The Lamar register., 1897-06-12
WALLED LAKES IN THE WEST
The Mysterious Constructions Attributed
to the Action of lee.

When the Western country was hrst sci
tied the newcomers, unaecustonled 70 the
ind many OF them walled along parts OF the
shore and some completely about their Dor
ders.. These walls are constructed 9f the
boulders common everywhere. laid dry
or bedded with earth, pf more or less regl-
larity, with no regard TO the size or shape
of the stones, except that they Mt well and
are 50 placed as TO maintain their equllib-
rum that Is. stand hrm, says the Mllwau-
kee WISCONSIN, Journal Several lakes are
known whose shores are thus walled all
around with the mechanical perfection be
longing to the eyclopian period, The walls
are banked up with earth on the land side
This bank frequently has trees & gr5wins g,ea on
the keenest curiosity among the early tray
elers. This curiosity Is not yet dead Qnls
a part OF Elkhart lake. and the subject has
got into local papers with brief proper ex-
In early university days when the boys
went In swimming. instead OF bathing, IN
boulders from which they were wont 70
spring into the water. Some OF these were
OF tons weight, some projected above tue
every one was known To the swimmers. II
was found the next season that they had 10
be located over again, having changed po-
sitlon during the winter Weight made no
difference; they all had to move. II was
them shoreward whenever 1t could reach
them. But as the bank there was Steep. al
the foot OF the blum, they slid or worked
back more or less. In places. however riies
were piled on the sh1re, as where University
drive comes to the beach.
When the Milwaukee and WatertoWn
plank road was made Il skirted Dconomo
voc lake. There lake wall there VI
modest prefenSiuus, and this was made part
OF the bank holding the rnadbed- The ue&t
season IL found the wall had been
showed under the roadhed AS 10 lifi the
plank away from the lake. To a boy Of an
lnquirtng turn % mind the whole operation
was plain The expansion Of the ice had
done II. The bank there was slopiug, quite
30: II was easy for this great force 10 slide
the wall along. AT Madison however muck
II might slide the bouiiers against the
blun, 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 under
the other. and yet not let them fall back.
you win have the conditions for lake wall
The stones In this process not rightly bal
nDeed Will fall one aide or the other; those
balanced will retain their places. Those
falling Into the water will have TO try
again till they nre rightly placed and re
main. Meanwhile the whole structure has
been pushed back tiIl the force aud resist
uucr are egunliz-sl. making the bank Of
earth behind. which In turn helps sustain
the wall. The water should shOai slowly. -
to bring many rocks within reach OF the
lee, Time. then only Il necessary to build
the wall, and the operation viii cedse wheu
all the rocks have been worked Into the wall
and the increased shualing provides friction
enough 10 cheek the Ice. The wall then be.
comes permanent. and the forest covers the
strange work with Its glory.