The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-31

EDITOR OF THE ARGUS, Dear Ssr-lt must
be evident to ell that, upon a subject SO COM
plicated as that relating to ice, and the laws
connected with its existence, no satisfactory
conclusions can be arrived at II the short
space of newspaper article, even though the
writer might be the most thoroughly learned
upon the subject which do not pretend to
be.
But, as friend "Iota" has invited me to
.'cut up the plumbers" may find In his srsi.
Gle will attempt, briefly, to answer only
these which seem to come in contact. with my
former statements, and have the most direct
bearing upon our subject.
To take them as they come: He first COM
pliments me by saying, 81 think, j dging from
the communication of Glacies that he is much.
too observant not to know that, in certain re-
btions, even a very small thing, whether IN
physics. metaphysics. or morals may power
fully effect great things"
True,-but he is also observant enough to
know that, in this case, the great thing (the
stopping of the ice in the river) could not
have been effectsd by the very little thing
1.-THE Rock Island Park when said small thing
was destroyed as much as a mile above the
crowded place in the river and before the
stoppage took place. Also that the channel
of the river is now clear of ice; yet the Dav-
port parks remain grounded against the will
low island where they first lodged, which lie
is as much as an eight of mile above the
narrow place in the river where the greatest
effect of erowding was to be seen. This he
thinks sufficient evidence of their innocence,
"Iota," after acknowledging the truth Of
my remarks where the air is colder than the
water, the heat is thrown into the air, goes
on to say "But. he no dou BIT, knsws that air
let's heat pass downwards much more "a pidly
than upwards" and quotes from some author
as follows:
E'The atmosphere acts like an envelope, which
ia easily pierced by the solar but which offers
considerable resista to the radiant heat escap-
ing from our earth It's action resembles that of a
valve which allows liquid to pass freely in one,
but stops the flow in the opposite directon.''
Glacies knows no such thing, but 70 the
contrary does know, as Iota doubtless will if
he reflects for a moment that air warmed by
the effects of heat upon the earth becomes
raEifsd and Eghtened which cause. it to rap
idly ascend( carrying the heat with itfor other
wise 1t could not ascend and increasing in
lightness, by the removal ofthe pressure, which
it would sustain at the esrth's surface Us
IL cue squa'~ ;-ehl As the air rises
and Is enabled to expand, ~ hna. -L;cb !,
received from the earth gradually changes
from its active state, and becomes latent, or
absorbed by the rarifed air, like water by q
sponge,and It's eject of warmth is DESTROYED.
the AIR OF the upper regions, is consequent
~ cold.
The heat which we feel on warm day
may Do seen in ats effects as it aes upward
from earth: it gives wayy, tremulous ap.
pearance to the outlines OF objects seen thro'
1t. Thus the heat given to material bodies
by the sun, in midsummer, flies to tho upper
regions, and the colder air, descending, cools
the earth. The result may be felt in cool
nights following warm days. If the heat
was not thus taken upwards by the air, or,
II 1t was allowed to accumulate in the bodies
receiving 1t from the sun, solids would soon
become fluids, and fluids gases.
lota then inquiries: docs the tsmpera.
tnre of water in contact with ice ever rise.
above 32oY II does, otherwise the ice could
not % melted by the water For ice only
meite, or receives enough heat to convert II
into the fluid state, when acted upon by oven
32' of heat; and water when reduced to a
temperature below 32o 1.-THE freezingi gener-
ally turns to ice
ltae outside of the skating parks had got
large volume, &c., from snow, which, with
the addition of falling rain froze upon its
surfaced goes on to say: why. any farmer
Will tell him that an inch or two of snow on
tue surface Will keep the ice from getting
volume and protect his late sown fslds'-
True, the snow, covering the field lessons the
effect OF frost upon the ground. But if Iota
Will again read the paragraph he may see
that 1t says the rain and Snouu aoere frozen ul,.
on the surface fthe ice, and Glaoies 10 of the
opinion that the action OF the frost upon the
mixture of rain and snow will produce ice.
though it may be, under these circu IN stances.
OF an Inferior quality to that produced by the
action OF frost upon water alone
Agreeing with Iota in not wishing TO trou-
BILE you farther,
Rersain Yours &C.,