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6 MARINE REVIEW. Another View of the Lake Level Question. Editor MarInk REVIEW: Among thinking, practical people, in- cluding civil engineers, there has been a belief that nothing could be done by any contrivance of man, that would sap the resources of the great lakes to their detriment. One trifling loss might be overlooked, but when you add several trifles together there is gradually a realizing sense that something is going wrong with the levels of our inland seas. It can not be laid to mere annual or longer period changes. The lowest plane is a serions matter even today, and it should be stopped at once. There appeared in the Chicago Tribune of Jan. 20, an editorial en- titled 'To Raise Lake Levels,' which referred to the Lake Carriers' Association meeting held at Detroit recently. A statement made by the board of managers at that meeting about the high water of 1886 and the low water now prevailing, affirmed that there was a difference of "at least 3 feet." There can be no doubt Lake Erie isa great sufferer from a diminished water supply from the lakes above, as well, to some extent, from the water-shed on her own borders; and that there is at present a lower average plane than ever before existed, which is somewhat in ex- cess of the one on Lakes Huron and Michigan. "To restore Lake Levels" was the heading of another editorial in the same paper on Jan. 28. Restoration of old time lake levels is a work of the future. Inthe meantime let us preserve the present lake levels. Some days ago I read in the Tribune a communication from Mr. S. A. Thompson, in which he discussed the "Levels of the Lakes." After reading the above editorials, I again looked over Mr. Thompson's com- munication and I send you the following: "It seems evident the level of the lakes will be a very live subject in congress this winter," says Mr. Thompson. In another paragraph he directs attention to a statement of Senator Brice, in which he says: "The present low level of the lakes constitutes a serious menace to lake navigation." And again that Messrs. Whiting of St. Clair and Weadock of Saginaw, when they represented congressional districts of Michigan, opposed "a 20-foot channel." They claimed the St. Clair Flats constituted "a natural dam." In support of this claim it was pointed out that the water was lower in 1891 (Huron and Michigan) than it had been' for a gen- eration." The Michigan parties claimed that this condition was brought about "solely" by the construction of the St. Clair Flats ship-canal in 1873. If the St. Clair Flats channel was made deep and large enough to reduce the depth of Lakes Huron and Michigan several feet, the claim was well founded that a similar channel of greatly increased dimensions would be disastrous. The opponents were in error by assuming that a great fluctuation represented a permanent reduction of level, when they should have stated that it was the beginning, or a contributor, to a loss of level. For time has unmistakably proved that it has been one of the causes which has brought about a part of the present permanent reduc- tion of the level of Huron and Michigan. "The argument used by the gentlemen was plausible in appearance as it was fallacious in fact," says Mr. Thompson. The range of periodic fluctuations stated by the writer are from 5 to 6 feet. These periodic fluctuations are governed by natural laws and have no connection with the artificial practices which have already created a measurable menace and from present indications are likely to be increased to such an extent that the menace will soon reach formidable proportions from which it will prove difficult, if not wholly impossible, to recover. "At the request of Chairman Blanchard," says Mr. Thompson, "I made an examination of the official records of lake levels. The facts I found proved, beyond question,that those claims had no foundation what- ever. Indeed the facts made the claims absurd and ridiculous by show- ing that if the St. Clair Flats canal had affected the lake levels at all it had affected them favorably instead of unfavorably." A specious and beguiling use of the uncontrollable upward periodic movement of the surfaces of Huron and Michigan. To use a downward movement to prove that the deepening of the channel to 20 feet of the same area, but of more depth than before, would at once ruin all the harbors was just as wrong. Both conditions are outside and inside of the real trouble. The rise and fall of the great lakes during the past few years fall short of the high level and go below the low level of former years before the channel improvements and other artificial causes began to operate. In the following paragraphs I quote other sentences from Mr. Thompson's communication and apend notes regarding them: "AS soon as work commenced on the canal (through the St. Clair Flats) the water began to rise and strangely enough continued to rise until the canal was finished. But in the following year there was one of the most remarkable drops on record." 'Allthe cranks,' who had in- sisted that the 20-foot canal through the St. Clair Flats would drain the upper lakes, watched with amazement the "five years steady rise" of the water while the canal was under way, now cried, (thoughtlessly), "we told you 80." The menace-to-navigation-cranks were unduly hasty in claiming this remarkable drop to be a convincing proof in their favor. It was no more so than a rise was proof that no loss of permanent level had occurred by reason of past improvements and other causes. Again the rise and drop were periodic fluctuation movements not reaching the high average and going below the low average. "The cranks failed to see how ridiculous they made themselye failing to take note of the behavior of Lake Erie." Lake Erie, as stated is one-fifth the area of Huron and Michigan and should have gaineq after a 2-foot loss ebove, 10 feetin depth. 'Even with the rapids and Niagara Falls as an outlet this smaller lake should have shown a large rise. But Lake Erie was also low in 1872." Jake Erie would have broken the law of supply and demand if it had not been lower after this most remarkable drop of Huron and Michigan. This drop can not be attributed to any very . slight increase of flow, by reason of improved channels, for, if so, the loss of head would very soon have decreased largely the amount of water flowing through the St. Clair river. To account for this drop, to carry off water enough to raise Lake Erie, almost another St. Clair river would be needed. : A loss of depth above makes a loss outflow through St. Clair river into Lake Erie and thence to Niagara river, the rapids and the falls, The rapids and falls have a current which for capacity for carrying off water would not diminish in the same proportion as would the slower current above. Therefore Lake Erie would lose more in proportion in depth than Huron and Michigan. Suppose at the opening of the drainage channel there should be a low stage of water, and the water from Michi. gan and Huron should commence flowing to the Illinois river, and from this low stage the water should begin to rise, it would be no answer that a lower average plane did not exist. If the water should be high when the drainage channel was finished and, after water should commence flowing to the Illinois river, the lakes should commence falling, it woulq be no proof that this increased flow was drawing off the water. It up. doubtedly would be by inches, but not by feet. If this were by feet Lakes Michigan and Huron would be ruined for navigation in a year or less. Itis the little losses that should be watched that have already made a permanent lower plane between the two extremes of high and low water. "The levels of the lakes went up and down before the channels were deepened just as they have done before the improvement of the channels -- was begun"'--and they will continue to go up and down no matter where the plane may finally beestablished. " It seems to me, (Mr. Thompson), "the facts which have been set forth prove conclusively that the deepen- 'ing of the channels has worked no harm to the lakes themselves or to the harbors situated thereon, and hence there is no foundation for a fear that similar improvements, now planned or under way, will work harm in the future." An alluring statement, based on the uncontrollable laws of nature having nothing todo with unnatural sapping of the water _ supply resources which have in all past time preserved the average lake levels. Some time ago I was astonished to hear from a party whose _ motive and sense of honor could not be questioned, that if the sources of supply of Huron and Michigan were entirely shut off, and the outlet -- through St. Clair river left open, it would be years before the level above would be unfavorably affected. On the contrary, this would in one year, -- or even less, ruin all the harbors on Huron and Michigan. "Engineers who have studied the: subject carefully feel confident é that regulating works, will not only confine the periodic fluctuations of _ a levels within a range of one or two feet, instead of five or six, as at pres: ent, but will maintain the lakes at a permanent higher level." How can the periodic fluctuations be kept within a less range than at present, on the same or perhaps a greater area and depth than before? The laws governing the natural movements up and down the immense lake sur- faces are beyond human control (as Mr. Thompson correctly says) and cannot be repaired so that the great surface movements may be controlled. Cutting off the forests and cultivation of the lands are causes which have helped to make permanent present diminished lake levels. To prevent future losses from this source, and a reasonable restoration of lake levels, as nearly as possible, is agovernment affair, and should at once be looked after. This would be a much better and more practical way than building dams. There isa territory on the American water-shed, bordering the lakes, where restoration can be made effective. The dominion govert- ment could, on the northerly shores of Georgian bay and Lake Superior, could do much more for renewing and increasing the water supply than can other territory near the shores of the great lakes. From now onallow no diminishing of forests areas on land of little value for cultivation. Keep it good and gradually add territory. Shut the barn door and keep all the horses that are now left. Keep intact the water supply. This will help, if the present leaks are notincreased. Allthis would certainly be in the line of preventing losses and do more good, at a cost within reach, than would the plan for making dams or other ways for re-estab- lishing or increasing lake levels. E Gorvon H, Nott No. 834 Rookery, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 2, 1896. Thos. Drien & Son, Wilmington, Del., write that they will return to their rebuilt factory in a week or two. They are rushing lake orders for metallic boats and will have them ready for shipment soon. 8 by ;