Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-11
Surface Movements of the Earth.

The Old geological theory that from time to
time the surface of our earth has been changed
by grand catastrOphes which. destroying plants
and animals, were, on an immense scale, similar
10 the local catastrOphes produced by volcanic
cTuptiOns and earthquakes, has been abandoned
by reason OF our more correct knowledge,
founded on careful observations which investi-
gators have been making for many years. These
observations have proved that sudden catastro-
Pies are always merely local; but that all the
great changes in the surface OF our earth, a. the
UPhcaval OF mountain ranges and the depression
and oceans, are gradual and go always on,
even at the present day. The mountains
bOrdsriEg the Pacific Ocean-in fact, the
whole coast of CalifOTnia-are perpetualIy
rising; and have probably been doing SO
for half a million of years, while all tue
land containing in Its bosom our great
able corresponding upheaval or the state of
Kentucky, OF southern Indiana and the sur
rounding countries. Geological investigations
Prove that once our lakes had their outlets
south, till by depression at the north new out
let was trst formed, about forty thousand years
ago, through Niagara to the 81. Lawrence river.
Tie div iSOn line OF the watershed OF the lakes
and the Mississippi valley has been slowly trav-
cling southwark since that time; and when the
city OF Chicago recently turned the waters OF
Lake Michigan up the Chicago river into the
Mississippi valley, she simply re-established the
old state of affairs, which NJ the motion in gues
ton continues, will be more dsicut TO maintain
in the future than 1t Is now. Fortunately this
motion i very slow, and only very remote pos
t'Tity, some thousands of years hence, will meet
yath the difficulties We now fOresee, when the
led OF the Chicago rIver becomes lower and
low er al its junction with Lake Michigan
Il apIeaTs, further, that the State OF New
Jersey u sinking, and this Is even participated
in by the city Of New York, Brooklyn. Long
Island, &c-, at the rate of some sixteen seven
teen inches per century. This i insignificant.
70 be sure; but let V only go on for a thou
sand wears and il j. some fifteen feet 50 that
the new stone docks now commenced in New
York city at that time will be totally submerged:
but then they VIII probably not last SO long, and
the soil Of the lower part of the city may be very
easily raised half foot every thirty years. liz
- evident that the most correct date may be OBJ
tanned at the sea-shOTe, the main height OF the
ocean possesses perfect stability. This main
height j., OF course, obtained by continual OBJ
scTyatisn OF the tides under different crcum-
stances and ii anywhere the highest tides reach
higher level than they did one hundred OF two
AuDdTed wears ago, Ii Is a proof OF depression or
sinking OF the land
This depression is going on along the coast of
northern France Belgium, Holland and north
west Germany while the coast OF Sweden along
the Baltic, il slowly rising, including the capital
of sweden, the city of Stockholm.
The latest scientific journals report two very
striking contemporary upheavals in Spain, en-
tirely authentic. vi. de BOtellO describes them
IN detail. and the most curious fact is that the
short time OF scarcely quarter of a century
was sufficient TO produce an effect which has
surprised every inhabitant who observed the
circumstances formerly, and compared them
with the present condition. In the province of
sIamOTa, IL j. observed that from the village OF
NillaT don Diego, * il now possible to see the
upper half of the ChuTch-steeple OF Renifar yes
al the province Of alla,Olid whereas, twenty
three years ago, the summit OF this steeple could
only Just be perceived. The same thing occurs
tOthe same degree and under the same circum-
stances in the province of Alava. where. from
the village % Salvatierra, the whole of the viii
lage Of Saldueude can now be seen, while in
lsis the vane Of the church steeple could hardly
be perceived These four points are on a line
Parallel to the system Of the SauserrOis Noun
taius, while CAe extreme points are one hundred
and forty miles apart.
AL the movements we speak of here have
nothing TO do with volcanic eruptiOns; they are,
OF course. caused by changed conditions of the
interior al the earths mass, which by these facts
l. proved not 10 he solid, the opinion of some
modern biologists nOtwiths landing; the earth
a not liquid inside, must at least be soft and
plastic. IN order To make Expressions in one place
with simultaneous elevations in another.
one other interesting fact must mention
IN this connection; il il that the highest noun
tainS are not the oldest, one would naturally
suppose, but belong to the systems last elevated:
80 the high Swiss Alps are much younger than
the lower Jura, and the Catskills Younger than
the lower ShawanguGk mOuntains.-[ The Hlaa-
Z dctaTeT end Builder.