The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-13
The Earthquakes and Ocean Cur.
rerts-Incrcase OF The Velocity Of
the Gulf Currents-New Dangers to
NnyIgat0yS.

The Earthquakes and Ocean Cur.
rents-Incrcase OF the Velocity Of
the Gulf Currents-New Dangers to
Navigators.
The recent earthquakes, cyclones, and
commissions Of land and water, seem to
have bafiied the SduaaS Of the world, and
none are found able to give satisfactory
solution Of the causes founded on scien-
tifc principles. That nature has been
playing singular antics We now have I'M
doubted evidence, but as to the great first
cause, we are left in total ignorance by the
scientific lights Of the present age. 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 this
deeply scientific subject.
A letter has been received in this city,
written by All electrician of the Cuban
cable at Key West, who has given the
Gulf currents some study, that increases
the interest felt in these earthquakes and
opens new fields for investigation. He re-
marks:
81 learned q few days ago that expe-
rieaced nayigators plying between New
York, Key West, Havana, and New Or
leans, report the currents along the Florida
reefs to have increased from three and a
half miles per hour to five miles per hour
almost drawing q steam vessel upon the
reefs. They report that never has the like
occurred before. Previous to the Garth
quake at St. Thomas and the partial sub
mersion Of the island of Tortola they had
10 trouble in running smoothly by these
reefs, but now it is with difficulty they
can, running 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,
extending from the region of st. Thomas
westwards towards Cuba, these in GER
tain degree closing up the Mona passage
! between St. Domingo and Porto Rico, and
also blocking up the Windward channel
between Cuba and Hayti, and forcing the
great volume of water to rush up through
the old Bahama channel, from whence 1t
strikes asross the Florida reefs with great
violence. The lessening Of the Mona pas
sage and Windward channel is sufficient to
affect the current in this manner"
If the facts are as represented, that the
current of the Gulf stream has increased
in force, no doubt the recent earthquakes
have had something to do with the phe-
nomenon, and the conclusions arrived at
by this correspondent and navigators are
entitled to some weight. The question
now occurs, What will be the consequence
of the gradual closing up of the Mona pas
sage and the Windward channel? A glance
at the map will show that these channels
are of great commercial and natural I'M
portance. Through them pass all the steam
and sailing vessels plying between Panama,
Venezuela, and the Leeward islands, and
the United States and Europe. 1.-THE re-.
cent commissions of nature have loosened
the ocean bottom, and it is being driven
into these channels, year or two may
suffice to close them effectually against
navigation, and vessels will be compelled
to make detour of many days around the
west coast of Cuba.
The subject is, at all events, worthy OF
investigation by the United States Coast
Survey, Professor Maury, and other au-
thorities on ocean currents. By all means
let US have light.-Ne,O York Herald.