wy ee = 
1886.) 
changed the whole current of subsequent events to whatever 
extent those events were dependent upon them. And in like 
manner in geology, by stopping to think, not on what has hap- 
pened but on what might have happened, we sometimes discover 
a whole train of consequences flowing from some apparently in- 
significant cause which might seemingly just as well have hap- 
pened differently or have not happened at all. To one of these 
geological “ might have beens” I venture to ask the attention of 
interest, seeing that, as I have already said, we are met on this 
classic ground in a city whose destiny—whose very existence I 
may say—was determined by the possibility to which I wish to 
allude. 
lar hydr ographical features on the surface of our earth. A great 
Part, perhaps nearly a half of all the fresh water on the planet, is 
dammed up on the top of a table land between five and six hun- 
dred feet above the sea. At least this is true of the four upper 
) Members of the chain, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. The 
+ long irregular rim Surrounding this great inland sea varies in 
height from 1500 feet above tide down to the lake level. Of 
1 course in so long a water-shed there are many low places. But 
AH most of these we have no concern. : 
“sting geological possibilities. These are Buffalo and Chicago. 
uffalo is the outlet port and Chicago is the port at the head of 
lake Navigation. The relationship of these two cities to one 
a other is not accidental or determined by man, it is based on 
a geologica] causes over which man has had little ór no control. 
a Yet a geological study of the region shows us that solid as is the 
> 98 which stand the destinies of these two cities, there yet 
ie been critical epochs in the development of the lake district 
when a very slight difference would have been sufficient to change, 
“ven to reverse their relations to one another. 
é IL . | 
o N 
pe 
Present lowest point in the water-shed or rim of the 
K sia *X.—No. x. 57 
~ 
“ What Might Have Been.” 857 
the section to-day, in the hope that it will not be quite without — 
The Great lakes of North America are one of the most singu- : 
There are, however, two of these low places that involve inter- _ 
ar ~t. ; : Ye 7 
The channel of the Niagara river at Black rock of course 
te basin. It also proves that this was the lowest point when — wit 
_ flow of the Niagara river began. Any one who has been oe 
va to the outlet has observed that the land on bog sidesis ` 
