Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-23

sells throw shingles overheard, every half mile,
so as to know the way back, is wholly without
foundation. Grand River Eagle will please
copy"
rB- The above appeared in the Chicago Adj
rertizer with the request that the Grand River
Eagle would copy--the editor not knowing
that the press had mouth piece at the port Of
Grand Haven through which he could speak,
The early days of the West, when Chicago ves-
sells transported the products of our forests, and
years since, vessels coming here for freights du-
ring the dull season, have had the reputation of
thus marking their otherwise trackless way
But the business has changed and Grand River
mostly owns her shipping, and the masters have
learned The aoay to and from Chicago; and for
years our fleet have been the pilots on the route
1t is not true that the Grand Rirer vessels
"throw shingles overheard every half mile &C."
but we are led to think it is practiced to some
extent by others, as we understand the masters
of the Grand River fleet this season have one
and all refused to shorten sail to accompany
those occasionally visiting this port
OCEAN SoUNDNGs.-Shape of its bottom-The
Ocean aoiH finally become Land-The Secretary
of the Navy has directed the commanders of pub
lie cruisers to get deep soundings whenever it
is calm, wherever they may be. Capt. Barron,
OF the John Adams, has taken line of deep sea
soundings across the Atlantic. His report is
step towards arriving at the shape of the great
Atlantic basin between the Capes of Virginia
and the Island of Madeira, showing it to be at
least five miles and half deep.
A line of deep sea soundings has also been
run across the Gulf of Mexico, from Tampico to
the Straits of Florida, by Capt. Pratt, of the Az
bany. The basin was found to be about mile
deep, and the Gulf Stream in the Florida Pass
about 5000 feet.
w. ID. Porter, in a communication to the Ma
tionaJ Intelhgencer, expresses the opinion that
the Ocean is slowly but certainly diminishing
that its waters are becoming solids.
The process Of island making is among the
most wonderful and simple of nature. We first
perceive an innumerabe and almost impercept-
IDLE number OF minute insects forming solid
mass, which in time reaches the surface of the
ocean. This coral rock reef now becomes the
home of mutitudes of shell-fsh, that die and de-
posit their shells, and fill up the reef compactly,
even with the water; kelp attaches itself to the
rocks, and the action of the sea during gales
tears much of it off and deposits it among the
crevices, where it decays. The Saragossa plant
finds its way by the innumerable currents of the
ocean to these islands, and is thrown upon them
in vast quantities, forming temporary SOIL
The sea-bird seeks the place for food, as the
sea weeds contain many myriads of little marine
insects. The birds enrich the deposits already
there and now comes the everlasting man.
grove, sezlng hold with its tendrils of the sharp
points of coral, and firmly attaching itself to
them. Here, then, is an island, the whole of
which has been formed from the solid contents
of the ocean, which had been held in solution
from the beginning of creation, nothing Of which
can be returned to it, as the whole substance
has been rendered indissoluble in water by the
peculiar chemical process which rendered it SOL
ID. Here is process which must in time, en-
close the Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico, ma
king them misunderstanding from them nearly
all their salt, soda, and lime, and leaving them
fresh water lakes, similar to those of Erie, On
sario, &C., which, at some former period, may
nave been salt. And by this process the Pacif-
C Ocean will be narrowed into a mere strait, or
not wider than few days from continent to con-
inent.
PANE's ATMOSPHERIC LIGHT-Three gentle |
men of Nashua-Messrs. Charles Cunningham,
Dr. Carpenter, and j. T. SAWYER have purchas. |