The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-12-17
Is the Earth Driving Tn!

Water. although Il very unstable element,
produces quite permanent effects upon the
face of on Globe. 1t cuts down mountains.
scoops out valleys, tears away prvcipices and
builds new lands along the river mou his.
Always seeking level itself. 1t is the great.
cSi levclIcr of the dry land. Most of the sur
face Of our globe having been elevated by
Suhterlanean violence, has come up in 81 very
rough and tumble coalition. The incQual-
lies Of its surface when newly elevated, favor
the collection Of large bodies Of water which,
sending out then streams, like so many
strong arms, Immediately commence the
work Of smoothing the land smoothing its
'onehness, and bringing it into a condition
more favorable to the operations of man
thus the a." of any portion OF the carh's
surface may lie determined hv the character
ct lis streams, aud the general distribution
OF alter upon lis surface.
In those countries like France and Brazil
whose rivers are smooth and navi.nble. no
takes ale found : while in those in which
they exist the lvrrS are fIll Of cataracts, and
are III great measure unuavi gable In the
c"u! St ct one or two thousand cent urics. most
OF the lakes III our States will he drained. the
cata'ac'S "hltrrat.d, and we shall lose much
OF our alter power. Tins cont ngrncv. how
ever is 50 distant, that we do not suppose it
Will affect the price Of manufacturing stock
during this century.
Lakes and catatacts have. at some period,
diversified the scenery o:al regions. Where
they 40 not now exist they have been obi,e-
rated through the corrosive effort Of running
water. But evidence of their former existence
are found IN Their dry beds and channels -
'he fact that dry river channels aud water
less lakes arc to he found in manv lanes once
fertile. but now barren. has led to the conclu-
sion. ON the part % some biologists. tina, there
Is eradua modify ng oithr aqueou, vapors
and consequently Of the water, on the face Of
this TERRESTRIAL world.
In paper read before the British Associa.
ton, 1t is argued, from the existence Of dried
up rivers, that the earth is approaching II
water'esS condition, in which II will be I'm.
possible for man 10 continue an inha bitant.-
ms seems to us to be a hasly conclusion,
although II, as is believed. the earth is to he
destroyed 10y tire, it is but natural. perhans
mat II should first undctgo a drying process
Sllll, we think it most probable that there is
AS much water in the world as ever there was
though 1t may gradually become clearer,
MS II deposits that which 1t now holds in sou-
li"n, to form limestone. coral beds, &c
Indeed. lh the past eternity the water of the
globe may have been very dense. containing
then IN solution what now constitutes vast
strata OF rock. The action Of water will ever
he producing changes on the earth'S surface
but 1t some reg IONS Of Country should become
drained oi water. other regions may be ele.
waited, from which the descending rains VIII
form streams to ill up new formed dcpres-
sions with lakes, and thus the Just balance
nj ban u,,I ntu h,,
GI7lt IS noticed as ii selncw hat curious
coincid,nc that the day fixed upon fnr hold
ins the National Democratic Convention at
Charleston, the 23d Of April /, the birthday
Of MIR. Buchanan aid senator Douglas.