THE GREAT LAKES: Creeping Calamity

A great natural phenomenon, slow in pace but immensely damaging to the works of man, has begun to affect the Great Lakes to a calamitous degree. The level of this inland waterway, the world's biggest and most important, is steadily rising.

Last week, from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario, the water line stood as much as four feet above normal. Spring thaws may boost levels two feet higher. The creeping flood has done enormous property damage. For example, in the state of Michigan alone, the official estimate is $1 billion just for this...

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