfully solved; Chicago would have
direct water communication with Europe
and Asia by way OF the Mississippi and
Nicaragua canal. and, though sitting IN
Tie very heart of the continent, would be
the grand entrepot for the snip OF al ma
.ions The possibilities are almost too large
for cor1prehension, but the field has been
o,anes m by the scientists at Detroit.