Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-01-16
THE EARTHQUAKES AND
OUEAN CURRENTS.
increase of the Velocity of the Gulf
Currents-New Dangers 30 NaVigafOrs.

increase of the Velocity of the Gulf
Currents-New Dangers 30 NaViSatOrs.
The recent earthquakes cyclones and
commissions of land and water seem to
have b6flied the savans Of the world, and
none are found able to give satisfactory
solution of the causes founded on scien-
tiic principles. That nature has been
playing singular antics We now have un-
doubted evidence, but as to the great
first causes we are left in total ignorance
by the scientific lights of the present age.
Even Professor LOomis, the "cOmet
commentator does not venture an
opinion. Many weeks have passed since
the meteOric showers and upheavings Of
land and water on the Atlantic Ocean,
and nobody has ventured to enlighten
the public upon the deeply scientific
subject.
A letter has been received in this city,
written by an electrician Of the Cuban
Cable at Key West, who has given the
Gulf currents some study, that incresses
the interest felt in these earthquakes and
opens new fields for investigation. He
r. marks:
Il learned few days ago that expe-
risnced nRvigators plying between New
York, Key West, Havana and New Or
leans report the currents along the
Florida reefs to have increased from three
aud 8 half miles per hour to five miles
per hour-slmost drawing steam vessel
upon the reefs. They report that never
has the like occurred before. Previous
to the earthquake at St. ThOmos and the
partial submersion of the island of Tor
tala they had no trouble in running
smoothly by these reefs but now it Is
NTH al fffaT1ifv thau can rnpninn on the
same latitude and compass, keep their
vessels from being drawn in upon the
reefs. What, then, must be the fate Of
sailing vessels en- route on this course
The opinion is that at the time OF the
earthquakes in the West Indies there was
an upheaving of the oceans bed, extend
irg from the region Of st. Thomas vest
ward towards Cuba, these in certain
degree closing up the Mona passage be-
tween ST. Domingo and Porto Rico, and
a 50 blocking up the Windward channel
bstween Cuba and Hayti, and forcing
the great volume Of water to rush up
through the old Bahama channel, from
whence it strikes across the Florida reefs
with great violence. The lessening of
Mona passage and Wlndward channel is
sufficient to affect the current in this
manner"
Ii the IaCLS are hS FepfSscutbu5 lHal
| the current OF the Gulf stream has in
creased in force, no doubt the recent
earthquakes have had something to do
with the phenomenon, and the oonclrH
siens arrived at by this correspondent
aud navigators are entitled to some
weight. The question now occurs, what
/ will be the Consequence of the gradual
| closing up Of the Mona passage and the
| Windward channel? A glance at the
map will show that these channels are Oi
! great commercial and natural impor'
tanee. Through them pass all the steam
and sailing vessels plying between Pan
| anna, Venezuela and the Leevard Islands
and the United States and Europe. i
the recent commissions of nature have
loosened the ocean bottom and it is being
driven into these channels, year or TIVE
may suffice to close them efectnallI
against navigation, and vessels will b
compelled to make q detour of man,
days around the west coast Of Cuba.
The subject is, ct all events, worthy Q
investigation by the United States Cess
Survey, Professor Maury and other ~
thoFities on ocean currents,