Show A FUTURE CATACLYSM tb of the atlantic cot nd tb of niagara rail tho havo again unfolded to the public views to tho effect that alio atlantic coast lino of tho united stales is settling away and will bo at length submerged by tho ocean the anto at which it is pinking is not to create immediate alarm tho most that is claimed is that the crust of the earth is falling in at the rato of a quarter of an inch a year or about a foot in fifty years at this rato tho atlantic ocean will submerge new york city about tho time when by the recession ot niagara falls to tho outlet of lako erie at hafl alo the chain of great lakes will be drained of a largo portion of their contents this generation will hardly take an interest in cither event which at a period in tho future so very remote as to lose much of its interest as a study tho sinking of the atlantic coast has long been a of scientific conjecture and calculation by what system of measurement the fact has been ascertained wo arc not informed instruments st of a very delicate character which considerable accuracy almost infinitesimal distances have been invented for scientific calculation cu and tho results which they produce anro sometimes very striking it is not impossible that aa tho earths internal fires arc still cooling alic process ot shrinkage shrin kago also continues and that the shell falls in as a vacuum is created by alie decrease an the size of the central fiery core but there arc grave reasons why it may bo doubted any uniform rato of sinking is perceptible by any means of measurement cither along tho atlantic seacoast or elsewhere i but that tho falls arc receding tharo can be no doubt that they formerly located near alio outlet of niagara olivcr is an established fact and that they havo receded within a recent era seven miles from their present locality is equally certain when they shall backing air tar that the across abo outlet of lake erie shall civo way tho outpour from the basin of tho lakes will sweep down through tho valley of the ontario and out through tho channel of tho st lawrence in a flood that will devastate the entire east lako michigan owing to its great depth will not however bo drained dry but will rc cedo to somo distance from its present shore this while apparently leaving chicago an inland city will merely provide it more ground over which to spread to tho eastward and will supply a long tell want As it is not possible however that this event can occur within tho next two and fifty thousand years there will be amplo timo for future generations to mako such preparations to meet it as may appear advisable budor tho stances chicago journal |