The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-07-08
THE GUILE STREAM.


THE GULF STREAM.
IL Columbus ever visited Ireland he
saw on its shores bits Of strange tropical
woods and drifting sea weeds, foreign to
any cold climate, and his minds eye n-
standy pictured for him western
contineut which had sent lheso woifs to
thai icy coast But his vision was not
sharp and clear enough 10 discern tho
wonderful stream that flonted them stead.
lily on for thousands OF miles, perhaps
from that very island Of Son Salvador
where he afterward lanled; carrying by
circuitous route, through sea, gull, ard
straits, these messengers sent to tempt
the northern people over 10 the luxurious
climate of which lhey boro tidings, and
at the same time supplying, unpoid, and
even unthanked. the Ltandesl heating
apparatus IN the world, by which tho
British Isles, Norway, Denmark and lre-
land ere rendered habilable.
'What do you know Of tho Gull
Stream?' was school commiltee's quOs-
ton 10 a little boy, the other day.
Il have never seen it, promptly replied
the child.
fancy most Of my readers would give
4 different answer, but il may not be
amiss TO come and see it with me few
minutes today.
The tropical seas represent the great
caIdron of hot water from which run he
pipes Of Gods grand apparatus for warm.
inc these continental apartments Of our
world and the greatest and most wond-
crlui Of these pipes is the Gulf Stream. -
Striking the coast of South America at
Cope 81. Rogue. it sweeps along tho
northern shore of that continent, rushes
through the CarribbcaH Sea, whore II
gathers coacoannts. seo.wecds, and bits
Of tropical woods, whirls around the
Gulf Of Mexico with force that keeps all
its western motion, gathers into one
mighty current a volume of water equal
to three lhoussnd Mississippi rivers, and
pours itself out OF the Florida Straits
And now mark lis course,
1t has been said that if we had can
non c0pablo of throwing ball three
thousand miles, and could plant that
cannon al The Florida Strait, and aiming
il at Ireland, FIRE, our ball would follow
exactly The course pursued BY the Gulf
Stream.
As shoots out Of the Straits, it takes
a shape Of its own, color Of its own,
and indeed, SO decided q character, that
it persists in holding itself quite distinct
from the surrounding waters, 1t is
about two feet higher in the middle than
at the sides, and thus is roof shaped
The sailors ssceraincd this by lower
ing boat and noticing It's drift TO one
side or the other, while the heavier YES
sells. drawing moro water, cleoves its
way through the current uudislurbed by
It's surlace shape. If we a'e sailing
along the ridge Of this roof, wo may
throw out two bottles, one on either side
of our vessel, and thot on lhe eastern side
will inevitably visit Ireland, Scotland or
somo other portion Of western Europe,
while the other will bc picked up on the
American shore-neither can 60 up bill
or climb tho ridge Of that roof. The
color Of the stream is darker blue than
the surrounding ocean, and the wa
ter is salter, which gives it more
power 10 ccrrode the copper en- YES
sells bottoms; SO pa hasO one sin to
lay to lis charge, UouId we gather all
its hOnl into q mighty furnace, it would
rvse mountains Of iron from zero to the
melting point, and keep in flow from
them molten stream Of metal greater
than the Mississippi rivct
II gathers ia heat in the tropics, but
why Is it not al lost on this lorg voyage?
Do you know that cold earth would take
away heat more rapidly than cold wa
ter wouldY and forts better preservation
the Gulf Stream is not allowed TO louCh
the bottom of the ocean, butts protected
by n cushion Of cold water interposed
below.
1t seems 10 possess an almost magical
power Of attracting every floating thing
that is dropped into Atlantic waIers.--
You know that sailors are in tho habit Of
throwing overheard bottles marked with
n 4 AZ. .- -