The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-01-26
TIE GULF STREAM.

q
ly interest the intelligent readers of the
Evening Post. That portion published on
the 2ist ult, is certainly wonderful, and
must greatly astonish all who read it. To
my mind the report solves the mystery rs
to the cause of the Gulf Stream-a problcm
that has perplcxed the navigator and pLil-
osopher since the days of Columbus.
The fact is announced that, at a depth of
two thousand feet. in Straits of Florida, the
! temperature of tho ocean is only three de-
grces above freezing. and in the deep
! sounding on the telegraph route it is found
the temperature is ten to fifteen degrees be-
low The freezing point. (How is it that wa
| ter, unless very salt, can remain in u liquid
state at that temperature, starts n new
question which admit my inability to
solve). But to the Gulf Stream question
let me illustrate.
Every body knows, or ought to know,
that, if we open the door of heated room,
two currents of air are immediately set in
motion. If a lighted lamp or candlGis held
! ut the floor, it will show the current is set
ting in; if raised midway, the fame will rise
perpendcularly; if raised to tho top. the
current will be found rapidly out. If
thermometer is placed first at the base and
then at the ceiling, a difference of ten TO
twenty degrees will be found in the tempe
rature, this difference creating an inward
and outward current.
AS cold and heated water act precisely
as cold and heated air, a circulation must
and will take place, rapidly or slowly. ac-
eording to circumstances-moro rapidly
with air than water. Fill tub half full Of
cold water and then turn OH the hot gcIt-
ly-the cold water will remain SO for long
time but reverse it, put tho hot in first,
and the cold on top. and an equalization
takes place almost Immediately.
Therefore a surface current of wator,
called Gulf Stream, is set in melton by
the intense heat of the sun acting on the
surface of the water lying in tho Gulf Of
Mexico.
This vast body of water, thus heated, be-
comes much lighter and of greater volume.
made lighter and more voluminous by the
constant flow of. fresh Udter from the Mis-
sssippi and ether great fresh water rivers.
The heated and more buoyant water
seeks an outlet, as it rises to pass of to tho
North-the colder and salter water always
near the bottom rushes under to fill tho
space created by tho passing off of the light
er and heated surface water. -.
Hl,oA A. r
the Atlantic Ocean, flowing in opposite di-
rections, do not question. An upper and
under Gulf Stream seems quite probable.
IF there is not an under current, how is 1t
those immense iceberg with base thous-
ands of feet below the surface of tho ocean,
find their way so far Sout!s. unless the un-
der current is pushing them slowly but suis-
ly to this dissolution?
If it were possible to canal tho ocean,
and place enc end Of it in the tropics and
the other in the North Sea, n circulation of
the water would take place "n the principle
that buildings are heated by hot water
pipes-one end ia the fire, as the water ia
heated it only flows off to cool and then re-
Gulf Stream, in flowing north to cool itself.
only follows the laws of nature, aud in do
ing this it greatly holps to equalize the tenn
perature of the Northern Ocean. which but
for this great principle of circulation might
become q mass of ice. .. - ... r.....
If the conclusions have arrived at arc
erroneous, it will be- gratifying to me to bo
set right. .t
Yours truly, &c, JIG. THOMPSON.
Staten Island, December %, 1857.
.-. .------- .s.a s-. ....
IMPRESSIVE WORDS OF GEN. SHIELDS.
A volunteer in the Mcxienn war. writing
from Baltimore tosthe National Intclligcu-
-cer, says: T-sa.-~#FEt-f ss-l.a. ~
May ask small space in the columns
Of your paper for the purpose oflaying be-
fore its readers the few words that escaped
the lips of G eneral amex Shields when he
was being carried off the field of battle at
"Cerro Gordu," Mexico ?-supposc at tho
time to be m"rtally wounded aud dying.
having been shot through the body with an
'.escopeta" ball. l was one in the purity
that assisted in conveying him from the
field, and the words are us vividly impress-
ed upon my mind US if they had just met my
ears. They were these:
''Mcn, am no further use to my coun-
try. You are. Lay me down and let me
die I might as well die here as to be taken
off to die. You are all strong, able bodied
men-able to do your country some service.
For Gods sake lay me down and 60 t" your
duty" -.T--- f. -Hsn s.fr-raf
This bravo hero and accomplished gen
tleman has just been elected one of ihs u.
States Senators from Minnesota.
Jrsr THE KIND OF ARGUMENT.-The
New Haven Register has it that Mrs.
Jenkins says the Kansas people are acting
Just as her son Bill does when he wishes
to ''set up" in the evening. "Come, Billy,
tits time to GO to bed" Il hain't had NV
.