Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-10
CHANGING NATURE TOLD "a
OF BY Mr.. HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j. HaskiO

WASHINGTON, May 10:-"Men
may come and men may go but 1 go
on forever" said Lord Tennyson
| concerning the brook and usually it
is considered that the flow of streams
is a matter entirely within the con-
troll Of the deities and wholly outside
the influence of a The rapidly
developing science of m~eteorology is
taking some of the mystery out of
the work of the river gods and show
ing that rivers can be made to ex-
plain their moods and changes.
4 recent investigation by the
United States Weather Bureau con-
corning the lowering Of the Kansas
river channel at Topeka, Kansas, is
an interesting case in point, In re-
cent years the citizens of Topeka
and the surrounding country, which
has an interest in the Kansas river,
have been somewhat alarmed at the
falling of the stream Study reveal
ed that the river has fallen a foot
in the last five years and more than
three feet in the last eighteen years.
Science was called in to learn the
cause of the lowering of the river.
The natural assumption was that
reduced rainfall in the basin of the
Kansas river must be responsible.
This was thoroughly studied but the
facts revealed showed that no such
cause was to be blamed. 1t was dis
covered that man and o the ele-
ments were responsible for the low
ering of the river. The investigation
showed conclusively that tn coming
and going of men, contrary to the
dictum of Lord Tennyson, did influ-
enc the river.
The bed of the river is composed
OF a very high grade of sand. For
a long time some 100000 cubic yards
of this sand have been removed each
year for building purposes. The ex-
cavation of the river bottom to OBJ
tain this sand has changed the shape
OF the bed of the river to such an
extent that the flow of water has
been altered and has resulted in
lower stages each year. Ii has long
been considered that the relatively
puuy efforts of mankind could have
no effect whatever on a great river,
but the governments investigation
shows that the cumulative effect of
altering the shape Of the river bed
has caused an important change in
the stream itself. No doubt, as a re-
suit of the inquiry, the state govern
ment will require the sand diggers
either to get their sand somewhere
else or TO take 1t from the river in
some way which will not interfere
with the use Of the stream for navi-
cation.
Rivers Source Becomes Mouth
4 curious contrast to the expert
ence at the Kansas river is that in
connection with the Chicago river.
This was one of the most extraordi-
nary engineering feats ever accom-
plished. It was proposed to connect
the Chicago river, which emptied in
to Lake Michigan, with the Illinois
and eventually the Mississippi river,
This would mean hat the waters OF
Lake Michigan would not only flow
east. down through the series OF the
Great Lakes and out the st. Law
renee into the Atlantic ocean. but
also would flow south through the
Chicago river to the Mississippi anc
thence down to the Gulf OF Mexico
There was very spirited objection K
the plan. Some scientists declared
that TO start a river running out o
Lake Michigan would lower the leve
Of The lake and ultimately drain il
leaving Chicago no longer a grea
lake port but high and dry in tn
interior.
Other better informed scientist
said that the drainage would have n
such effect. The controversy rage
for some time but finally the rive
vas cut through. Careful measure
ments show that, instead of runnipi
off through the Chicago river, tn
level of Lake Michigan has bee
raised higher in the years since tn
channel was cut.
This is believed to be due to tn
cutting of forests on the shores o
the lake and the banks of the river
/; which flow into II. The forests, whe'
they were standing, absorbed a tire
mendous mou Of moisture. Sine
they have been cut down for lumber
this moisture drains into the lax
and more than compensates for an
. drainage out through the Chicag
river.
Many people wonder why tn
Mediterranean sea does not overflow
1 A torrent Of water flows into i
through the Pillars of HerculeI
from the Atlantic ocean. Anothe
#, torrent empties into it from tn
4 Black sea through the Bosphoru
and the Dardanelles. The Nile emp
ties into this inland sea- the RAon