The Detroit times., 1915-08-10
Diverting Water At
Niagara Would Low
er Lake Levels
PATRICK TALKS
TO LEGISLATORS
Explains Effect Their
Scheme Would Have
On Shipping

Believing that the state of New
York ought to get something out of
the power that is going to waste In
scenery at Niagara Fails, and pur-
suing the theory that half OF the
100000 cubic feet of water per Sec
ond that they claim flows over the
falls on the American side can be
diverted for power purposes without
doing any harm either to the falls or
to the great lakes, a committee from
the New York Legislature questioned
Col. Mason NJ. Patrick, of the United
States engineering corps, and his as
sistant engineer f. G. Ray, in the
hotel Statler Monday morning.
II wouldn't he fair to take Senator
George T. Thompson, of Niagara
Falls. n. Y. seriously. but this is one
statement that he made:
"They talk about Niagara Falls
being wonderful piece of scenery,
but do you realize how much more
wonderful 1t would be IL there were
no water at all flowing over that
cliff? Think OF it-a dry waterfall!
Wouldn't just as many people come
from all parts of the world to see
such sight?"
Senator Thompson didn't really
mean all that he said in that hyper
tole, but he was intensely serious,
and so were the other members of
the commission, In wanting to know
why II wouldn't be all right to d.
vert several thousand cubic feet OF
water per second that are now going
over the American fall
Mr. Ray explained to the commit
tee that for every 10000 cubic feet
diverted for power purpose, the
level Of the great lakes would be
diminished half an inch. He said
that the mean fow over the falls Ia
between 100000 and 212.000 cubic
feet per second, and that to divert
half Of this amount would mean a
five inch drop in the level Of the
lakes.
Lake vessels load right up to the
limit of their allowance" said Col.
Patrick, taking up the tale "They
cali up my office continually TO
know how deep they can load. They
usually allow one foot OF water be-
low the keel
For every inch of draft between
so and 100 tons Of cargo are loaded
upon the boats. A lower level by
Ave inches would mean a decrease of
anywhere UP to 500 tons in cargo"
Col. Patrick explained to the as
tonisbcd committee that the level
OF the lakes varies.
Just now, the water Is a foot
lower than II ordinarily is at this
time of year" he said.
What" exclaimed a senator.
After all this rain?"
1T il last years deficiency Of rain
that Is affecting the lake levels this
year." replied Col. Patrick, 1T takes
q long time for rainfall to affect the
lake levels. II you divert water from
the lakes. about three-fourths of the
effect will be felt in short time,
but the entire effect will not be felt
for a number Of years."
Col Patrick said that with 21 feet
of water in the Lake st. Clair chan
rel, It Is customary FOR boats to load
to the 10 feet six inches line.
Does the state Of Michigan yet
anything for water diverted at the
Sault?" he was asked,
1T does not" ne replied. THE
state granted a charter TO the COM
pany that diverted the water on this
side; that is all"
A member of the commission ask
ed Col. Patrick what effect the tilt
ing OF the earth on its axis might
have on lake levels. The colonel
was stumped.
Seems to me that read some
where that In $500 or $4,000 years
something may happen. according