New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-24
CHANGES OF COAST LEVEL.

If one may believe the story which comes
by cable from the Sea of Azov, the shallowness
of that lagoon is increasing in n fashion that
will prove q serious detriment to commerce.
This branch of the Black Sea has long been
notorious for the scanty depth of water in il.
Access to the principal port there, Taganrog,
has always been difficult, and now it promises
TO become impossible by vessels Of any size.
Hitherto it has often been necessary to carry
freight out on barges ten or twelve miles from
the town to put it on board ships. Even that
expedent promises TO prove unavailing.
Troubles of this kind may result from any
one of at least three causes 1t has been OBJ
served on Lake Erie that a strong westerly or
easterly wind will occasionally bank up the
water at one end and create n corresponding
subsistence at the other. Such an effect is only
temporary. No doubt the Sea of Azov suffers
from the same influence at times but probably
not to the same degree Sediment brought down
by river forms not only detas. but bars and
shoals Also at a considerable distance from the
mouth of the stream. The Don, which empties
into the AZov. may possibly continue to act in
this manner as it has done in the past Again,
in various parts of the world geologic influences
at work. either lifting or depressing long
lines of coast. Boston has some reason to sus-
pect that in the last three-quarters of century
her site has sunk about nine and 4 half inches.
In recent issue of The Engineering Record"
George w futile declared that the same thing
is going on around New-York City, at the rate
Of 1.43 feet n century. The operation OF the
same cause in the past is strkngy illustrated
by the present position Of the lower Hudson.
The channel of that stream can be traced under
water 10 a distance of over one hundred miles
from this city. Elsewhere the movement is in
the opposite direction. Without specific evil
dence it will not do to assume that any part
of the coast of Russia is emerging, like Venus
from the sea, but such an experience is alto
gether possible
Though the effects OF an uplift are different
from those Of subsistence, both may well prove
disastrous Where city already lies on n low
level, like Galveston going down four or five
feet more would be a serious matter That for
instance, is the fate that Professor G. X Gil
bert predicts for Chicago a few thousand years
hence. For the injury thus done to real estate
the improved depth of water in an adjacent
harbor would not be much OF compensate
On the other hand, if the region were raised
instead of lowered. little harm would be OBJ
served Oh land, but port situated as Taganroc
is might be ruined The evil might be over
come by dredging. if the distance to deep water
We're short In the present case ii would proba-
or twenty miles in length. If Russia had popu-
lar form Of government it might be easy to get
an item into the river and harbor appropria-
ton bill for this purpose. Sc long as other ports
on the Black Sea, notably Odessa, are unaf-
fected, though, the Car may not deem il worth
while 10 come TO the rescue
In the paper Of Mr.. futile already referred to
some interesting facts are presented relative to
the effect of wind upon water level In the
winter the majority of breezes blow off shore
and consequently the tides do not rise quite so
high as in summer, when the general tendency
Is from sea TO land The winds result from the
position Of areas of high barometric pressure
which show Il preference for the ocean in sum-
mer and for the continent in winter Besides
these seasonal changes Mr.. futile also thinks
lie detects cycle extending through period
of eight years. He fesls greater confidence in
lis existence from the fact that lie has Included
much foreign data well as American in his
computation YerificatioD of this last impress