Erie
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Erie. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
city, port of entry, and countyseat of Erie co., Pa., on Lake Erie, and on the Lake Shore, the Pennsylvania, the Erie, and several other railroads; 85 miles S. W. of Buffalo; 100 miles N. E. of Cleveland. Erie is on a bluff, having a grand view of the lake, is laid out with broad streets at right angles with each other, and has several large and attractive parks. It is lighted with gas and electricity, and has a bountiful supply of water from the lake. The peculiarly advantageous location of Erie has given it high rank as a shipping and manufacturing point. It has the largest land-locked harbor on Lake Erie. The harbor has been greatly improved. Presque Isle, lying directly in front of the city, furnishes means of ample protection; three lighthouses stand at the entrance to the harbor, and substantial wharves, where merchandise is transferred directly from vessels to cars, extend along the entire front. The principal industries are manufactures of iron, steam engines, machinery, carwheels, car-work, stoves, engines and boilers, chemicals, blast furnaces, automobiles mobiles, flour and grist mill products, brick, leather, organ, pump, furniture, and various kinds of woodwork factories, and petroleum refineries. The leading articles of shipment are lumber, bituminous and semi-bituminous coal, iron ore, petroleum, and manufactured products, and these are conveyed by railroads, steamboats, and sailing vessels that ply regularly between Erie and other ports on the great lakes. Among the notable buildings are the City Hall, Union Depot, Government Building (includes Postoffice, Custom House, and other departments), State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home on Garrison Hill, Hamot Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, Protestant Home for the Friendless, United States Marine Hospital, and Central School. Near the city is a memorial in the form of a block house, erected by the State, in honor of Anthony Wayne. The city has excellent public schools, a public library, daily and weekly newspapers, 3 National and several savings banks. Erie occupies the site of a French fort, called Fort de la Presque, built in 1753, laid out was as a town in 1795; had a portion incorporated as a borough in 1805; and the whole was given a city charter in 1851. It was the headquarters of Commodore Perry in the War of 1812; the fleet with which he defeated the British in the battle of Put-in-Bay was built and equipped here. Natural gas was discovered in 1889. Pop. (1910) 66,525; (1920) 93,372.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
e'ri, one of the Great Lakes of North America . Lake Erie lies next above Lake Ontario. It receives the waters of Lake Huron through the Detroit River. Its greatest length is 240 miles. Its greatest width, 50 miles. Its area is 9,900 square miles. Ordinarily its surface is 570 feet above sea level. The greatest depth of Lake Erie is 210 feet. Its average depth is 100 feet. It is the one of the Great Lakes whose bottom does not extend below the level of the sea. It discharges its waters through the Niagara River to Lake Ontario. The southern coast has a number of excellent harbors, including those at Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Sandusky, and Toledo. Heavy storms create powerful undercurrents that render the navigation of the lake peculiarly dangerous. When a storm comes up on Lake Erie, captains of all but the largest boats aim to run for a place of shelter. Lake Erie is connected with Lake Ontario by the famous Welland ship canal, and with the Hudson River by the Erie Canal running, by way of the Mohawk Valley, from Buffalo to Albany. See Superior , etc.