Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-25
From the National Intelligencer
THE SEA.

khAEf SEA- aVsE
Among the many subjects which have
attracted the attention of both ancient
and modern philosophers, and at times
been discussed with great ability and
zeal by De Mellet and others, is the con-
slant and certain diminution of the Sea,
or the observable decrease of the waters
of the Ocean. Facts can be produced 10
show that the ocean line of coast has FREE
quently altered, projecting itself into the
sea; and tina, rocks have appeared above
the water which were known in former
days 10 have been considerably miners
ed. These facts have been attributed by
some TO volcanic action, and by others
10 the gradual rising of the land by inter-
ior heat, expanding beneath and forcing
the mass above 10 rise. But we propose
10 show that all these phenomena of the
change in the ocean line of seacoast, and
appearance ofrocks above the water, is
caused by a constant diminution of the
waters in the ocean; and ihata process
is at all times going on by which the sub
stances held in solution in the ocean wa.
iers are converted into solids. In order
to make this subject plain and lucid, all
technical. scientific nomenclatares will be
avoided, and even the names of the busy
and different classes of architects in the
great work of consolidation of the vast
unfathcmable ocean will be called by
simple names. The object ola scientific
knowledge is not to cover up science by
names which can be only translated by
the learned. but simply TO make smooth
the paths of nature, and open her deep
resources Of knowledge and natures
facts plainly and concisely. shall en-
.leavor 10 do this in simple terms, and
beg the learned and scientific savan TO
excuse me if / use the vulgar terms and
names instead Of the learned classical
tons set down by themselves. Now to
my subject.
The sea, or the waters of the sea, are
composed partly Of solid substances,
held in solution. Some of these are
salt, soda, and lime. II is with these
three we have principally to deal. From
these are manufactured shells, concealed
coral reefs, islands, and banks, through
out the ocean depths. The Florida reefs,
s Antilles, coasts Of Mexico, and ali Pol
nesia, or nearly all, are taken from the
solid substances held in solution by the
waters Of the ocean. The formation of
coral islands in the ocean is most Singh
lar, curious. and wonderful. The little
busy scientific workmen employed in
this species of architecture are so very
minute that it requires powerful micro
scope 10 show even the semblance of
some Of them, while others can be de-
tecled by the naked eye. They are d.
yided into seperate classes, and each
Glass is perfectly master Of his business.
We find ihem not only practical work
men, but scientific architects aud chem
lists. Let any one who feels an interest
s in this snbjecttake, up few shells. sin
gle valve, double and triple valve; ex.
anime them closely; he will find the in
terror Of the shell is composed Of lime
mixed with large proportion OF soda,
and. as he approaches the exterior, il
will be seen TO be SO mixed with the
three misunderstanding, soda, and salt,
that il is as hard as the most durable
stone. These substances are taken
from the waters Of the ocean, separated
by the animal formed in the waters from
whence they we're taken, and made in
roluble in The same substance in which
they were held in solution. This PEI
culiar chemical separation, the 2recipita-
ton of each substance, in the singular
manner performed by sIiell-fsh in the
fabrication of their domicils--has never
YET been attained by the most learned
and practical chemist. The little cor
nj insect, which silently, surely. and in
dnstriously builds up from the ocean
depth his tree house. is. equally with the
shell-fish, an accomplished architect anu
scientific chemist. lie selects his ma
terials from the ocean, separates them,
mixes them in proper proportions. and
forms them into solids, in the same me-
dunn from which the materials were ia
ken. Each workman performs his part,
abandons il when finished, and gives
place to another set, as systematically as
the other, and more SO than either the
bricklayer, the carpenter, or plasterer in
modern building. These submerged
and-ocean mechanics and chemists new
er fail in their work, nor interfere with
each other. We never see q unisalve at
tempting to fabricate biyaIve's mansion;
por do we sec tree-coral working on