Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1855-11-15
THE POLAR REGIONS.


There undoubtedly exists very differ
ent state of things around the North Pole
from what has generally been sopposed.-
Capt Svmes asccrtained that the Arctic
fowl migrated north to winter, and assert
ed that north of Il certain Ice field was open
water. These circumstances he used as
evidence in support of his theory of the
earth being concave or hollow.
Recent discoveries consequent upon the
search of Sir John Franklin, and the OBJ
eervaions of o5Eer Navigators, confirm
SymeS statement rs 10 the Arctic fowl go
ing north TO wla:er, and prove his sugges-
lions correct as TO an open circumpolar
sea. But no one. 10 my knowledge. has
veniured any spcculations as to the cause
of such an anomaly. We should consider
l: perfectly reasonable TO suppose THAI the
hi cher the latitude the more intense tho
cold, until i reached the Pole, and this
would undoubtedly be the case, if there
were no caasc 30 coun:cract and produce q
different effect.
Lac discoveries prove that af er passing
over the lee field, Tor zone, as | shall call
1t, nor;hward the Ice field gradually loses
lis firmncss. until il becomes unsafe 10
venture further. and the explorer finds il
necessary 10 return; but his experienced
eye can determine from unmis .ukcn evil
dcncc III the atmosphere that sill further
north is open sea. After carefully consid-
ering the evidence in the ease, am of the
opinion that the statement of the existence
of IN open sea around the North Pole. is
correct. And if correct, why? | find that
a current SETS south through every strait
or channel leading from the north frequent
ly carrying immense fields of ice into more
southern waters. where they are dissolved.
To account for this suppose that in the
Polar Region there is IN extremely deep
sea with an upward current Of compare
lively high temperature, which SO modified
the atmosphere above it, as TO render il not
only comfortable but delightful place for
Arctic animals and fowl to winter in and
islands there. may be clothed in green du-
ring the year.
The bottom of this sea | suppose to be
heated by the internal heat of the earth.
which causes the water TO rise from the
same principle that heated air ascends from
the earth, or hot water rises in boiling
Air when heated becomes rarified, ascends.
colder and heavier air taking its place; this
VIII be the case 80 long as the heat Is suf
ficient 10 rarity one part of The atmosphere
more than another; snch Is also the case
with water. when heated it expands, and.
becoming lighter in proportion 10 lis bulk
than cold water, asccnds, and cold wa
ter takes Is place. Now we will apply
this principle 10 the circumpoiar sea; sup
| pc sing lis bottom or lower strata of water
10 be raised IN temperature above that If
the waters If circrmlacent seas, j: would
arise, and under current from those seas
coming in To supply It's place, would be-
come heated III turn and also ascend, pro-
ducing continual upward current, bring
lng up such a temperature rs TO modify
the atmosphere covering this sea: the wa
ter coming TO the surface naturally flows
southeruly from the polar ccn:er. until it
becomes chilled and ceases to keep Up the
temperature of the atmosphere in the seine
ratio that ii loses is own hest, until il be-
gins 10 freeze as it flows along and forms
an Icy zone equidistant from the pole
The Short summer in that region wouI d.
o little toward Gissolving the lee which
would accumulate during the long winter
if there were nothing to keep the icmpera-
ture Of The water above freezing point.
lie seems 10 have been del sncI by Gre
alive Wisdom So to arrans this (hi.herto
suppose almost useless region As 10 ben
eft nan; for here. 90 doubt, wi,nn this lev
xone Is magazine whence whal and fish
issue in grea, abundance passing on: un-
per the brl iSsc of ice .il'o places and along
shores inhabi'cl or frequcnted bv man.
1t is not improbable tina. an opening NAV
sometime occur il the Ice sufficient for the
lngress Of vessels; such an opening. howev-
er, from discoveries already made would
be of rare occurrence, and if an entrance
were effected in ibis way an age might pass
before another would occur favorable To-
their egrcss; but by dint of perseverance,
have no doubt but communication across
this zone of Ice will be effected in some way.
:. II. G..