Box 11, Folder 3: Correspondence September-December 1871

To Gen C. B. Comstock December 1st 1871

Milwaukee Dec 4, 1871

Dr Sir

Upon reciept of your letter of the 2 I immediately set about finding whether anything, and if so what is the matter with my zero, and whether there is any error in the reductions of the observation of the level of the Lake at the Station. As I before wrote you, a couple level run from an original bench mark shows that there has been no change in the mark used here; and there can be no mistake in measuring rod.

An examination of the table & curves herewith sent suggest the idea that there may have been since 1866, some misapprehension of the zero adopted. That zero was established by Capt. Meade exactly one foot above the high water of 1838* and all my observations & reports are made with reference to this zero. [With?] the memorandum accompanying you letter you say the plains of reference is the high water of 1838, which, if correct, * Report 1860 page 8.

[Left Page] is therefore one foot too low. -- Please see whether there has been any change of this kind, and whether this will make the results move in accordance with those at the other stations. If the trouble is not here I will look farther into the matter.

Please send me you montly results for 1868 & 1869 - also for November 1871, when ready.

My annual averages include observations made in the winter & hence are lower than yours. You will notice that I use our zero - always subtracting your figure from 5.00-

[Right Page] Table showing the Mean of Lake Michigan [Milwaukee city lake survey]

[Left Page] [grapg Milwaukee City zero of grades 5 ft below Lake Survey zero]

[Right Page] Table showing the Mean of Lake Michigan monthly level of the Milwaukee River & Lake Michigan above the City Zero of Street grades, which is the level of the river in March 1836 and four feet below the high water of 1838, which last was one foot below the Zero of the Lake Survey Prepared by I. A. Lapham

[Monthly Lake survey, 1859-1871]

[Left Page]

To Surgeon Gen'l Dec 6, 1871

[Right Page]

Milwaukee Dec 6, 1871

Sir

According to the recollection of the venerable Col. Samuel Stone of Chicago the year 1819 must have been one of great fires in the North West similar to those of the present year. "The smoke was so dense at Detroit that artificial light was required all day on the 9th of November; & on that day in Green Bay Capt Blake was compelled to cart anchor 14 miles or so from Fort Howard and await clear weather before he could get into the river. The darkness continued two or three days, and extended to Mackina & Western N. York [New York] The autumn had been very dry; cattle had to be driven often to a great distance for water; and the rivers were low. This darkness could only result from burning prairies and forests - there were then no towns or cities in this region to be burned!

I take the liberty of requesting that you will examine the original returns from Fort Howard, Fort Snelling & other stations at the Nort West for that year and see whether there is any thing in them to confirm this recollection of my friend Col. Stone, or to throw further light upon the subject.