New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-10

from the atmosphere IL needed more heat 10 raise
much vapor He went to discuss the causes which
might occasion change OF general temperature rejecting
entirely the effect of internal heat Of the earth and show
ing that change in the suns power, or in the oonsu-
ens and contents OF the atmosphere, would be sufficient
Prot Guvot who IL the best authority in the country
al matters relating To the glacial period spoke OF his own
explorations for series Of years IN North Carolina and
his failure ind in that region any scratehessuch as
made by the mass of drifting ice IN more Northern
REGIONS and which found with more or less frequency
from the North Pole TO Pennsylvania, but especially in
New-Eagand and was therefore inclined to receive with
doubt the theories of glacial action IN the valley OF the
Amazon until the data more complete and conylnc-
ing Some further discussion was evidently desired and
great interest in this important matter was manifested 1t
therefore voted that the subject BIO continued TO this
mornings scientific meeting The subject OF the origin,
formation movements and elects OF glaciers lS one very
much nooted by geOlogists and now receiving an es-
pecially large share Of attention. Inc discussion was
most lively aud interesting, and questions were very ire
qnent. ., ,.
up and continued for about two hours
Prof Agassz. after some explanatory remarks, called
the attention of the Academy to some facts which had not
previously been clearly considered Wherever scratches
had been observed the seacoa IL seen that they
extended under the water as far the eye could reach.
This was true on the coast of Maine on Lake Ere, &c
He thought that the difference IN temperature between the
water and ice would have prevented ms II the water had
been al its present level.
Assume that IL is proved that glaciers extended all over
the country low 3! or even 30 what must nave
been the temperature of the earths surface lie had
reached the conclusion that temperature OF ~ Fahren'
holt lower than would answer the conditions lie
believed that circumstances made it highly probable that
glaciers might exist in the valley Of The Amazon, and that
everything tended now 90 prove that glaciers were mueh
more numerous and general than has been supposed
His reference the small quantities OF matter and
periods of time with which physicists deal, as compaIeu
with the Of matter and vast periods oil tne WIN
which biologists have to do together with the wide diner
ecnce of view between himself aud Prof Guyot called up
the latter who again referred to the lack of evidence OF
glacial action the North American continent south OF
the 800 degree and urged extreme caution In assigning
md
| so few and far from exhaustive.
from irving press them IN any way Dut
had kept silent to them IN order to press the facts more
| earnestly.
nose that the heat Of the great in that day as
now while he thought the result of Prof Agasszs views
must give far different temperature. With the depth OF
ice on which Prof Agassz insisted there must have been
| greater heat for evaporation. There must have been
greater evaporation because there was greater surface
Ie could no, believe that the surface of the ocean lad
been lowered 500 feet, many had claimed, with so
| great an elevation of snow upon the land.
Prof Guyot held that at the temperature o. the atmos
phce claimed could not have contained more than an
Prof Frazer continued with similar views
Prof Henry said that before Prof Agas2s discoveries
be had considered the glacial theory pretty thoroughly
od ont and had subscribed 10 the conclusions which
Prof Guyot had reached and Sc. forth lie had supposed
that the glaciers had not reached below as was pre-
yousy held II was evident that the Winter deposition
| of snow was greater than the Summer melting HE
question, then IL whence came the neat when nnaiy
/ melted
the old view that the heat came from within the earth
| Prof Peircc gave 1t ~ his opinion Yesterday that
600 years had elapsed since the surface Of the earth
had been Affected bv internal hca He thought the facts
introduced by Prof Agassz belonged 10 what were called
Outstanding facts. which we're To be held ior consider
aon until their proper bearing and value could DO more
! fully determined.
JP Lely called attention TO fact which had not been
mentioned. Glaciers always have moraine' They de-
stroy or carry forward rocks. Tho most exiiayagant
powers of erasion have been ascnbed to glaciers ono
author holding that the great lakes were scoopcd out
in this manner Now he thought that this erasiye power
of ice had not been sufficiently considered in this discus
sion Granting all the facts gwen by Prof Agass2 such
as tho existence of glacier 900 feet thick, 5000 miles
long and e indefinite breadth, where did all this come
from, and what must have been ITS c'asve power
Passing this point he insisted on the general insnhlc-
ency Of the evidence Of glaciers south Of the central line
OF Pennsylvania especially the entire absence OF scratches
made by ice. He could not conceive that the ice IN rs
movement should have made grooves in the Caronas Ike
those OF the Northern States and yet that those scratches
shoud have been entirely obteated while those in the
North should have remained intact Prof Agassz Insisted
that his observations OF great value a. contributions
science however insufficient they might be for general
zeti0n
Prof Gnvo, explained thu, his observations In North
Carolina should not be considered as conclusive evidence
that there were no cec9ches in thaa rss9n lilo hSd
vel no thought il very improbable that scratches should
have existed and yet have escaped bis observations Pfo
Agssz added word As TO the heavy rams Of Brazil and
which geological records might otherwise be found Inc
subject having occupied two hours OF the session ana
| a
as broad differences Of opinion, was now passed. Tor Lack
OF time 10 devote to il further.
The next paper was on Ihe Secular Accelih,pn OF VIC
Moons Mean Notion by John y. SIockwell ms paper
was presented by Dr. B A. Could as the author vas lot
| a member of the Academy.
MIR Stockwell gave first history Of the discussion Of
this important subject The accoloraton Of the moons
motion long regarded as une1painabe by the theory
Of grayiiaon aud casting doubt on that theory, ul
Lapace by accounting tor il by the change in the eecen
tricty OF The oarths orbit converted IT into NJ brilliant
and striking proof Of tho Theory. The assigned cause
was recorded fully explaining both the change and It's
amount till Adams, by discussion, 10 years ago,
showed that the amount which this cause would elect was
very different from that which appeared 10 DO the OBJ
served one. Adamss views were souily contested, but
at last generally accepted. Now Mr Sockwel submits
the whole problem q consideration and endeayor-
ing TO prove that Adams had failed % give due force to
Droperv employed would got rid OF all the disturbing
tors which Adams had introduced and leave the result Oh
Lapace the correct Other consequences OF great
importance also derivablo. The moons motion os-
cliaed back and forth about mean, which was quite
different from its present value the moon was now more
than SIX revolutions In advance Of its real mean place
Mr. s. had constructed table giving the mean snd true
| values for some hundreds Of thousands OF years
| Prof PIERCE acknowledged very strong prejudice
against this paper and the theory therein presented La
Places opinion on this subject stood unchanged until
| Adams overthrow it, and tnce that tune tho highest
geometca science and deepest investigation Of Europe
had sustained Adamss view. There is no such example
OF disoordance between observation and theory. II tho
views Of this paper sustained an unknown man viii
be found to have overthrow all the European geometers
lie was on this pcudccd against the paper be-
cause of its magnificent claims. IL its views sus
| tanned il would be o grand triumph for America. Hc
thought that the Academy ought TO examine II very thor
ougly by committee. II owed this as OF duty To tho
author and to science II tho Academy gave an ncom-
pete survey to the paper and an erroneous decision II
would be dsgraced He would add that he had looked at
the paper and that it looked rght-written IN night
spirit and prepossessng manner lilo nevertheless felt
bonnd say that he did not think could be sustained
! Pros PIERCE Newton and DR.. b. a. Gould were ap
pointed committee to examine the paper and report
Thenext paper con the Origin Of the Solar Heat" by