Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-01-23
How Coal WAS sMApE.-GeoloRy has


proved that AT one period, there existed
an enormously abundant land vegeta-
ton, the ruins or rubbish Of which car
ried into the sens, and there sunk to the
bottom, and afterwards covered over by
sand and mud beds, became the sub
stance wnich we now recognize as coal.
This was a natural transaction Of vast
consequence to us, seeing how much u
tility we find in coal, both for warming
our dwellings and for various manuiac
lures, as well ns the production Of steam,
by which 80 great mechanical power
10 generated. 1t may naturally excite
surprise tha, the vegetable remains
should have so completely changed their
apparent Character, and become black.
But this can be explained by chemistry;
and part of the marvel becomes clear TO
the simplest understanding when VIC re-
call the familiar fact, that damp hay,
thrown closely into heap gives ou,
heat, and becomes of dar. color.
When vegetable mass is excluded
from the air and subjected to great
pressure, bituminous fermentation is
produced, and the result is the mineral
coal. which is Of various characters, ac-
cording as the mass has been originally
intermingIed with sand. clay, or other
earthly impurities. On account Of the
change effected by naturalization, it is
difficult TO detect in coal the traces Nfa
vegetable structure; but these can be
made clear in all except the highly bit
luminous caking coal, by cutting or
polishing it down into thin transparent
slices, when the microscope shows the f.
bre and cells very plainly.
From distinct isolated specimens found
in the sand stones amidst the coal beds,
we discovered the nature of the plants
of this era. They are almost all ola
simple cellular structure, and such as
exist with US in small forms (horse tails,
club mosses, and fens. )but advanced to
an enormous magnitude.
The species are long since extinct.
The vegetation generallyis is such as now
grows in clusters Of tropical islands; but
it must have been the result of a high
temperature obtained otherwise then
that ofthe tropical regions now is for the
coal strata are found in temperate, and e.
ven the polar regions.
The conclusion, therefore, to which
lost geologists have arrived is that the
earth, originally an incandescent or
highly heated mass, was gradually cool
ed down, until in the Carboniierous pc
riod it fostered growth of terrestrial
vegetation all over its surface, TO which
the exi ting Junglcs of the tropics are
mere barrenness in comparison. The
high and uniform temperature combined
with greater proportion Of carbonic acid
gas in the manufacture, could not only
sustain a gigantic and prolific vegetation.
but would also crate dense vapors, show
ers aud rains; and these again gigantic
rivers, periodical foundations and del
tas. Thus all the conditions for extern
sive depos is of wood, in esturies, would
arise from this high temperature; and c.
very circumstance connected with the
coal measures points to such condit-
ions.-Chambe,'s Mdgds ne.
A PRorIssoR.-The learned PROBES
sor F. went into the country last
summer to visit an old friend. The next
morning after his arrival, the two went
out Tor ride in the fields. They had
not proceeded far when they came to a
set Of bars and the gentleman seeing
stout boy standing near asked him to
take them down, when the following di-
alogue took place.
"What shall take them down for 2"
"We wish to ride through; and this
gentleman is Professor, so you must
make haste"
A Professor! What's that?"
"A Professor is man that can do
anything"
Wall, rather guess if he can do
anything he can let the bars down."