Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-07-16
9auags
Volcanoes: Their Causes.

I
The general theory embraced by some leading
men of science, tsays the Scientific American. in
reference to the cause of volcanoes, is, that they
are the smoke pipes Of the great fire IN ihe interior
Of alis earth. They believe that we live on the
top Of huge white hot calldron, and that volca-
noes in different parts Of the world alemsrely vents
of this Internal FIRE The following are the views
Of Pro-. Siiman, of Yale College on the subject
embraced in lecture recently delivered in New
York city. - - ~ :. -s. ,e-.-z. -.
srhe internal heat Of the earth is proved by di-
rect experiments. A gentleman is still living in
Paris who first called the attention of biologists
aud philosophers to this subject. Hewas one of
the scientific men who accompanied Napoleon to
Egypt, when he went on that expedtioa--for Ma
poleon took with him not only the weapons of war
but he took much more important cohort-that
is men Of science and art and literature, able to
explore and examine all the antiquities Of that
most important and venerable country. A great
literary work resulted from this expedition, which
proved to the world that the interior of the earth
was in a heated state, bringing together facts al
ready known, in regard to mines and springs. This
general principle announced, has been followed up
repeatedly by deep borings, called artesian wells
The very deep well in Paris had been worked upon
for seven years, without reaching water, when Ara
go.came forward, and gave the Government assn
rance that il they would continue the work and go
through the beds OF chalk, they would in all prob
ability, find water They continued their work till
they got through the chalk, when the water rose
up in great volume Of twelve feet. This water
still flows there and doubtless viii continue to flow
till the end of time. This water was likewise,
found TO be very hot. Many ether artesian wells
have been made all over Europe, for various pur-
poses, snd the uniform result has been that we find
the earth increasing III heat the ioYer We 80 down.
Ado to this the testimony Of those who work in
very deep mines and We ascertain the fact that the
rate of heat increases about ole degree for every
fifty feet Of descent so that if we were to go down
two miles, we should find beiling water and at ten
miles we might reasonably expect to find ignited
rocks. Is all then, beneath us on fire3 / am not
prepared to ssy, with some, that this is the case,
although there is strong eriaence TO Justify such
theory. Witness the Geysers of iceland, where
hot waters are gushing up from the earth age after
age and century after century. The result of all
observation on springs goes TO show that they are
thermal-that is, of higher temperature. The
AzoFes pFesent 9 very important feet in example.
The hot springs OF Lueca, in the Appenine Noun
tains, are large sporting springs Of high tempe
ratuFe SO copous that they may be relied upon for
hot baths all the year round. Anathef case is the
hot springs Of Bath, in England. These are the
more remarkable, as there are no volcanoes in the
Britist Islands We know that from the time of
the Romans these waters have never ceased to gush
up in vast abundance.
''Fhe bet springs of the Rocky mountains are
also very important and the great Salt Lake in
Virginia is very hot Taking the artesian wells
and the thermal springs, We have from them the best
evidence Of the heated temperature of the internal
portion of the earth and this ia placed beyond all
question by the great volcanoes in the world. And
here we have decisive evidence that the heat which
will melt the solid rock is not connected with any
external eausei for among the cold, icy mountains,
there are volcanoes bursting up % the height of
10000 feet.
"In Spain and South America we find great vol
canoes bursting out. The fact is the world is on
fire. It was kindled at the time Of its creation,
and has been burning ever since"
Dr. Antisel Of New ork, recently delivered
lecture, in which the same views are developed; as
he embraces the electrical theory he certainly mill
tates against the nebuiar theory Both agree as to
the internal heat; namely that we live on the top
of furnace.