NIAGARA FALLS. 
383 
CHAPTER XX. 
Niagara Falls , its past, present and prospective condition. 
Among the phenomena of waterfalls and river gorges, the Cataract of Niagara is justly 
regarded as holding the first rank, and as standing an index in the path of time, by which the 
influence of numberless ages upon the surface of our planet may be recorded. Its present, 
its former and its prospective conditions have engaged the investigation and speculation of 
many philosophers. The possible consequences of its entire reduction, and the drainage of 
the upper lakes, have excited the wonder and the apprehensions of many. The estimated 
time of its recession has sprinkled grey hairs among the fresh locks of the young and blooming 
earth, and alarmed those who would consider her still youthful in years. 
But amid all these speculations, Niagara still remains; the thunder of its cataract still 
reverberates through its deep chasms, and its ocean of waters still rolls on as, unknown to 
the white man, it rolled a thousand years ago. When we come to the investigation of facts, 
we find that, except to travellers and the aborigines, Niagara was unknown until within the 
last fifty years; and that even during this time no accurate observations have been made, no 
monument erected to determine whether the falls are retrograding or not. The testimony of 
living witnesses and historical evidence unite in confirming the opinion that the water is wearing 
away the rock, and that the outline of the falls has changed. From these general observations, 
it has been estimated that they have receded at the rate of about forty feet in fifty years. 
Without pretending to question the accuracy of this or any other estimate of the kind, or to 
establish any rate of retrogression in the falls, we may examine its present, and from nume¬ 
rous facts infer its past condition; and from these we are entitled to draw an inference for 
the future, though without specifying time. 
Both in relation to the former condition and to the future recession of the falls, we may 
regard the problem as undecided with respect to time. So many disturbing causes are con¬ 
stantly presenting themselves, that, although the great principles may be regarded as esta¬ 
blished, still it is impossible to calculate accurately the effect of these minor influences. The 
recession of every mile changes the whole aspect: new elements are brought into operation; 
the nature of the strata varies ; the relative height of certain portions, and the elevation of the 
whole cascade is altered; and we have had time to observe only one of the phases, and to 
reason from that to the future, before the condition is changed, and we must take into the 
account new influences, which the previous changes have called into operation. 
