The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-05
55()p%d
Discount

Powerful erosive forces at work be-
meath the earth's crust along the coast
line from Nova Scotia to Georgia and
as far inland as the Alleghanies will
ultimately convert that area into a
watery waste and the Atlantic will
spread it's waters where now New
York, Boston and other cities stand.
Recent joint Investigations by the
coast and geodetic survey and geolog-
ical survey have established the rather
startling fact that the Atlantic coast
line is sinking at the average rate of
one foot a century. In some sections
where the crust of the earth is of
marshy substance, especially along the
New Jersey coast the land is sinking
three feet every hundred years. More
over, the entire New England and
Eastern states up to the Allegheny
mountains are steadily subsiding I'M
der the action of subterranean forces.
Unless the movement ceases the time
will eventually come when the entire
affected area will be submerged.
]. r. Freeman, consulting member
and engineer of the New York board
on additional water supply and for
merly a member of the metropolitan
water board Of Massachusetts, made
report on the proposed Charles river
dam at Boston several days ago in
which he states that Boston is slowly
sinking into the sea, and that terri
tory in and about the Hub is appar-
emily subsiding at the rate Of one inch
in eight years, or one foot in each 100
years.
Mr.. Freeman's statement, when sub
mitted to experts in the coast and
geodetic survey and geological survey.
was confirmed, and it was ascertained
that systematic researches and inves-
LEGATIONS had been in progress which
show that the entire coast line is de-
clining below the sea level at the ratio
given by Mr.. Freeman. There are va
riations in the rate of sinking, but the
network Of so-called benches" estab-
lished by the coast survey from Maine
to the Carolinas registers a general
subsistence. Similar investigations
have been pursued in inland waters,
and the downward tendency of the
earths surface has been plainly estab-
liShed by measurements and researches
along Chesapeake and Delaware bays.
the Delaware, Hudson, Potomac and
Susquehanna rivers and other water
ways and inletS. These evidences,
based upon scientific investigation, are
confirmed by tangible changes in the
coast and river lines as well as by the
tidal variations.
Long Study of Subject.
Intensely interesting are the COM
pilationS of these bureaus, as well as
the private contributions upon the sub
ject. The machinery of the coast and
geodetic survey has been employed for
the definite purpose of determining the
changes in the earth's crust and how
much the coast line is sinking. The
geological survey co-operates and ex-
tends it's researches from the coast in
land. The result, as stated, is that the
fact is demonstrated that within
computable lapse of time the eastern
portion of the United States will have
been swallowed up by the Atlantic and
the map of North America will present
an altogether different appearance.
To fully comprehend the significance
of this eroSive movement, it is neces-
sary to recall the earliest geological
periods, from the development of the
old Appalachian mountains through the
successive periods wherein occurred
the glaciation of northern North Amer
lea and Europe.
1t is held that the same readjust-
ments of the earths crust which are In
process here are responsible for the
gradual sinking of the coast lines of
Holland, France and other European
countries.
There can be no doubt" said N. H.
Darton, of the Geological survey. who
has been making a special study of
this subject, that all the Eastern and
New England states as far inland as
Washington and as far south as the
Carolinas are undergoing a topogra-
phical and geological change. Investi-
cations along the coast from Maine
to South Carolina show that there Is
land below the sea level, which has
been going on for an indefinite period.
OF course, it is difficult to ascer-
tain definite figures because Of the
great range of years necessary to make
observations and because we cannot
rely upon registrations made one hun
dred years ago. 1t will require many
centuries before the sea line will en-
croach upon the cities. But there Is no
reason to believe that this subsistence
will not continue.
Washinston's Staff Submerged.
"There are many interesting records
of the fact that there is a general sink
ing Of land in the Eastern coast sec
ton. Some time ago it was ascertain
ed that Washington has been sinking
A staff used by George Washington on
the Potomac at Mount Vernon to reg
lister the sea level and water varia-
tons was found submerged. Likewise
the evidences have been many from in
land water points, notably In the Della
ware bay, Chesapeake bay, the Susque-
hanna river, Delaware river and other
waters, that land has been receding
steadily. At some points in Delaware
and New Jersey 1t Is even stated that
the decline has been as much as three
feet every century,
Otto III. Ttttmann, superintendent OF
the coast and geodetic survey, also