The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-16
From the Journal Of Commerce.
INTERNAL HEAT OF THE EARTH.

Much has been said and written in relation to the
temperature of the interior of the earth.
The temperature of the atmosphere, well as the
water, in numerous European mines, has for series
of years been carefully noted
These mines have been found to differ very much
from each other in regard to the increase of heat
you proceed downwards, estimating by the same
measured distance in each.
Some of the mines in Europe have been found to
have temperature high Is deg. of Fahrenheit,
which is summer heat and none lower than 49
degrees
Some Of the learned members Of the Academy of
Science of France who have made extensive investi-
Cations and collected facts bearing this question:
assert that the heat Of the interior of the earth
creases in proportion to the distance you descend and
give the result of the examinations made IN Artesan
wells as evidence of this
have with case in this country in which
there has been found difference in temperature of
the earth in its interior, beyond certain depth
Salt wells have been sunk to the depth of about
1000 feet in instances and know Of none
where the increased depth discovered an increased
temperature.
The temperature of the water from the wells at Sy-
racuse in l04l was 81 degrees of Fahrenheit. The
temperature of the weather during the time of their
observations from IA to "a degrees In l840 in the
| same wells, the temperature varied from so to 81
degrees, and it was during that year that well
was sunk, which may account for this huctuation
The temperature of the atmosphere during that year,
as noted, varied from 26 to 50 degrees. No obser-
| vations were made in the months of January and
February in either year, which accounts for the alb
sence of the extreme degrees of surface cold In
that portion of the mammoth cave in Kentucky, in
which the nitrate of lime exists abundantly, the
temperature in all the observations made shows no
change below SO 1-2 degrees, nor any above 60 de-
grees of Fahrenheit. How the temperature of the
greatest depths of the may compare with that OF
It's has not to my knowledge been
| certained
have met with natural ice in the bowels Of the
earth, or rather in the cleft of mountain Of mode
rate height, which had remained in its crystallzed
state from time mmemoriaI. This ice, from its pc.
sition has not been carried by the hand of man. but
must have formed there.
The deepest wells are regarded by the people gen.
orally affording the coolest water but this dife
renee of temperature is only as compared to water
near the surface.
In the State of Virginia. theirs several hot and
warm springs. have not met with any analysis O
the waters of these springs and therefore cannot I'M
derake to account for the high temperature from any
other course than local subte ranean heat fire.
In various sections OF the world the eaTth's rface
has high temperature, and two three feet below
Its surface the heat nsupporabe but these places
there is immo1erate local course, which known
Should it be satisfactorily aimed that the hea
of the interior of the earth increases you progress
downwards Independent of immoderate and loca
causes, the fact is not wonderful than that tine
cold increases as you proceed upwards, above the
earh's surface, in the atmosphere, which is fact
well ascertained to be indsputable.
1 will endeavor in the of few weeks to col
ect together some facts to the temperature of the
various deep wells which have been sunk in variou;
parts of the United States, and also of the greatest
depths in the Mammoth Cave, and give these to The
readers of the Journal E. M.