Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-06-16

GS iveness of this ever-active
geological agency Yet
even in some well-watered regions
dunes are familiar phenomena. Dunes
are simply drifts" of sand. closely re-
sembling the snowdrifts of winter and
protection against them is secured by
similar means. AS in snowy regions
one sees long lines of close board
fences some distance from the wind
ward side of the railroad to stop the
drifting snow on its onward career, so
he may in many places see wind
breaks to stop the drifting sand. But
in many cases where the windbreak
Is not sufficient a constant force of
workmen is necessary to remove the
sand from the track at stated inter
walls or after every unusually severe
storm. At such places the railroad
companies, to their sorrow, learn the
enormous power of this constantly
acting geological force in transferring
finely comminuted earthly material
from one place to another.
One of the best known localities for
observing dunes is found on the south
eastern shore of Lake Michigan
Nearly all, if not all. the railroads APP
preaching Chicago from the east pass
through this series OF dunes as they
come around the southern end of the
lake. Many of the dunes are very
fresh, with no covering of vegetation,
and rise. like snowdrifts, 80 feet or
more above the general level. Others
,f
covered more or less with vegetation,
trees Of considerable size being found
upon them. But in all cases the ac-
tion of the wind, in moving the sand
southwark from the lake, is evident.
The wind blowing from the north
keeps an exposure of bare sand upon
that side and drifts it over into expo
sures of equally bare sand upon the
outer margin. The width of this belt of
dunes around the south end of Lake
Michigan averages little more than
one mile. The material, being clean
washed sand. is unfit for agricultural
purposes and the area is occupied by
very few houses. and those mostly be
longing TO railway employees.
The source OF the material of
which these dunes are composed and
the rate of its movement are subjects
of great interest. The sand Is de-
rived, in the first place, from the
shores of the lake farther north,
which are constantly being eaten
into by the waves and currents. All
along the western shore. from Evans
ton to Racine, the waves are wearing
away the shore at an average rate Of
three or four feet per anuum. The
material that falls into the lake from
the blufs thus eroded is worked over
by the waves until the very finest
particles are washed out and hoatad
into deep water while the sand re-
mains near the shore and is gradually
washed southwark by the prevailing
currents. Everyone in Chicago knows
how land is forming on the shore
giving rise to legal contests as 20 own
ership From observations OF the
United States engineers il was found
that 10000 cubic yards Of sand were
annually stopped by the two piers
which were extended out into the lake
10 deep water. This vast amount rep
resented however. but fraction of
tho whole amount OF sand that was
being carried by the currents past
Chicago 10 the south end OF the lake.
on reaching tho south end OF the
lake the sand Is washed up by the
waves during storms and left for a
considerable portion OF The year ex.
posed 20 the action 0f the winds.
which have drifted IL out into the belt
OF dunes. with which so large "a por,
tIou % the travelling public Is famil.
far But owing to tho fact that the
prevailing winds az this region are
westerly. the largest accumulation OF
dunes ls found uroa the east shore,
iu Michigan Travellers upon the
Michigan Central railroad cannot fan
g. have noticed these great drifts -
Haud nearly 700 feet high. at Mlcht
gaa city This belt ~ dunes. about
quarter af mile wide. rising some
times ta more than 100 feet in hcighf.
extends uorthWard an along the shore.
being specially prominent az s. lo-
seph ana Grand Haven. Ia many
places they threaten 90 oyerWhelm
whole villages and to compel the rail
roads f1 remove thrtr tracks to Ert
oul ~ lhe uay of che dfiftlnE mate.
t.a. HHl'r "a come cases houses and
flf.f hafs been completely buried
o.' .I .sat
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