Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-07

descend below the surface OF the earth, we ind the
temperature rising at the rate Of one degree fol
every forty five feet Not more than one-half a
mile below the surface, arrive at sufficient de-
| gree of heat to melt our metallic substances. Hot
springs give further evidence to the same fact as
well as the phenomena observed in boring Artesian
! wells. Volcanic eruptions also eyince high de,
gree Of heat below the crust of the earth. Strata
are deposited one above the other, the youngest al
ways uppermost. Now suppose we remove these
successive strata-we shall come to the massive
rocks, which are proved to have been in fluid
condition under the influence of intense heat
their primary condition that of an igneous
1uidity, and the fiery mass cooled in consequence
of the relation Of our solar system to space Re
cent researches have shown that the celestial spaces
are intensely cold-not less than 200 degrees be-
low zero-and though the exact degree cannot be
ascertained, the pheno~ Oena observed show that
these celestial regions far colder than that por-
ton of SPACE where our solar system is situated.
Probably different portions of space have une-
DUAL temperatures; and the earth would pass
through warmer and colder portions alternately
until cooled to such degree to form outer
crust-until water was condensed, forming an
overspreadng ocean, the atmosphere aggregated,
and thus the globe was in a condition to sustain
life. All the plants and animals of this period are
manufacturing that there were then no CONT
nents-but everywhere water. Gradually straits
were deposited set Of beds was formed,
divided into natural groups. 1t is likely that these
successive layers were deposited at long intervals
in successive periods Of rest.
| Here | am obliged to condense so intensely that
[ fear | shall not make myself we'll understood.
But it is necessary to show the succession OF Gre
ations, leading to the present order of things, in
order to its appreciation.
The crust of the earth, as it cnOled contracted
as we observe in regard to all substances an
apple long kept grows wrnked from the escape
of its moisture, or bar OF iron is shorter when
cold than when hot As the crust shrunk, it
would of necessity break, and there would be out
bursts of melted matter. Thus the granite came
to the surface. So we can readily determine what
beds were deposited at distinct eras and determine
the relative age of hills and mountains. This has
been done throughout Europe. OF course it is
only their comparative relative age OF which we
speak. There is no chronology of the upheaval of
mountain chains to determine their exact dates.
The low-ying hills of Wales and Bretagne in
| France of the same age; and along with some
OF the same character in Bohemia are the oldest
in Europe. The Alps, again, are the youngest of
all; and the Jura older than these, though younger
than those before mentioned. We arrive at these
results by the simplest process. There is need only
of extensive surveys as for instance, in the Jura
range, if examine what strathed beds are there,
the slopes we shall find that the strata dip north
and south on opposite sides of the peak; showing
that the upheaval of the granite is the cause of
the phenomena as perfectly as if by mathematical
demonstration. On the opposite sides we find this
dip, and in some places the summit of the granite
rock has broken through the crust, and is seen in
the centre.
Again, strata deposited horizontally upon these
that Dip are evidently deposited since the upheava
of the mountains. We thus find to what relative
age the different beds belong. The earths crust
is thus made up of the series Of rocks
l. 1.ol -ofI
systems as the Tertiary, the Silluran, the Car
boniferous, the Cretaceous, DC, each of which
differs in age from the others; and we can deter
mine this, relatively to each by the fossils peculiar
to each as for example, the Silurian system has
its peculiar classes of animals distinctly marked
as those of Africa and South America, with dis :
tinctve characteristics during each successive pc
riod-in each successive system we find another
set. AS the naturalist, when he sees a sloth or
armadillo, at once refers them to Brazil-or the |
kangaroo to New Holland so the geoIogist recog-
nzes, at once from the fossils, to what system they
belong. They are as if coins with date-medals !
having each its peculiar stamp and date Impressed.
Thus We determine that the Juracic are posterior |
to the Otic beds, and anterior to the Carbonifer-
Gus rocks. Thus has been Fixed the relative age OF
the mountains of Europe.
In America we ascertain the Allegheny range
to be older than the Rocky Mountains, and north |
of the Canadian lakes are still older formations.
Between these periods of the upheaval of noun
tains there were periods of rest. During these
intervals of repose between two revolutions, animals
peculiar to each were introduced. We find their
own classes to each, down to the lowest fossil
bearing strata. But in all-even the lowest-we
find animals of all the great groups of the animal
kingdom. In all we find the same plan of struc
ture as exists in the families of animals now. But
physical pccuarities mark each period-after each
successive revolution we find successive creations
new notifications Of the same thought
1t might be observed that the fact of the oldest
being lowest, and the youngest the
highest is no way unnatural. When the earth's
crust was thinnest the resistance least, hence
breaking under slight pressure only low chains of
hills would be formed. AS in course of time the
crust became thicker, the resistance would be great
err, and hence the upheaval of much higher ranges
than before. Thus that in those earl y ages
the surface of the earth was low, and in the later
times was broken into high ridges.
Different mountain systems limit each period of
rest, like the present, until the earth
by successive developments became prepared for
the theatre ofhnman progress. As before remarked,
down to the lowest strata find representatives
of all families of the animal kingdom, though each
era has Its distinct species. We find representa-
tives of the Radiaes the Molusks, the Articuates
and the Vertebrates from the very beginning which
is an insuperable objection to the development
theory. Those who maintain that mankind have
from transformations /