Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-27
''rfiE SEA.
rftE SEA,
FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLYGENCER.

piers, and at times been discussed with GREAT abili
ty and zeal by De Mellet and others, is the con-
slant and certain dimnution of the Sea- or the OBJ.
servable decrease of the waters of the Ocean,
Facts can be produced to show that the ocean line
coast has frequently altered projecting itself into
the sea, and that rocks have appeared above the
waters which were known in former DAYS to have
been considerably immersed. These facts have
been attributed by some to volcanic action, and bv
others to the gradual rising of the land by interior
heat, expanding beneath and forcing the mass
above to rise. But we propose to show that all
these phenomena of the change in the ocean line
OF seacoast and appearance of rocks above
the water, is caused by constant dminution of
the waters of the ocean, and that process is at
all times going on by which the substances held
in solution in the ocean waters are converted into
solids. In order to make this subject plain and
lucid, all technical scientific nomencIatures will be
avoided, and even the names of the busy and diff
terent classes of architects in the great work of
consolidation of the vast uufathomable ocean will
be called by simple Names The object of scien-
tific knowlegeis 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 Ma
lures facts plainly and concisely. shall endea-
vor to 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
classifcations set down by themselves Now to
my subject.
The sea- the waters ofhe sea- are composed pa IT.
ly OF solid substance, held in solution Some ofthese
salt, soda and lime 1t is with these three we have
principally to DEAL From these are manufactured
shells, concealed coral reefs islands, and banks through
out the depths. The Florida reefs, Antilles, coasts
OF Mexico, and all Polynesia, nearly ALL taken
from the solid substances held in solution by the wa.
tiers OF the ocean. The formation of coral islands in
the ocean is most singular, curious, and wonderful
The little busy scientific workmen employed in this spe
ccS OF architecture are SO very minute that it requires
powerful microscope to show even the semblance of
some OF them, while others can be detected by the
naked eye. They are divided into separate classes,
and each class is perfectly master of his business
We lind them not only practical workmen but scen-
tific architects and chemists Let any who feels
interest in this subject take up few shells, single
valve, double and triple valve; examine them close
ly he will find the interior OF the shell is composed of
lime mixed with large proportion of soda, and as
he approaches the exterior, it will be to be mixed
with the three substances-Iime soda and salt-that
s as hard as the most durable stone. These substan
ces are taken from the waters of the ocean, separated
by the animal formed in the waters from whence they
are taken, and made in the Same substance in which
they were held in solution. This peculiar che mca
separation-the precipitation oil each substance in the
singular manner performed by shelf in the tabrica-
ton OF their domics-has never yet been attained by
the most learned and practical chemist.
The little coral insect, which silently, surely and in
dustrousy builds up from the depth his Tree house.
is equally with the sell-s an accomplished architect
and scientific chemist He selects his materials from
the ocean, separates them mixes them proper proper
tlonS, and forms them into Solids in the same medium
from which the materials were TAKEN Each workman
performs his part abandons it when finished, and gives
place to another SET alicaly the Others and
more so than either the brckayer, the carpenter or
paserer in modern building. These submerged land
ocean mechanics and chemists never fail in their work.
Nth each other. We never see unvalve
attempting to fabrcate bivalves mansion; nor do we
see tree-coral working on the mansion OF mush- |
room; but each builds his structure, and then gives
place to another character of workman at the moment
he is required to commence.
The first mechanic in this great work of the dminu-
ton OF the is the tree coral This little insect
generally may say always selects the deepest water
OF all this tribe to work in his foundation req lres
Hat surface; here he fastens his base, and commences
The superstructure. The whole body commenc es
their work at the same time, and continue uncea.
No mistake is made not is out OF its proper posi-
ton, but each regularly and beautifully arranged, and
in such manner that neither storms, waves, nor other
causes can dspace or throw down their mansions.
Here then is foundation laid for an island or CONT
nent. These habitaons now abandoned, and the
little chemist and mechanic drifts off to some other bank
there again to form his forest house. He now re-
placed by another, who subiracs from the LIQUID ocean
his materials, them through his laboratory and
forms another species OF mansion, uniting in sold |
mass the forests of his predecessor abandons and
another, and another succeeds him. until the reef be-
comes an lsland Salt, soda and lime are The princi- |
pal ingredients which compose this solid base on which
there to be formed trees and other vegetation
This supersucture now becomes the home OF immune.
rable ertaceous migratory fish, which form their coat
or shells from the same source as the coral insect.
Let us illustrate the formation OF shells, coral &C.
and show the dmnution OF the ocean by this process
Let US box up certain space in the ocean, say about
one thousand pounds OF water. Within this space all
the varieties OF coral insects can perform their work.
and all the numerous shel fish take their place and alb
strac from the the materials for their domcis:
when all have hnished let weigh the water and we
will find it has lost in weight the amount of material
required to tabrcate each and every style of building
and the waters would not occupy much space. IF
transferred to another box the waters would be found
10 have been diminished This, then, is the process by
which the waters of the SLOWLY but certainly
on the earth. The waters are becoming
solids.
But other causes aiding in this great work such as
he ocean plants such as kep and particularly the Sar-
sossa plant, or gulf weed These materials grow Ell
her the surface OF the ocean, deriving all their sub
stance from it, or adhere to the coral formations and
assist in forming islands. This process OF sand. form
ing is uniting in one great mass all ,he Antilles, the |
or eat OF islands in the Pacific China with Japan
and finally will unite the whole of the Pacific isles with
The continent OF Asia, diminishing the ocean BY this |
of solid, and, in fact, diminishing the
waters OF the earth by many millions of square miles,
This theory is no wild and visionary speculation
Already have topographers and surveyors discovered
that their line OF modern date does correspond
with the sea line OF ancient times. The vast accumu-
laton OF coral reefs and islands in the Pacific, and on
the coast OF North and South America has diminished
the ocean liquid sufficiently alter the seacoasts of
Europe-proiecting them further into the sea- One re-
markable fact in this dimnution of the shores of the
Mediterranean, which appear to be higher now than
they were formerly, is particularly shown in the Straits
Of Gibraltar and the passage of the Dardanelles. De
Melle noticed these facts sixty years SINCE but At
trbued them to very different from those herein
stated. This process of island making is among the
most wonderful and simple of Nature. We first per-
ceive an innumerable and almost mperceptibe number
of minute invec,s forming solid mass which in time
reaches the surface of the This coral rock reef
now becomes the home of multudes OF shell fish, that
pactly with the water; kelp attaches itself to the
rocks and the action OF the during gales tears much
Of it off and deposites it among the crevces, where it
decays. The Sargossa plant finds its way by the in
Vulnerable currents OF the to these islands and is
thrown upon them in vast quantities, forming Tempo
rary SOIL the ea-bird seeks the place for ood as the
sea-weeds contain many myrads of little marine in
seets The birds enrich the deposltes already there