The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-06

of the abraded matter toward the centre of the
earth scarcely RECEIVERS 1-41, 100000 part of the
energy parted with during the change of position
in the direction of the equator.
EFFECT OF THE WORKS OF MAN.
Another cause OF retardation of the earth's
rotation connected with solar influe1ce remains
to be considered, viz, that resulting from the
exercise of human intelligence and human
muscle, alike depending on solar influence.
The work of man has assumed such propor-
tions already that il must for the future enter
into all accurate calculations concerning the re-
tardation of the axial velocity of the earth.
We NAV not be able to express by figures to
what extent the ancient Egyptians by the exer-
else of their muscles increased the length OF
day. yet close reasoning compels us TO admit
that the removal of thousands of millions OF
pounds to an increased distance from the axis OF
rotation during the erection of their pyramids,
in some localities, caused retardation, which,
after the lapse of ages, will be marked by later
rising of the sun than If those pyramids had
not been erected. At the present time, however,
man, directed by superior intelligence, and call
ing to his aid various forces emanating from
solar heat, is busy transferring matter from its
original position on so large scale that per-
ceptible disturbance will be produced A modern
first-class city, it may be Observed weighs more
than ten such structures rs the Great
Pyramid" the building materials being
almost invariably obtained from below the
surface of the ground, and hence removed
to greater distance from the axis of ro-
tation. In addition to the enormous masses of
stone, and earth in the form of bricks, which
are thus removed, we have to count the weight
of iron and mineral coal raised from below the
surface of the earth, amounting to billions of
pounds annually. Let us bear in mind that any
computation of the weight of human habitatlons
and other structures which in course OF time
will be piled up above the surface OF the earth,
based on the present rate of increase, and upon
the present habits and necessities of our race,
would fall far short of the weight which will ac-
| tuay change position during the next and COM
| 1InI INf Ion
ably, before the earth shall have received its full
| complement of inhabitants, and mans intelli-
| gence shall have reached the climax, changes so
| extensive will have been made in the disposition
| OF matter near the crust, that ordinary instru-
ments for measuring will prove precise enough
| to give to the eye conception of the extent to
| which the earths centre of gyration has been
| disturbed by human interference.
| Respecting the annexed tables, the following
| explanation will probably be deemed sufficient
| The extent of the several river basins-136 in
| all-have been ascertained from the best maps
eXtant. By reference to Plate XVI, showing
the eastern part of the Mississippi basin, it will
| be readily understood in what manner their
| boundaries have been laid out A line is drawn
on the map dividing the territory equally be-
| tween the source of each river and tributaries
and those of adjoining basins. The boundaries
| being thus defined, the areas have been calcu-
lated in English statute miles, the latitude and
| longitude of the centre of each basin being
determined at the same time. .
Cs
| T921'41 miles in diameter, according to Sir
John Herschels determination, the calculations
| have been rendered extremely simple. This will
be seen by reference to the sections of the earth
| plate XVI, which contains all the elements for
| computing the rotary velocity of the centre of
| the river basins and of the mouths of the rivers
| These yelocities are entered in the tables for
each river basin, also the diminution of Uis UiU0
| caused by the transfer of thesedimentary matter
from the centre of the basin to the mouth of the
| river. 1t should be observed that owing to their
tritling influence on the earth S rotation and in
| order to save space, all the English and Scotch
rivers basins, whose sediment is transferred in
the direction of the equator, have been
entered together in the tables. The rivers of
| Ireland have also been entered together. 1t
| should, however, be understood that in comput-
ing the loss or gain of UiS 0iCd, each river basin
| has been calculated byitset; the amount entered
being the result of the whole quantity of sedi-
ment transferred towards the equator. The area
of basin entered in the table is accordingly the
| total. The river basins of Sweden and Norway,
| being very numerous and unimportant, have also
in some districts been entered together in the
| tables, like those of Great Britain. Finally the
narrow coast districts, in both hemispheres have
| been computed and entered in the table in u
| similar manner.
| INDIAN RIVERS.
The quantity of sedimentary matter dis
charged by the Indus Ganges, and Brahmapoo-
| ira, being known with tolerable accuracy from
| actual observation, has not been computed ac-
cordmg to standard furnished by the Mississippi,
| which is one pound of sediment per second for
every 4O'OS square miles of basin. Besides, local
circumstances, such as the heated waters and
Pro1use evaporation of the Bay of Bengal, and
| the close vicinity of the Himalaya Mountains,
render the Ganges quite exceptional.
Inc discharge of earthly matter of the Ganges,
entered In the tables, is however, not so great
as Sr Charles Lyell estimates in his principles
! OF geology. brief eXplanatinn will show
1nat those estimates are somewhat exaggerated.
Inc quantity OF matter carried down the Ganges
at Ghazepoor being known, VIZ, 6,36S, or, 44O
cuolc 1eet annually, according to the observa-
lions ana computations of Rev. Mr.. Everest we
nave only to ascertain with precision what area
is drained by the river and its branches aboye
GhaZepoor, in order to prove that Sir Charles
Lyell mas oVerestlmated the source of the forma-
tion OF the delta of the Ganges
Inc maps OF India being reliable, have found
it quite easy to define the extent of the basin
drained by the part of the river under conside-
ration, rs well as that drained by the lower part
and its branches; likewise the area drained Inv
the Brahmapootra and its tributaries
The basin OF the Ganges, above Ghazepoor.
contains, agreeable to accurate determination
1871 100 square miles. The basin below Ghaze,
poor contains 237, 200 square miles, and that of
the Brahmapootra $4,000 square miles The
quantity of matter which passes Ghazepoor
being, as indicated by the total amount already
stated, mt the mean rate of 20l'16 cubic feet per
second, we might show by analogy that the
mean discharge of the lower part of the
Ganges should be 255"7S cubic feet per second:
but Sir Charles Lyell states that the abrasion
of the river and its tributaries below
Ghazepoor is greater than above. This may be
so as regards the Gogra, Gunduk Khosee and
Teesta, which descend from the mountains; but
the southern tributaries, and especially the
lower part of the main stream, which runs
with continually decreasing speed
cannot possibly cause an abrasion greater than