The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-30

Depths lower stratum being colder thar
one higher, &c.--while q mine IN Corn
wall reached point where increasing hea
ceased altogether, and the temperature
grew steadily cooler.
The writer argues further, with reference
to the theory that the interior tluld mass
occasions surface agitations by its irregular
motions, that the supposed crust OF two
miles would not resist such o force moro
than bit of tissue paper, but would give
vov and the mass of molten lava would
pour forth and deluge the surface.
Passing through great deal OF enter
.o;n;no fact with reference to electric forces
as displayed in many curious phenomena,
he comes to the main question. We pre-
sent his ideas in brief. He states that the
atmosphere is regarded commonly as the
native seat Of electrical disturbances when
give rise to hurricanes and thunder
storms which convulse it and cause 50
many disasters; nevertheless, it is in the
earth that the chief cause OF all our
thunder-storms dwells. The atmospheric
phenomena are secondary. 1t is the SOLID
surface of the earth that is most Influenced
by solar action. 1t becomes highly charged
with solar influence, and acts upon the at
mosphere. The heat of summer, IN large
decree. comes from the earth, where 1t ac-
cumulates, and acts like supernasccnf
gus upon the atmosphere. Five miles up
in the air the thermometer hardly shows
any difference when i'll shade and when IN
ann. The electric influence Of the solar
rays accumulatcs in far greater extent in the
earth than in the tenuous atmosphere, and
| the surface of the earth is the main seat
Of those electrical variations which pro-
duce the storms in the atmosphere. The
| atmosphere plays secondary role COM
| pared with the solid earth in cyclones and
thunder-storms which convulsc the atmos-
phere. Every discharge Of electricity be-
between air and earth implies that the Garth
| is as much out Of equilibrium as the air is,
otherwise no such discharge could take
place. Electric action is ceasclessly going
| IN between the earth and air. Every cleo
trio fash conveying message by telegraph
along the wires returns to its starting point
| through the earth's crust or on its surface.
Country people know that there arc spots
Of the earth frequently struck by light
ming. On such spots the lightning de-
sends or issues from the carth-at such
points are rocks which attract lightning,
being icneous in their formation and pro-
baby impregnated with iron. Certain
kinds of rock are favorite media of mag
nctic currents, and the author thinks that
the veins in the rocky crust OF the earth
owe their origin to the long-contlnued ac-
ton of such magnetic currents-mctals and
also gems being sublima tons of rocks
rock which has had its atoms rc6rganizcd,
| it's molecular structure altered in Il higher
| form by the action OF magnetic currents.
All metallferous and mineral bearing
rocks are permcated by those currents.
! The writer assumes that it is the electric
currents existing in the zone Immediately
beneath the surface of the earth which
| produce the heat found in artesian wells,
mines, sc. This accounts, also, for the
variations in heat-somc rock; evolving
| more heat from the magnetic action than
| others.
Now, earthquakes are caused the move
mcnt of electricity through the earth. Or
dnarily the currents flow smoothly; orthc
| rocks are better conductors than the atmos-
pherc: but occasionally, from unusual solar
and planetary action, electricity is deye-
Hoped to an excessive degree in the crust OF
the earth, the conductive power Of the rocks
becoming inadequate to pass the currents
| with sufficient rapidity to maintain the cleo
trio equilibrium. The overchargcd clouds
discharge themselves by electric flashes.
The same thing takes place in the earth.
The pcnt-up electricity forces itself cxplc-
sively, or by grand discharge, more ter
riblc far than if the whole artillery of the
| world were discharged in q concentrated
volley. "What is the result? A vast heat
lis generated electricity fuses every
"thing-it is the grandest hcat-dc-
sveloper in nature); the rocks are ex-
"pended, rent, in some cases actu-
"ally fused; the subterranean lakes
"and rivers, the reservoirs of water which
q exist everywhere below the surface, and
(which in Genesis are called the fountains
" of the deep, are vaporized and instanta,
neously converted into steam; and the
1" result of this great expansion or explo
" sion in the ground beneath lis is con
" cussion or rupture of the subiaccnt rocky
" strata, the effects of which reach tho
surface, producing the various phenom
ena of the earthquake"
These commissions manifest themselves
sometimes by noises-generally by dull
rumbling sounds-occasionally by subtcr
ranean thunder-peals. In other cases tn,
earth shakes in harmless vibrations. Ii
severe shocks the earth swells into waves o.
commotion shaking down cities; the eartl
cracks and opens into chasms, which gene
rally close at once, swallowing up men an(
buildings. Again, it is explosive, such al
that which destroyed the town of Riobambr;
in 1897, which threw the bodies of mel
several hundred feet into the air. Thi
remarkable earthquake did not elevate th'
crust more than one foot, the shock being 81
sudden and intense that the elastic crus
Immediately responded, throwing loose
bodies on the surface to an incredible
| nn4,.,,,lt "a.