Year: 1872

Tic uaru0SG Oh Gu0 series. LII Is CdpdOl0
of resisting erosion TO very consider
able degree. AS aforesaid, the strata
Immediately underlying it are compare
lively soft and yield easily to the action
of frost and spray. They gradually
crumble away, and the superintendent
rock, being therefore pressed by the
water above and left unsupported be-
low, falls in huge masses from time to
time into the boiling caldron be-
meath. This process continued from
day to day and year to year is con-
tinually altering the appearance of the
falls. -.


The rate of retrogression is matter
of much dispute. In fact, from the
causes alluded to, it is very irregular.
The Canadian or Horseshoe fall receded
five feet during the year 1867, at a
point of greatest erosion. The average,
for distance of more than two thirds
of its front, was about three feet. On
either side of this space its retrogression
varied from two feet to O. Since then
(now nearly three years their. total re-
PROGRESSION along ahe 'front.' alluded
to does not exceed six feet. This
would seem to indicate that the present
rate of retrogression is very irregular
and less than three feet per annum.
We ascertained those facts by taking
points along the front of the precipice
and driving iron pins into the ground
at various places, in Goat Island and on
the Canadian shore, these pins leach
set consisting of three rods) being set
in line with each other, and with the
points aforesaid, on the verge of the
precipice. Some of the pins were re-
moved, but from those remaining, MAX
ing due allowance for the variations in
the volume of water, we were enabled
to come to the foregoing conclusion.
The volume of water passing over the
precipice is much thicker, or deeper,
than it was in 1868 or 1867, yet the
gross height Of the water and preci-
pice remains unaltered. This would
seem to indicate that the river bed has
in the mean time suffered from
erosion. Sir Charles Lyell is of opinion
that the falls recede at the rate of one
mile in 5000 years. Our own investiga-
tions lead us to believe that had Sir
Charles said 10000 years he would be
much nearer the truth. We are in
clined to believe that about 10000
years have now elapsed since they fell
over the precipice at Queenston, and
that 100000 more will elapse ere they
will reach Lake Erie, the distance from
their present site to Queenston being
seven miles, and the distance to Lake
Erie being about twenty. The future
rate of retrogression will be less than
that of the first. &


The retrogression of the American
Falls has been remarkable in one or two
places, but with these exceptions it is
imperceptible.


In about 5000 years the falls will
have passed the "three sisters' on the
one side and the site of Mr.. Street, M.
P, on the other. They will then be at
the site of the rapids, and although the
sea level of the precipice will be higher
than at present, yet will the falls be
lower. The gorge or ravine will be
formed along the Canadian shore. Its
future site is we'll marked at present.
1t is much lower than the bed of the
river elsewhere, although, strange to
say, the waters are much higher than
on either side. The rapidity of the
current neutralizes, to certain extent,
the tendency of the waters to seek
their own level. The waters in this
channel, from the rapids, are literally
"piled up in heaps" SO that their aver
age height is six inches greater than
that of those less subject to the potent
influence of the currents. AS tho fric-
ton of the stream grooves out and


! IL an1 Tho Hnpa0-
shoe Fall recedes, the rush of water to
the Canada Falls will become greater
and greater, and at last the American
Falls will disappear altogether. Three
thousand years hence there will be but
one cataract, and its height will be less
than that oe the modern falls.


Certainly appearances in the face and
surface of the rocks, on either side of
the present gorge, seem to indicate that
since the falls came into being their
number from time to time varied from
one to half dozen. There are three
at present, including the Luna Fall,
and when Niagara was first discovered
in 1878 by Father Hennepin, there
were four cataracts. At the time
fourth fall thundered over the precl-
pice between the present margin and
the site of the museum, on the Canada
side. Table Rock was part OF the
precipice. About eight thousand years
ago the river fell in one unbroken
sheet, over a precipice $50 feet high,
into what is now called the whirlpool"
Receding from this place. they divided
in twain, but again united, when they
had reached point about half q mile
above the Suspension Bridge. During
all this time the site of the town of Mag
ara Falls was covered with water. The
river was shallow and broad, and its
current, comparatively speaking, not
very rapid. Goat Island was then un-
der water, aud the adjacent shores were
densely wooded. The current that day
heaped huge piles of sand and drift
wood on the Canadian shore. 1t
swept over the plateau on either side
of the present gorge and fell In " a cir
cular sheet of water" over the precipice
which was then situate near the site of
'Bender's Cave, half mile from Clifton
bridge. AS the river eat its way back
ward, the falls became wider and Of less
height, but the channel became deeper
and the current more rapid. Goat Island
and the site of the Niagara Falls city,
gradually appeared above the waters,
and were soon decked with trees, etc.
Goat Island at that time was portion
of the main land. The river gradually
receded until it had passed the site OF
Biddle's stairs-about the center OF
Goat Island. About that time an un-
usual severe winter or series of winters
occurred. In the spring the channel
above the falls became blocked up with
ice; "Gull Island' and few smaller


contreresn forming the resting points"
which enabled the "ice bridge" to re-