ries, oommoncea rising with the first ojpening of spring, and usu-
ally attains its grea^st elevation^ (at least in the upper lakes,)
joRie time in the month of June or July. As the seasons ad-
vance, or during the summer and a large portion of the autum-
aal months* evaporation is increased, and the amount of water
discharged by the streams lessened, in consequence of which the
water w the lakes falls very gradually until winter again sets in,
when a still greater depression takes place from ihe renewed
operation of the causes already mentioned.
The extreme varialioH in the height of water from winter to
awmner is sukyeot to considerable change, aeeording as the win-
ters may vary from pold and dry to warm and wet ; but during
thepast eight years, it mav be estimated at two feet.
This annuol rise and fall of the water of the lakes, dependent
as it maoifeatly is» upon causes which are somewhat uniform in
their operation, must not be confounded with that elevation, and
depretfion to wbioh tho waters are subject, independent of causes
connected with the seasons of the >ear. These latter charts
which take place nK>re gradually, sometimes undergoing but little
â–¼ariatioo (or a series of years, are least liable to be noticed, unless
they be very considerable ; but with respect to consequences they
ava of vastly more importance, since they are subject lo a larger
and flaere permaiient range.
That the waters of the lakes, from the earliest settlement of
the ooootry, have beenaubject to considerable variation in reialiire
httghUis well known. At one time the belief was very geoaral
that tbeae changes lake place at regular intervals, rising iov a
apace of seven years, and subsiding (or a sinular* length of tirab ;
a belief which would appear to be in consonance with that of the
Indiana upon the peninsulai and with whom it no doubt origiaaled.
It is not wonderful that a subject, the causes of which are so little
comprehended by our natives, should be invested with an air of
mystery, or thatan error oooe propagated (in oonsequenoe of the
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long ieries of years required to brir^ abodt any considenMe
chanfl;e,) could scarcely be eradicated.
While the idea of ibe septennial rise and fall must be regarded
us founded in error, it is nevertheless true that from the earliest
ffeoordst the height of the lakes has been subject to a c-oesidera*
ble variation, usually rising very gradually and irregtihrly for a
ieries of years, and after this falling in a like manner^
Ot]r old inhabitants agree in stating that the waters were h^
from' 1800 to 1802 ; in proof of which it is sta^ that the roi^
which had before been in use upon the banks of the Detroit rivers
were so connpletely inundated as to be rendered impassable. A
similar circumstance is related to hnve occurred in the vicinity of
Chicago, a broad sandy beach forming the immediate ehore of the
lake near that place, having been wholly overflowed.
I have been unable to obtain authentic informatioft reqjectiDg
the changes which took place between the yeara just meolioned
and 1814, but from the latter year to the present time^ we haipe a
more connected series of facts relating to the subject
'' It is now a matter of record, that in 1814 and 1815 ibe De-
troit and St. Clair rivers were unusually high ; that the foooda*
tions of the houses, and much land that'bad long been under diy
cultivation, were submerged. These buildings had been ereeted
many vears before, and of course under the £lief that they were
aloof from all but extraordinary and temporary iocmdatieos. No
observations appear to have been made uponf the progress of tbe
elevation, whether it weregradeal or abrupt^ or WMtber there
were any preceding seasons of a character to produce it.^
''In 1820, or about that time, the rivers had resumed their
usual level. Several wharves were built at Detroit, between
that year and 1828, at a height, as was supposed, sufficieiidy above
tbe general level for all purposes of convenience ami safety. At
the latter date the rivers had again attained the elevation cf 1815,
a&d remained so until 1830, with only such occasioDal depression
at tnicht be caused by strong wiod^ being nearly upon m levd
with the wharves.*^
From 1880, when my attention was first drawn to tins subjeot,
to the present year, I have been enabled to make a SMaewhat
eonnected series of observatiens, under circimistaifces poerihtriy
fiivorable, having, during that tinhe, followed the oontpksle Bne of
exMMK from the ^t of Dake Huron to the head of Lake Superior
by canoe, and having traversed portions of tbe ccMt sevmtil tones,
tiius being enabled to renew observatioDs at points where they
had been previously made; During the time a( these examina-
tions, I have been enabled to fix, with a considerable degree of
*The aboye extracts are from the pen of Col. Henry WhitiDf, U. S. Army, and tban*
fahie iamudi enhanced from the feet that they embraee only nioh portiona of tbe aob*
jaoi *â– were the femlt of hia paMapal obaerfmn.
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HOUSE DOCUMENTa 89T
certainty, upcm the height at whieh the waters of the lakes stood
in 1819 and '20, when they were at their lowest lerel ; a step
which was eoooeived to be one of the first necessary in deter*
mining the completed range between high and low water.
For the last two years my attention has been n^ore partioalarly
eailed to the coast of Lakes Huron and Michigan, and I feel con-
fident in asserting that the water of these lakes has, during the
last year, (1838,) attained a greater elevation than has before oc*
ctirred in a very great number of years ; a fact which is conclu-
sively shown by the renewed degradation of banks covered with
debris, that had long remained undisturbed, as well as by the
great number of forest trees, sometimes coverk^ many acres of
Sound, that have been destroyed in consequence of inundation,
any of these forest trees may be estimated to have attained an
age of from one to two centuries.
In order to arrive as nearly as possible at correct condufsions
as to the variation in the height or the water of the lakes from
1820 to 1838, 1 have carefully compared my own observations
with those contained in an invaluable register, kept in this city by
CoJ. Henry Whiting, U. S. Army, as also with the valuable data
contained in the report of the Slate Topographer, hereto append*
ed. ItshoukI be noted that the height of the water in the Detroit
river is much more subject to fluctuation from sKght causes, such
as the e^cts of the vmids and ice, than that in the open lakes;
causes for the operation of which, it is sometimes difficult, if not
impossible, to i/uike the proper allov^nce. In foct, slight causes
are productive of such changes as to render it absolutely impos-
sible to arrive at accurate conclusions, except by simultaneous
observations, made at points widely separated.
Assuming June, 1819 and '20 as zero, or the point of' low wa-
ter, the followii^ table will not vary very far from an accurate
statement of the relative height for several of the subsequent
Tears.
Ft. in.
June 1819 and 20, 0.00
«< 1828, rise, 2.10
«< 1890, same levels 2.10
" 1696rrise, 10— a.08
« 1887» " 6 - 4.01
*' 1888, •* 7— 4.08 Total.
In examining this table of relative heights, it should be borne
in mind that this estimate does not include the regular yearly va«
rialioQ to which the waters of the lakes are subject. The esti-
mates, it will be seen, are made from June of each year, or that
noontb in which the waters are invariably high ; but it is con-
ceived the result would not be varied were^^lbe calculations made
from any other month in the year, provided the saipQ month were
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398 HOUSE DOCUMENTS.
selected for the oboervatbos of the suooeedk^ yean. Were tbe
diflbrence in height computed from February, 16*20, to June, 1838,
the total amount would be found to be inrxeaaed to about six feel
eight inches, a method of estimating which would lead to coodu-
siona wholly unwarranted ; nevertteiess the assumption of these
defective premises may serve to account for the exaggerated
statements which have so often been made, of the increased height
of these waters.
This rise of water has by no means been confined to the great
lakes, for the waters of the small lakes throt:^ the whole interior
portions of the state liave, unless their waters are discharged
through broad and shallow outlets, been increased in a like man-
ner. Small streams, the width of which, at their points of bten*
secting the section lines, were recorded by the United States' sur-
veyors, in those surveys made from 1820 to 26, have been found,
in many instances, during the past year, to have nearly double the
width assigned them ; and mills have actually been erected upon
streams which, acxu>rding to the field notes taken in the years
mentioned, must at that time have been nearly dry. It is also
weH known that within the last few years, (preceding 1838,) por-
tions of the elevated country which were previously dry, have
been inundated with water ; springs have burst out where they
had been previously unknown, and that marshes, which before
contained but tittle water, have been transformed into small ponds
or lakes.
These changes have not been pecuKar to Michigan, for they
have been noticed, more or less, over the whole western part of
the United States, and perhaps it may not be too much to add,
over most o) the northern part of the continent ; and they are
changes which, from the immense extent affected, must depend
upon causes which have operated in a very general manner.
It is well known that the water of ail streams, during the oc-
currence of a wet and cold season, when the fall of rain is increas-
ed and evaporation diminished, is augmented, and that the aug-
mentation or diminution will be in proportion as these causes are
in more or less active operation. Our great chain of inland lakes,
so far as these causes may be supposed to operate, may be re-
garded as a stream of great width, and must necessarily be liable
to be affected by similar causes ; although when the great ex-
tent occupied by these bodies of water is taken into connderation,
it can be readily understood why these causes when once brought
into operation would produce their results more slowly, as well
as why the results once produced would be of a more pemsa-
nent character.
That the changes in the relative height of the waters of the
lakes may be dependent upon the operation of a similar sedes of
general causes, operating tor a succession of years, I have noany
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tetaom for inforrfng. The nooeMkm of cold and wet seasons
immeiiately preceding )8d8, have been proverbial over the whole
western country; and the unfavorable influence which these wet
seasons have producedy more particularly upon those farming in-
terests situated on low and flat lands, has been severely felt by
that portion of our agricultural community. While these facts
may be apparent to all> it is nevertheless desirable to refer to the
subject in a more definite manner ; a task which is rendered
somewhat cKfficult, for the reason that, until the last i^w yenrs^
continuous tables, indicatii^ the anu>unt of rain which has Mien,
iiaTe only bedn kept at a very limited number of places in the
United States.
The total amDunt of ram which fell at Philadelphia (as shown
by a register, chiefly kept at the Pennsylvania hospital) from 1810
to 1814 inclusive, or during the five years immediately preceding
the high water of 1814 and '15, was 185.68 inches; and the
amount which fell at the same place from 1815 to 1819. the five
years immediately preceding the low water of 1819 and *20, was
151.14 inches ; showing an excess of 34.58 inches, or a fraction
over 2 feet and lOj inches for the years immediately preceding
the stage of high water.
The amount of rain which fell at Philadelphia, as deduced from
the same table, from 1816 to 1826 inclusive,* was 364.43 inches,
and from 1827 to 1837 inclusive,! 451.05 inches, being an in-
crease, in the last eleven years, of 86.62 inches, or a fraction over
7 feet 2j inches.
The amount of rain which fell at Marietta, Ohio, (as deduced
from the tables of Dr. Hildreth,) from 1819 to 1828 inclusive,J
was 202.83 inches, and from 1828 to 1832 inclusive,|| was 228.17,
showing an increase during the last five yearsestimated, of 25.34
inches, or a fraction over 2 feet 1^ inches.
That there has been a corresponding increase in the amount of
rain that has fallen within the area of the great lake basfn, I am
not able to show by actual data, but the known increased size of
the numerous tributaries, together with the other facts mentioned,
will go far to substantiate the opinion that the fall of rain over
that area has been greatly increased during that time.
According to the estimate of the State Topographer, it appears
fhat the basin of the great rortb western lakes has a superficial
area, nearly four times larger than that of the lakes themselves.
Now if we may be allowed to assume that the increase of the
amount of rain which has fallen into this basin, during the last
* Eleven yeftn, embracing the complete time from whieh ibe w«ten bad perct|;«ib)f
oomnienced fiiUing, nniil ihey bad agiim nearly attained thenme aliitade.
t Eleven yev4, during moet of wbieh tine the waters have been eteadtly iaoraMiag in
beight.
I Irive yearty embracing tbe time of low water.
n Five yearif, during moat of which time the water was iacrcaeing in heigbt.
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400 HiOUSB DOGUMBNTS*
eleven^ of the fogrteen yeara ailiiiiated» be 6C|tttl U> the incraiae at
Philadelphia^ during that time, it would follow that* bad all aouroea
of discharge been cut cff« this cause alone would have been suffir
cient to elevate the waters of the lakes about 29 feet ;* an eievap
tion more than six times greater than that which is estimated to
have taken place.
When we take into consideratioo» in connexioo with thecauaes
already enumerated, the fact that during the wet yeara^ evaponu
.tion must have beea less than durif^ &e dry ones, it may fairly
be presumed that sufficient apparent causes have existed» to pro>
duce all the results which have been notioed; and we may add»
should a succession of dry and warm seasons follow, we may look
with certainty for a return of the water of the lakes to its former
low leveL
SOUTHERN PART OF THE PENINSULA,
A small portion of the season was devoted to genera! examina-
tions, chiefly in the counties of CaHioun, Branch, Hillsdale and
Jackson, but as it is proposed to commence the minute examina-
tion of these counties with the first opening of spring, it will not
be desirable to lay the mass of facts collected before you at this
time.
The county of Calhoun, which in an agricultural point of view
cannot be looked upon as second to any county in our state, is
abundantly supplied with many of those materials which, if pro-
perly appreciated, may be made to add much to the eventual
prosperity and wealth of the people. But while the agriculturist
reaps a rich reward for his labor, in abundant crops, he should
not fail to bear in mind, that the soil which is now yielding so
abundantly, will, unless the most watchful care be used, sooner or
later be rendered comparatively sterile. With a lavish distribiji-
tion of all that will be required to retain the original fertility of
the soils of this county, it is to be hoped that those most deeply
interested will not neglect to turn the materials around thc^m to
the best account.
The whole northern part, at leasts of Calhoun county^ is based
upon the sandstone series of the great carboniferous group of
rocks. The outcropping edge of this rock furnishes an abundance
of a material well adapted to the purposes of building. Quarries
have been opened, at short intervals, through nearly the whole of
that portion of the county traversed by the Kalamazoo river, as
well as uuon several of the tributaries of that stream, and with a
little care in selection, it is admirably adapted to the purposes to
which that rock is usually applied.
* It ii not, of coarse, luppoted, tliat had Uie toarces of ditofaftrse been' tsax elF, tUe
would have been the octooi resolt, for the estimate is made without any reference to Ifee
increased evaporation and ether causes, which would have been breught into actkn m
oonsequence of the eitended area.
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HOttSB DOCUMBNT& 401
Sull marl occom at nunierotts points in the county, occasion-
ally in beds of considerable extent^ and it may be profitably ap^
plied to use, either as a manure or for the manufacture of lin^ey
ao artieie, of ivbiebf under other circumstances, the county would
be nearly destitute.
Fibrous peat also occurs, in considerable quantities, and wheo
properly prepared, in the compost heap, will prove of great vahie
to the faraaer in enriching his lands.
The articles of marl and peat, occurring as tbey do, at very
short intervals through most of the county, will eventually be of
a vakie, in sustaining the agricultural interests, that at the present
time can scarcely be appreciated. It is true that most of the
gravelly soils, which predominate through Calhoun county, cod»
tain at this time, sufficient calcareous matter to favor the growth
of the small grains, more particularly wheat and rye, which are
well known to require a comparatively large proportion of that
ingredient in the soil, to insure productive crops ; but the time will
come when this will cease to be the case, and when the marl beds
must be called upon to supply the deficiency.
The county of Calhoun, together with the adjoining portions of
Jackifon and Hillsdale, abounds in large springs, which havii^
their sources deep in the sandstone, are little liable to be afl^otei
by the droughts of summer. The waters of these springs are, for
the most part,'*hard,'* in consequence of the contained salts of lime,
but they are usually of great transparency and coldness. Seve*
rai springs were noticed, the waters of which were so highly char-
ged with carbonate of lime, as to have given rise to somewhat
extensive beds of tufaceous n>arl.
No rock, in place, was noticed in the southwestern part of
Calhoun, but a little south, and just within the line of Branch
county, a deporote occurs, which may probably be referred to
one .portion of the carboniferous group, though this connection has
not absolutely been shown to exist
The deposite consists of a tough . semi-indurated and stratified
clay, having at first sight much the appearance of a very fine
aandrock. It contains imbedded clay iron stone, composed as
usual) of thin concentric, layers of the carbonate and hydrate of
iron, surrounding nodular masses of septarea.
The iron ore in question is of the same character as that from
which, much of the iron of our neighboring state^ Ohio, is manch
factured, and should future examinations snow the deposite to.ooi>.
tain the ore in sufficient quantity to admit of working, it cannot
fail to prove of immense importance to the surrounding country.
Occurring as the ore in Branch county does, upon the borders of
a township, nearly the whole of which is heavily timbered, â–¼ei:y
gfeat iactiities exist ibr procuring the materials necessary for it#
ToductioQ*
50
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4M HOUSE DOCUMENTS.
The "^kidDey ore^ is usually redooed vrith grout feeilky, aid is
the large way, in the furiiaces of Ohio, yields from 30 to 37 per
cent of cast iron.
Portions of the clay embraced in the deposite bnder considerai^
lion, if care be used to select such on^r as is free from n*on, wHl
Erove of great value for the manufacture of stone ware* fire
ricks, &a The presence of lime, it is well koown, reodere day
unfit for the manufacture of the articles mentioned ; for the Tea«
son that the clay, by this admixture, is rendered fusible at a com-
paratively low temperature. The great mass of the clay allodad
to, contains only a minute proportion of lime ; and being so situa*
ted that it may be obtained with facility, it may be very adTan-
tageously applied to the purposes mentioned.
The deposite under consideration was first noticed on the Cold*
water river, a short distance above the junction of that stream
with the St. Joseph, where it appears in the bed of the streanit
and also forms the banks, attaining an elevation of from 10 to 12
feet* The outcropping edge was traced for a distance ol' from one
to two miles, and it was also found, but slightly covered with soil,
extending over an area of from 800 to 1000 acres. It is not sup-
posed, however, that the complete extent of its near approach to
the surface has l)een examined, for there can be little doubt that
the ran^ will be found to be quite extensive.
Allusion has already been made to the numerous springs which
occur in Calhoun county ; but in no portion of the state hat sudi
an abundance of large springs been noticed as in the southweit*
em parts of Jackson county. Springs were -here observed, fra*
quently at very short intervals, discharging almost inci edible
quantities of water, and in some instances giving rise to streams
of considerable size, at once. The waters of the larger of these
springs are invariably found to proceed from the sandrock. They
are little liable to be afiected by drought, and, as I a«n iofonned,
never freeze. The waters of those springs examined had» durioff
the month of October, a temperature ranging from 47 ^ to 40^
Fahrenheit
The counties of Branch, Hillsdale and Jackson, like that of Cal-
houn, abound in beds of shell and tufaoeous marl, which is usual-
ly well fitted for the manufacture of lime^ or for use for agricul-
tural purposes. Ligneous peat also frequently ooottn» and it
may, with proper preparation, be rendered of much value as a
manure.
Cod.
We have been enabled, during the past year* eonsideraUy to
extend the small amount of information beforo transmitted to voe,
respecting the coal beds of our state ; and although, from the lioM-
ted extent of the minute examinations in the coal district^ I am
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fltill OQtble to place, the subjeot before yoa in fuoh a manoer as
could be wiriied ; its great imprtance would, noTerth^leas, Mem
local! for au allusion, at least, to such additional infornnation as
has been obtained.
By mierence to the report of C. C. Douglass, Assistant Geolo-
flisf, hereto appended, on the subject of the minute surveys of
loghani and Baton counties, it will be seen that the main bed of
ml, which traverses the central counties of the state, has boon
traced northerly to within a few miles of the south line of 8hiai>
WMSsee county ; and that the bed has been found of sufficiettt
thickness to admit of being profitably worked.
Much labor will be required in order to detertirine the north*
easterly limit of the coal mnge ; but so many facts respecting the
line of iUoui'Cmp, have been collected, that the labor will becon-
nderably lessened during the continuance of the examinations.
The unbroken character of the country, together with the rea^
ness with which the rock embracing the coal, dishitegrates, thos
covering the oat*cropping edges with debris, throw obstacles \h
the way of a connected series of examinations, which are severelv
fcit ; but thus far, we have been enabled to combat these difficuL
lies with greater success than could have been anticipated.
The line of coal has also been traced southwesterly into Jack*
son county, where the bed is of sufficient thickness to admit of be-
ing worked, and the coal is of a quality well fitted for ail the pur-
poses to which that substance is usually applied.
Two miles, in a southeasterly direction, from the village of
Barry, (Jaekson county,) some explorations have been made, and
CB amount, estimated at about 1500 bushels of coal, raised. This
coal has been applied to use in the blacksmiths' shops of the vi-
cnity, and is mostly of good quality, although it is occasionally
somewhat injured by the presence of iron pyrites. For the rea*
ma that the out*crop of thi& bed is nearly on a level with the wa-
ter of Samlstone creek, the persons engaged in the work Vfefte
aoabb to sink completely through the coal; it was, however,
psnetraled at one point, to a depth of about three feet The irA-
oiediate banks of the stream rise, by a gentle acclivity, to^a height
cf fivm ten to fiiteen fi^et, and by renewing the examinations upon