Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-27
PUZZLE OF GREAT LAKES.
Phenomenal Rise of Water During the
Last Ten Years.

From the Chicago Chronicle
Shipowners in the lake region are puzzled
over the cause of the phenomenal rise in
the levels Of the Great Lakes in the last
ten years At the same time they are ask
ing whether the agency which has caused
the rise will add still more to the depth of
water in the important lake channels in the
future.
This matter is receiving the earnest atten-
ton of vesselowners because every foot of
added draught for their ships means the
addition of thousands of dollars in their
freight earning capacity.
AS far as is known no theory yet has
been advanced by men of science which
seems to explain in every particular the
increased volume of water in the lakes. The
most natural explanation that Of increased
rain and snowfall is shown to be almost
worthless in view of the statistics of the
weather bureau, which show that during
the last ten years the average precipitation
in the lake region has been considerably
below the normal for each year
The following figures show the rise in
lake levels during the last ten years, the
number of feet being the height above mean
sea level:
1895. 1904
Lake Superior ............. 6O3 1-6 6O3k
Lakes Huron and Michigan. $50 1-6 5sl %
Lake Erie. ...........-.......... oIl12 ot5A
Lake Ontario. 245 24S
In each case the comparison is taken at
high water mark for the year. Between
low-water mark in 1895 and high-water
mark in 1905 Lake Ontario shows varia-
ton of four and one-half feet.
Prof. J. G. Maury of Columbia College, is
quoted as authority for the statement that
owing to the fitting of the entire lake
gion toward the Mississippi river it would
be only matter of a few thousand years
before Chicago would be entirely sub
merged. This theory is in part borne out
by the fact that Lake Michigan full
foot and one-half higher last year than it
was ten years ago.
Should there be a corresponding increase
in future years, however Professor Maurys
predicted deluge would come long before
its scheduled time. If a tilt toward the
south is responsible for the filling up of the
southerly lakes the water must come from
the north. Yet Lake Superior has gained
slightly in volume during the ten years.
The marine men are not worrying, how
ever, about any probable inundation of
lake cities, but they would like to know II
they can continue to figure on their boats
carrying many more thousand tons OF
freight during the season on account of
the increased draught of water in con-
Meeting the channels and harbors.
On 10,000-ton steamer, now the stand
ard for the lakes, one foot added draught
means an additional carrying capacity of
from 500 to 600 tons. Figuring on the basis
of last years iron-ore rate, this would
mean an increased earning capacity of
nearly $4,000 during the season. Last
season boats drawing 1874 feet of water
frequently crossed La Sale street tunnel
in Chicago river, although the average
depth for the season was close to eighteen
feet Ten years ago captain thought
himself lucky to get over that obstruction
when his boat displaced 1914 feet.
There is a theory that the lakes are fed
by hidden springs.