The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-05
insects Cost the Country
an Immense Sum YEARLY

corroborates the Freeman report, al
though he makes the reservation that
no definite calculations can be given
upon the basis of tidal variations reg
istered by the coast service. He said:
THE general Interpretation of these
phenomena is that there is change in
progress in the earth's crust, due to
driftings and establishments in the
body of the earth. 1 have seen Mr.,
Freeman's report, and although I can
not accord entirely with the view, 1t
has been generally admitted that there
Is a general subsistence of the coast
line. The question is more of a geo
logical one, and does not enter into our
Held of investigation. Nevertheless,
our tidal variations and the registra-
tons from the Benches as we call
them, seem to sustain this belief What
we term benches are the small forks
or copper staffs set at various points
from each other SO that bystheir rela-
tive positionaWe may be able to tell of
any shiftings of the land or coast
changes"
Tide Gauges Tell Story.
Leland P. Shidy, chief of the tidal
division Of the coast and geodetic sur
Vey likewise affirms that there is a
change in the coast line, extending as
far north as Nova Scotia, and as far
south as Georgia. Mr.. Shidy's deduc-
tons are the result of systematic In
vestigation by means of the tide
gauges, introduced in the coast service
by the government, as we'll as by the
tidal indicators. located at points on
the coast, similar to the automatic in
dicator at Fort Hamilton wharf, in
New York harber. and the indicator in
Delaware river, BY means of an arrow
pointed upward or downward, adjust
ing itself by means of an automatic
float, these show which way the tide
tends and how far it has risen or de-
clined
The most important results in con-
nection with coast line and land chang
es have been obtained by the coast
survey from the self-registering tide
gauges. From these the changes may
be computed and trustworthy deduc-
lions made in connection with the reg
istration of the benches"
1T is evident that Investigations of
this kind must be based upon long
time observations" said Mr.. Shidy. IF
different staffs are employed or a slight
arrangement is caused in gauging the
tide there can be no reliable results.
We have suffered in this respect be-
cause in the past no reliable deduc-
lions were available. The mean sea
level does not change so that any sink
ing Of the land would be noticed by
the tidal variations"
Mr.. Freeman states in his report that
the datum plane, or what is known as
the Boston base" accepted by the
engineering department of that city,
probably coincided with the mean low
water at the Charlestown navy yard
years this datum plane, as shown by
bench marks on solid ground. is 10
foot below the mean present low water
From this Mr.. Freeman makes his
deduction that within the last seventy
two years land in Boston has been
sinking at the rate Of one foot for
each hundred years.
Changes About New York City.
Bailey Willis. of the coast and geo.
detic survey. leading authority on the
geological structure of the Atlantic
coast line and of New York city and
vicinity, makes this interesting state
ment in his recent report. dealing with
changes in and about New York city:
cat an epoch not well determined
the land stood about 200 feet higher
than it now stands in reference to sea
level. and the streams in consequence
sank their channels deep. The waters
of the East river and the Hudson join
ed below a bold hill. where now is the
Battery, and. flowing out through the
Narrows, crossed a wide plain to the
ocean. The old channel is traceable
by soundings. When the land sank to
its present level the valleys were sub
merged and the harbor of New York
resulted.
"The submergence established new
shore, which waves and currents are
modifying. Their work is seen in such
features as the beaches of Sandy Hook,