The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-24
is CALIFORNIA RIsINGs
An Inquiry Into the Movements of
It's Pacific Coast.

It's Pacific Coast.
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Prof G. K. Gilbert, of the United States
Geological Survey. arrived in the city yes
terday from Washington and to-day will
begin work of Importance on this coast,
extending from Seattle to San Diego, Cal
His mission is to ascertain whether or not
the Pacific coast is sinking into the Pa
cific ocean, or, on the other hand, If II has
risen out Of the ocean to any extent.
The sea coast, all the world over either
rises or falls and on the work of this de-
partment of the government and the data
gathered many of the greatest engineer
ing enterprises are inaugurated Prof
Gilbert returned from Alaska two weeks
ago, where he went with the Hartman
party. On communicating with the de-
partment he was assigned to this station.
1t was Prof. Gilbert who, two years ago,
made a geological survey of the great
lakes and found that while the land Dor
dering on some portions OF the lakes had
come up out Of the water the lowlands,
upon which the city of Chicago Is built,
are sinking at the rate of one foot in a
century II this state Of affairs continues
It will only be a matter of time until CHI
cago is under water, as the land is barely
time. While this has not heretofore been
given any extended publicity, engineers OF
the great city by the lakes are already at
work, it is said, to devise ways and means
whereby the inundation of the city can
be prevented.
Ano her work which the department has
completed was that under the direction of
Prof Cook, Of New Jersey who during
his researches discovered that the shore
of New Jersey was sinking at the rate of
two feet every century. The district of
ckensack, N. j., was, four hundred
years ago an immense cedar forest To-
day IL is threatened with inundatio with
in a few years. Already the salt water.
rising where once stood the grand forest
has killed the trees, and unless measures
are taken at once the worst may come to
pass. Other distr cts on the Atlantic coast
are in similar condition, although none
so bad, and there is no need for immedia e
alarm.
Regarding the Pacific coast Prof. Gilbert
says
"For the last week have been at work
in the Columbia Valley as far as the Cas-
cades. found some interesting data, which
however, am not at liberty to make pub
lic In fact, l must go further before any,
thing can be said. ] do not think the "a
cihc coast will prove as bad as the At'un-
tic, for the reason that the water front
lana - hl&nef. Inc west mas not been
settled very long, and consequently we
have at present no data regarding il, snd
do not know whether 1t is sinking or u.s.
ing. If sinking, then something must be
done TO protect what marsh ard aowland
you have here, or II win ultimately 20 TN
der the ocean. On account Of the nieh
coasts, the influences here would nor be
so great.
1T rarely happens mat you can toll en-
first inves igat on whether the land Is 90
ing up or down. There must be a record
Of the conditions OF tide ana land from
time to time. To tell whe her the land is
rising or not is not difficult. When this Is
the case the shore line and beach line re
cede. The waves consequently have re-
coded, and Il is much easier There has
never been any survey taken OF the Paciac
coast as yet, but from now on there VIII
be from time o time.
This scientific research tas fer its sb-
ject The protcc ion Of coast property, ana
Is OF valu 0 large engineering ent srOii es
II viii remain at work here unit Octo e.
and then return 70 Washington. ! do not
expect 10 complete my work as Far as
Southern California, by that time, put II
viii be taken Up later"