Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-25
For the Freeman.
Queries for the Scientific,

'hc foie vi oiduim, or on the plains OF the
Jordan. When God cursed the plain, sunk
| the cities and created-as is claimed by many
authors, what is called the - Dead Sea, - it
became the reservoir into which the Jordan
empties its waters, and from which there is
no outlet. Previous to the creation of this
lake what became of the waters of the Jor-
dan whose rapid. sweeping current passed
6 1000, 900 tons of water daily?
1t is agreed by travellers and scientific
men that this lake has no outlet ,-subter-
ranean or surface. The Jordan, las above
stately empties into this lake 6 ,O9O 900 tons
of water per day, and in addition the Arnon
and thirty-one smaller streams empty perhaps
as much more, making the immense amount
of II, l8O, 600 tons per day. How is this vast
quantity of water disposed of? If we say
- by evaporation, then we have one of the
most remarkable facts in all nature The
lake in extent has never been estimated to
be over - miles long by Is wide but
many of the most accurate modern travellers
reduce this one-half, making it sc by
miles. This would give a surface of only $50
square miles, (deducting for irregularity of
contour.) Can it be possible that this sur
face evaporates 10, $50 900 tons Of water per
day,
}. The waters of the lake are strongly
mineral - consisting of muriate of lime, mu-
rate of magnesia, muriate of soda and sui
plate of lime, thus giving about one fourth
Of ats tceight in various kinds of salts. But
one-fourth of -, $50 900 tons is 3 ,O45 900
tons, and by the evaporation that IL so com
puted to 90 on, 3 ,045 900 tons of mineral
substance precipitated TO the bottom of
the lake for equalization is formed on the
surface. and as soon as certain specific
gravity is obtained the crystal is percipitatcd
But if 3 045 600 tons of salts have been pre-
cipitated daily for 5000 years, why has not
the lake been filled up by this time? as it
has ever been known to be of no very great
depth. For at the rate calculated. the vast
amount of salts precipitated would be 3 .334, =
275 zoo, 900 tons
I. The waters Of the Dead Sea are sup
piled by the Jordan, Arnon and some other
smaller streams, whose waters are pure, fresh
and sweet. Whence, therefore. the lime
waters of this lake? VIII the Editor. or
some Of his learned correspondents. be kind
enough to answer these questions and OBJ
lige.
New Books.-We have from Messrs Lee
d Shepard, publishers, Boston, Claudia,
by Amanda NJ. Douglas, author of E. In
Trust, " Stephen Dane, &c also.
Golden Truths, a selection Of words
fifty spoken : by the best religious writers
The latter volume would make a valuable
holiday present. We shall call attention to
both of these books hereafter, as well as sew
eral volumes to which We called attention
last week, but which we have had no time to
suitable notice now All these books are
for sale at WILDERs
The ATLANTIC MONTHLY, for January. 1865
opens the new year in splendid style. 1t
begins with a poem by Whittier, entitled
The Wife = Then follows the first part of
story, = Flotsam and .Jetsam. " :. Pitts
burg is contributed by james Parton in
his best descriptive manner. :. Dr. Molke's
Friends by DR.. Hayes, Is continued. 4
translation from Homer is contributed by
William c. Bryant Mrs. Stowe comes back
to its columns in a domestic sketch devoted
to ''Our Second Girl Col. Higgiuson
gives a lively war "Reminiscences in :. Oldport
Wharves.'' . The late President Wayland,
is noticed by j l.. Diman. Emerson expa-
tiates on :. Aspects of culture W. D.
IIowells has pleasant local story, Mrs.
johnson - there is an extract from Haw-
thorne concentrating the Boston Custom
House and TIE beginning of Charles Dick
cns's new story, - George Silvermans Ex-
PLANTATION" Lowell also furnishs poem
for the number and other contributions of
merit appear in its pages.
CIVIL RIGHTS IN ALABAuA.-Mayor EIor-
ton of Mobile awhile since banished negro
from that city, in disregard of the rights Of
the negro under the civil rights law. For
this offcnse Mr.. Horton has just been indicted
and tried, in a strictly loyal manner, in Judge
Busteed's court. A civil tribunal has been
convicted and fined $3.50, and has paid the
fine Shall we have congratulatory mes
sage from Mr.. Andrew johnson on account
of this triumph Of law and order in Ala
bama
OUR YOUNG Folks for January comes with
a new ornamented cover. yet not entirely un-
like it's predecessor, which has become ia
miiar and welcome to the young folks. y
portrait Of Charles Dickens appropriately
faces the beginning Of the new story contrib
uted by him entitled q Holiday Romance
The rest of the reading matter is by Mrs.
Stowe, DIR. Hayes, Mrs. Diaz, Louise f.
Chellet, Louise c. Moulton, Sophie May,
Caroline A. Howard and others. There is
one full-page engraving, besides numerous
illustrations in this number. Dickens story
will be continued in the February number
Moan WEBsTER.-Like Columbus, when
he began his labors, he embarked upon an
almost unknown sea- and like him was sus
tanned and soothed by an unfalterlng trust
and the conservation to God of all his better
part of man. l stopped the other day to
peruse anew that sentence in the preface to
his Quarto Dictionary, the edition of 1873,
wherein DR.. Webster, in words OF humble
devotion and earnest ardor, declares anew
his allegiance to God and his thankfulness
for the Divine encouragement during his
long and arduous labors. When first read
this. wears ago, it made an indelible mark
upon nv memory. | will venture to give 1T
here. feeling sure that it may still be the /
source of profit.
"To that great and benevolent Being, who
during the preparation of this work, has
sustained feeble constitution. amidst OBJ