The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-11-05
TUESDAY MORNING.
THE TEa.LIEEBETwEEg EUROPE
AND AMERICA.
HT ras Hry G " DASNsos.

meeting Ingiaua @iid America. IL ~ =
bond of union that will survive the dis
ruption and decay Of all the Atlantic
cables. Geographers call it the "Guli
Sirean" vast aud mysterious body
Of water for ever passing through the
North Atlantic Ocean from west TO east
FOR thousands of miles As long As this
wonderful stream doss on. the connec.
ton that il forms between America and
England must continue,
The Gulf Stream has been frequent
" described II is not proposed, there
fore, in tins article to repeat the de-
scription. The only object q the writ
or is 70 show. Il possible, the cause OF
This remarkable phenomenon, viewing
them in tho'hght Of practical obserya-
ton and common sense. Wepropose
for the time. to lay aside all preconeeiy-
ed opinions, to examine the subject
without prejudice, and to submit the
conclusions at which we arrive to the
unerring tests of science and facts.
1t is unleniablo TINT the influence Of
the Gulf Stream is felt through large
part Of the North Atlantic Ocean, on
the western shores of Great Britain, and
still further along the northern and
northeastern coast Of Europe What
is the origin Of this Influence ? This
practical question bas been answered in
variety of ways, by different writers.
It seems to have been taken for grant
ed chat the Stream rises in the Gulf Of
Mexico, and hence il is called the Gulf
Stream 1t is generally supposed that
the most, if not all of it's striking pecu
liarities originate in that quarter of the
Atlantic On the coast Of Cornwall,
Ireland, Scotland, Greenland, and yet
further north, traces OF tropical yegeta-
ton are found, which are supposed to
be thrown on the beach and lodged
among the rocks by the northern and
eastern flow Of the Gulf Stream. The
western slopes of this part of Europe
are clothed with moisture and peculiar
verdure, in consequence Of the steady
deposit by the southwest winds from
the sea Of the fertilizing and warming
vapours which abound where the Gulf
Stream flows. Asimilar result is pro-
duced on the coast Of Florida, South
Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia,
in the southern portion of the United
States. 1t extends, at certain times,
along the shores of New Jersey and
New York, and is more slightly percep-
tible all round the extreme maritime re-
gions Of New England Wemay say at
certain times. because there are periods
on the sea costs of Europe as well as
America when the course of the Gulf
Stream is carried further away from the
shore than it is at others. During these
periods, the effect produced on contlgu-
GUS Vegetation is at once perceptible; a
change takes place in TIE surrounding
atmosphere; SO that all things under its
influence are made to feel either the
presence or absenc of this extraordina-
ry agent Of the sea and air,
These obvious facts being admitted,
we pass out to the ocean, from both
Great Britain and the United States,
and soon meet with our untired and
untiring fellow-trayeler, the much
sought for and long-talked OF Gulf
Stream. The first fact which strikes
us on approaching it is its color A
dark blue line appears drawn on the
horizon where the Stream flows. The
color Of the water is always noticed be-
fore the current appears. Sometimes
this blue tinge is 50 striking that it
keeps marked separation from the
pale green tint Of the adjacent ocean,
moving in and out in dark circles and
eddies, as if refusing to mingle with the
kindred waters. This broad distinction
of color begins with the first appear
anee Of the Stream, off the coast OF
Yucatan, on the South American con
tinent, and continues to show itself with
more or less distinctness, all the way
through the ocean, TO the north. What
causes this colorg
The next fact connected with our mys-
terious companion Of the great waters,
is its steady and inyariabie current
This always flows from nearly south
west or northeast, at the average rate
Of three miles an hour Its strength
or weakness 81 the wind; but whether
there be a gale or calm, whether the
sky be cloudy or fair, whether the sea be
crowned within given space with ships
or only solitary one be in sight, the
Gulf Stream pours on, on, ike the re-
sistless stream oi hnman life, never