Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-18
The (suIf stream.


Sidney Smith, we believe, somewhere men
tons man who spoke disrespectlully Of the
equator, that useful though imaginary line which
geographers defereutially call a great circle.
Since his time men have not grown more rever-
ent, and we are not surprised, therefore, to find
that DR.. Il. l. Hayes, the arctic explorer, ven
lures in the January Galaxy to treat of the gulf
stream with indecorus familiarity bordering
upon derision, and to deny altogether its pre-
Viously admitted claims to the favorable regard
of mankind. 1t has long been the popular be-
lief, 10 which men of nigh scientific attachments
have contributed, that the warm current flowing
from the gulf Of Mexico between Florida and
Cuba, taking 4 northeasterly course, not far
from the coast, until it reaches the latitude Of
southern New England, and then bending more
TO the east across the Atlantic towards the
British isles, was in great measure responsible
for many atmospheric and climatic phenomena
Navigators and meteorologists have said so;
some of them undertaking to prove it by refer
ence to observed facts, and Others assuming it
to be as well known and unquestionable as any
Of the conclusions of geography or meteorology.
The climate of Newport, exceptionally mild
and genial for New England, was universally
believed 10 owe its agreeable peculiari-
ties TO this stream, and the ccmp2ra-
lively warm and humid atmosphere of Great
Britain has been attributed to the same
cause. These conclusions have been so long as
serted without contradiction or the sugges lion
of doubt that most people have come to think
them as well established as the dependence of
the arctic climate upon the inclination of the
earth's axis. The author of Lothair puts into
the mouth Of one of his characters some in
genious speculatons about the probable effect
OF changes in the course of the gulf stream
and consequently in the climate of western
Europe, upon the theological opinions and re-
ligious character Of the people of those re-.
giOns, and we have been accustomed OF late
years, whenever season proved TO be excep-
tionally warm or cold, to hear the suggestion
that the unusual temperature was due to
changes, hypothetical or reported, in the course
of this ocean river. These are only one or two
OF The constantly recurring proofs Of the popu
lar confidence in the gulf stream and its bene6-
cent Influences.
No doubt this stream has been oyerworked,
which it deserves no credit; but this does not
prepare us for DR.. Hayes startling irreverence
He is not quite hardy enough to deny the ex-
istence Of the gulf stream, but he denies that it
does or can affect the temperature anywhere
any more than the watts of the Lion brewery
affect the temperature of Manhattan island He
says moreover that il does not reach the British
isles, or come within hundreds of miles of Them
and that the notion of its making its way into
the polar sea has not fragment of evidence to
support it, while it is contradicted by the fact,
quite well established, that the gulf stream ex-
hausts its original impetus and disappears in the
north Atlantic, somewhere between Newfound-
land and the British isles. DR.. Hayes SAYS also
that neither the gulf stream nor any other body
OF warm water can affect the temperature of the
air in its vicinity, but the influence is always
the other way The air warns or cools the
water, bat the water never affects the air Ii we
accept DIR. Hayes as an authority, therefore 1--WE
must give up the long received idea that the
Gulf Of Mexico serves as a furnace 10 heat the
water, which is transmitted, as if through a
great pipe, to the northern regions, where it
takes of the chill Of winter, very much in the
manner in which we accomplish the same OBJ
ject on smaller scale with some kinds Of house
warming apparatus.
Another gentleman Of some scientific emf
nence not long ago contributed am article TO the
Galaxy, proving TO his own satisfaction and
that of many Of his readers, not only that the
gulf stream does modify the temperature of
western Europe, but that it continues its course
through the icy barrier Of the northern seas
and, spreading out about the pole, forms
the open polar sea, which Dr. Kane saw,
and other explorers have yainly tried to reach.
Hereth are the two opinions on this interesting
subject aitraetiyely set forth in the same maya.
zine, by writers who have made it a special
study, and who iortify their respective opinions
with abundant citations OF facts in the ex.
perience Of nayigators and observers. Readers
may take their choice with the assurance that
whether they retain their traditional faith in
the great ocean current or discard it as one of
tue ianciiul theories, which the facts refuse to
support, they have excellent scientific authority
for either opinion.