CLIMATE OF THE LAKE REGION. 375 



tionate extent. In discussing this so-called " secular " variation it 

 becomes necessary to procure data from outside sources. 



Milwaukee represents well Lake Michigan, and Cleveland Lake 

 Erie. Each is about half-way between the head and foot of the lake 

 upon which it is situated, and where the changes may fairly be con- 

 sidered as means of the whole. From Milwaukee I have a table of 

 the rainfall from 1844 to 1880, and of the "secular" variations of Lake 

 Michigan from 1859 to 1882. From Cleveland, of the rainfall from 

 1856 to 1886, and of the lake variations since 1859. 



At each of these places the standard or plane of reference is the 

 high water of 1838. The standard at Detroit is an arbitrary one, 

 namely, the water-table at the Hydraulic Works. The mean of the 

 last fifty years is five feet below that standard, and corresponds, as 

 nearly as I can determine, to one foot below the meayi of 1838, and 

 two feet below the extreme of June of that year. 



Of the fluctuations of the water prior to the period mentioned the 

 only data are derived from the recollections of old settlers. These, 

 though often indefinite and sometimes faulty, are yet of great value. 

 Dr. Houghton, in his report of 1839, gives certain concordant state- 

 ments of old inhabitants, going back as far as 1800. In a paper pub- 

 lished in "Smithsonian Contributions," volume xii. Colonel Charles 

 Whittlesey has collected items from all sources within his reach, go- 

 ing back as far as 1788. Yague as many of these details are, there is 

 so much that is of definite value, that it seems to me possible to con- 

 struct a curve of the levels of Lake Erie Tor the whole period, Avhich 

 should exhibit, with tolerable accuracy, the highest and lowest extremes 

 at least. As I propose to use these aids in formulating certain con- 

 clusions, I ought here to give the reader opportunity to form his own 

 judgment as to their value and authoritv. 



To begin, it may be taken as universally admitted that the lakes 

 were at a higher level in 1838 than at any known period before. In 

 confirmation of this is the fact, among others, that forest-trees of a 

 century's growth and more were killed by the high water of that year. 

 Two other eras of very high water are reported by tradition, the one 

 in 1814-15, the other in 1788. Facts and comparisons reported render 

 it nearly certain that at both these periods the levels attained to some- 

 where near the standard of 1838. At the former date much land and 

 many buildings were submerged on the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. 

 Many statements also bear upon the fact of high-water periods between 

 the several dates mentioned. Dr. Houghton relates, on the authority of 

 Colonel Henry Whiting : "Old inhabitants agree that the water was 

 very high in the years 1800 to 1802, roads along Detroit River being 

 completely inundated, and even rendered impassable." And further, 

 that in 1821 the river began to rise, "and in 1828 had again attained 

 the elevation of 1815, submerging wharves that had been built in the 

 interval ; and it so remained until 1830." 



