Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1915-03-11
THE MENACINC SEA
1t Threatens to Some Day Engulf
New York and Boston.
OUR EASTERN COAST SINKING.

t In Time, Thousands of Years, Poi
n haps. the Atlantic Ocean, Accordir
: to Biologists, Will Flow Over I'll
Cities That Now Tower Above I,
Shores.
t Government geological experts hav
! calculated that New York, Boston
!, Philadelphia and all the other cite
along tue Atlantic coast will eventual
~ sink beneath the ocean They hav
observed that there has been a stead,
sinking of the whole coast, and the,
say that 1t is going on at the presen
moment.
Geologists have long recognized the
fact that the Atlantic coast line was
puch farther out than it is now. There
Is line from 100 to 300 miles off the
present coast at which the water sud.
denly gets deeper. Out to that distance
the water is generally about 300 feet
deep. Then it plunges suddenly and
becomes ten times as far to the oceans
bottom. The men of the coast survey
have traced this line throughout the
length of our coast line and find it
similar all along. The biologists say
that the continent once reached out
that far and that there was the coast
line. but gradual decline through the
ages has caused that line to retreat,
until now 1t is where we know it.
From IL geological standpoint this
has happened in comparatively recent
times. 1t has all been done since the
glacial period This brings it into the
present period and makes the action
new. In fact 1t is positively known to
be going on now.
There is an ancient sill in the Charles
town navy yard at Boston with re-
gard to which there is definite informa
ton as to its elevation. 1t was put
In place seventy years ago; its eleva-
ton was given with relation to mean.
high and low tide. and also with refer
ence to surrounding landmarks. With
relation to the tide this sill has sunk
seven-teDths of foot With relation
to the landmarks 1t has the same posi-
ton. positive proof that Boston har-
Dor and the city about it have sunk
seyen-tenths of a foot into the sea in
the last seventy years.
The original mouth of the Hudson
river is now 200 miles out to sea. The |
ships follow its old channel in leaving |
port even now. 1t is not known how I
long ago 1t was when the mouth of the |
river was not far out In the ocean. But
IT Is almost certainty that when a
Similar time has elapsed the present
city will be an equal distance from the
then land
Similarly will Boston be submerged
Baltimore will disappear at about the
same time and great portions of Wash
ngton. The great Mississippi is bring
ng down great deposits to raise its
1eta and counterbalance the decline.
So low is New Orleans that it will be
me of the first cities to sink below the
ea level and be municipality high
vailed against the enemy, the sea. Gal
eston has already felt the encroach.
nent OF the waters and has been forced
o build itself sea wall.
The geological survey makes topo-
raphical maps. On these lines are run
t given elevations. For instance, a
ne may be run about Manhattan Is
Ind at level twenty feet above the
'ater at the Battery. 1t would sub
lerge the customs house and extend I'D
nearly to Wall street. From |
lie east 1t would invade the financial
lstrict almost to Nassau street. 1t
ould overflow half the land between q
lie city hall and the East river. Far {
Ter up it would submerge a narrower e
nip, but its intrusion would create
eat havoc o
fifty foot rise of water would wipe o
anhattan Island out entirely. Of s.
urse If these depressions came on e
Try gradually the water fronts would q
diked against their intrusions In Il
is way New York city might be saved b
ON destruction for very long time.
will inevitably become a city sur "
unded by ahigh levee, against which &c
e ocean will beat with an ever In %
EASING advantage. 1t might perpetu- Sc
2 itself by artificial means, but In the ul
d 1t Will be put in an impossible posi-. ia
m. The waters will follow over the nj
Is OF New Jersey and Of Long Island II
they will even beat back through W
. Delaware and the Chesapeake and 70
beyond the city and cut off com. Re
intention with the main part of the I'll
I'd. Finally. New York will find 1t. st
I city down IN II well far out from III
, mainland Gradually the people 10
10 dwell in II will desert 1t and re- ca
Ir To the then mainland. The waters
II eventually lap away the great no
Ills hat have been built to keep out WI
, sea and will tumble in among the wi
rscrnpers. W. A. Du Puy's Uncle ex
III. Wonder Worker" on
cla