Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-31
A SPLENDID THEORY.

AT the late meeting of the American
Association for the advancement OF Sci
ence. Professor James d. Dana read
paper with the unwieldy title; Son the
Plan of Development in the Geograph-
ical History of North America" His
theory is that the continent of America
rose out of water: the arctic portion OF
it, then tropical, rose first: Canada rose
next. then the United States. Several
billions of centuries ago, while the earth
was cooling rapidly, the outer crust con-
tracted and some portions Of it were thus
elevated. The regions around the North
Pole cooled most rapidly, and thus the
northern parts of this continent were
raised first. The earth continued to cool
and contract, and then the Rocky Noun
tains on the west, and the Appalachian
range on the east, bulged up and became
dry land, for they were compelled to rise
just in proportion as the Pacific and At
/ lantic oceans sank in their beds. Con-
traction, acting first from the north, forced
up the head and shoulder of America
then acting from the Atlantic and Pacific
directions, it forced up the two sides and
extremities. The waters reced, leaving
the broad valleys of the Mississippi and
of South America, uncovered and pre-
pared for animal and vegetable life
Finally, there was a series of oscillations
at both poles to shake the globe in gen.
eral into order, and finishing touch tt
the surface in order TO prepare it for the
reception of man. 1t is universally adj
mitted that there was plenty of time ii
, a past eternity for all these oscillations
upheavings, sinkings, &c, and for a few
more, so that all the professors were per
fectly willing to admit that several island
p might have been raised by an indepen
dent and extra heave, and one learne
member, moved by the desire of honor
o ing his parent state, insisted that the iro
:, mountain of Missouri got the first boost.
f. The theory is very well for geology, bu
the facts presented by the professor ar
k indisputable.
1t is remarkable fact that all over tn
e world the highest mountains stand from
i ing the largest and deepest oceans
,r Coasts in general are so turned as to fat
y the widest range of ocean. The large
At oceans have their vicinity the loftiest an
the largest number of volcanoes. TIL
@ nearer the water the hotter is the fire.
h The nearer the water also, the vaster al
J. the folds, displacements and uplifting
is the rocks. With the exception of tire
to or four in the interior of Asia, volcano,
r are found near the sea, as on islands,
along the shores of continents. The.
e facts prove most plainly that the san
e. causes which originated the oceanic
ly pressions, have in some way determine
in in a great degree, the features of t
land. The upheaval of the mountai
ad and the sinking of the ocean beds ha
'e- both been effected by the same caus,
so and Of these causes, the chief have be
re the internal heat of the globe and f
GOODNESS of the space through which it
rst moving, acting and reacting on its 81
IL face. Besides heat and cold, water, t
atmosphere, vegetables and animals, we
III at work upon the earth's crust, for the
nj sands of years before it assumed its pr,
ge ent appearance and was ready for the
ut, ception of man.
on