The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-05
THE GULF STREAM.

From the leading article in the July number ofthe
Southern Literary Messenger-a periodical perhaps
second to published in the Union, in point Of
literary and scientific excellence-we condense the
70 lowing interesting particulars relative to the dis
covery and phenomena of the Gulf Stream. And
here by the way, would remark, that the article
to which we have reference is eminenty calculated
to sustain and add to the already high reputation
CURED by the Messenger; and much regret that
our gleanings are necessarily brief to give more
than faint idea of its merits-or rather those Of
portion of the subject Of which It treats:
The existence of the Gulf Stream was not gene
rally known TO navigators-though i had been con
santy crossed 10y them for period Of nearly three
centures-until ITS warmth was dcoveIed by DR.
Frank in about 1875; and up to the present day.
nearly all that is known about II is ascd upon nior
nation left US by that philosopher
10 1870, while in London, Franklin was consulted
in relation TO a memorial which the Boa d Of Gus
toms Boston had sent to the Lords Of the Treesu
nv, reque ting that the Falmouth packets might be
sent to Providence instead Of to New York, in
sequence Of the fact, that they general fort
night longer to New York, than common ira iers
we're between London and Prov dence. This APP
. AIRED strange to the Doctor, for London much
farther than lmou,b, and from Falmouth the rout
were The same, and the difference should have been
the other way. The difficulty, however, vas ex-
planned to him by a Nantucket wbaler, who CHANGED
then to be in London. The difference was shown TO
arise from the Circumstance that the Rhode Island
Captains were acquainted with the Gulf Stream,
whist ti.ose Of the English packets were not
The latter kept in II, and were set back sixty or
seventy days, while the former avoided it al
together. AT the request OF the Doctor he then
traced upon a chart the course OF this stream from
the Straits Of Florida he course of the Gulf
Stream LAID down by that Fisherman, from has
general recollection Of IT, is retained 10 charts at
the present day, almost without an alteration. The
chart was sent to the Falmouth Captains but by
them received little no attention.
In HIS, as has been stated, the warmth Of the wa
tiers Of the stream was first detected, but for political
reasons the discovery not promulgated until
! 1890 It's immedise effect m Na,igi ton was TO
make the ports of the North accessible IN winter
as ~ summer No part of the world aft Jrded more
difficult or dangerous navigation than the approach
Of our Northern coast before this discovery. Thus
ad those acquainted with the stream and this pecu.
liarity Of it, double advantage over naygators who
were not so informed for, IN summer, by avoiding
its strong current their voyages were greatly short
ened, sId IN winter, 10y tsk advantage Of its gene
raj temperature, though their voyage might be some
what heightened, the dreadful storms common TO our
Northern coast at that season were avoided. The
extent of the agency, which the accessb Of the
Northern ports in winter, had in the falling off Of The
direct trade of the South might afford, TO the polit-
cal economist, subject curl and interesting
spec ulstiop. Whatever that agency might have
been, certain is IT, that after the PRONUNCIATION Of the
discovery in question, toe direct commerce OF
1
taat of the North TO increase. BY a reference
| To the Commercial stat sites Of the time IL will
be seen that in 1863, the commerce OF tie two
| Csroi,nss elual,d tnst OF all the New England
States togs th.I more Than double hat Of New
/ York and exceeded that Of Pennsy lvaniab one
third. In 1892, he exports from New York amount
ed TO aud half millions from Per nsy lvanis to
three million eight hundred and twenty thousand
and from Charleston, South Carolina alone TO near
lly iour millions of dollars. But in 1885 by which
time the pccullarilies Of the Gulf Stream bsgsn To be
understood by nsvigatois, and the passages from Eu-
rope TO The northern ports TO be greatly shortened
toms collected at Philadcl phia alone amounted to
nearly three millions, or more than half of ali col
ectcd in the other States together.
/ The highest temperature of the Gulf Str,am Is
80 degrees, or about nine degrees above the ocean
temperature due the latitude in which IL Is found
at this neat Increasing lis latitude ten degrees il
loses but two degrees Of temperature, and after hav
ing run three thousrnd miles toW ard the North !,
still preserves, even in inter- the heat Of summer
The fngs Of New Foundlapd owe their existence to
the presence, in that cold sea, OF so large volume Of
warm wafer that brought by he Gulf Stream -
There it meets the icebergs Of the North laden with
earthly deposits dIssoves hem, and thus contributes
10 the formation Of the banks ofth region Sir Phi
Up Brooke found that while he ar IN each eide o,
the stream near the Banks of New FvundIand was
the freeing point, the temperature Of the current
was at eighty degrees.
| The causes which give rise 10 tie phenomena of
the Gulf Sircam are yet yelled in ohscuny Eve
nv theory ye, suggested has been utterly expl,d.d
and !, remains for some future discle OF ,p,ue,iye
philosophy 10 acc lmpish what Franklin wing pro-
baby 10 the imperfect lights Of the age, found hImsel
inadequate to.-St. Louis Gareie