M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1865-08-10
Che Center of thr Earth Conn
posed OF Gold.

M EssRs. EDIToRs: The question
rs to the kind Ofmatter composed tue
interior of the earth has long been one
ui considerable interest among that
class OF men who "dare 10 Think" and
though our present knowledge OF facts
does not allow US to answer it in
positive manner, yet, think it does
enable us to draw conclusions which,
at least, are highly probable.
When we consider the constant
and never varying changes ia which
the universe OF matter is subject, we
mast conclude that there was a time
though that time te almost Infinitely
rjmote--that our word, as such, did
uUt exist. Though as to the mode Of
8 origin, and the time al which Il
rst took it's place among the spheres
is an independent body, we can haz
alG nothing more than vague con-
lectures 1t may have been hured
forth as fragment from some mighty
sphere, and thus attained an indie
pendent existence; or, it may have
OeGn by the collection into one body
Jt number Of fragments or Rtaller
worlds. But what would seem to be
nUst probable, is, that it attained its
Present independent position by the
condensation OF a vast collection Of
gases, vapors and fluids, which had
gathered around sOre aeroite or frag
neGt, which serSed as sort CT
nucleus.
Iins latter idea concerning the
node OF the cnrth's origin, seems to
re the one must generally entertained
by thuse who have given attention tO
lhe subject. Bu. be this matter as it
may, there is one thing which the
,cathlngs oi geology so clearly estab-
shed th 1t it does not admit OF a
lI uOt, that at some remote period
h re, must have been a vastly greater
r pUrti N OF the earth in a gaseous
uId ha.d state then at the present
line.
Accompanying this idea, a very
singular Tnd absurd notion has gained
ho popular ascendcncy. that is, that
he gradual cuUing Ol the earth took
,,lacv first at the surface, and that
turing the graduh change Of the
gaseous to the huid, aud the huid to
ne solid state, sort OF clust was
rmed upon the surface, while the
enter sliII remained fluid mass,
No idea or tho sui ct could BE-
Euch more contrary to the known
avs Of matter, This notion, doubts
ess, arose from the idea that heal
vas a material substance. nd would
,ave 10 pass Uti' from the earth before
cUulG cool; whereas, the more
Iudrrn researches into science show
hat. heat is no more a material sub
stance tnan motion, gravitaliun or
magnetism, but that it is merely a
:JnutiUn Of matter an! that, III the
Ase III question, instead OF fpassing of
from the earth it wolil only become,
py grAdrai chemical action, fixed
or later t. But even surprising tina
, che cooIrg would Or dlG, take place
irst at tire surface, It IS g well known
Ut that all substances {Warer in II
tate OF ice excepted) increase III den
,ity aud weight as their heat is dimin.
shed, so that the cooler portions
would be the first to sink from thu
,urIace toward the cehter. There art
many other very absurd notions pre-,
TALENT among the masses upon ths
subject. Some suppose that the in
: terror OF the earth consists mainly d
.. water; this could not oe, since water
las specific gravity inferior tc
r early all the mineral substance
hough it doubtless pene;rates to I
. !reat depth through the crevicrs
8 Others suppose that its interior il
. me melted atd burning mass, anC
h ,hat the volcanic mOunlains serve a
: ;himneys to this great internal fire
e Prot. Sims maintained, with coz
/. ,iderable force Of logicsl reasoning
g that there is vast hole running
= through the c.hter OF the earth iron
e e pole to polo. once heard disliu
E. susbeu clergyman maintain that tn
r. internal regions were located in th
d d center Of the earth according to whic
=. idea it is to DO the lature and cterna
y abode of nearly the entire huma
. race, and should command our utmos
a a attention. For my own part | hav
e. sa luite golden" idea upon the sui
z ,rct-tllat :bo interior OF The earth
], 3 abundantiy supplied with. if nc
Ss mainly composed Of gold, platinum
All and other precious metals. Iiw
,n uppuse but tor an instant that tn
y. arth was once in gaseous ~ fui
}. tale, it is not quite evident that thos
.ubstances most difficult OF fusiol
,,d ,,ossassipu tho greatest snecit