The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-01-04
Surface Movement of the Earth.

SGrface Movement 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 to the
local catastrophes produced by volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes, has been
abandoned by reason of our more cor
rect knowledge, founded on careful OBJ
servations which Investigators have been
making for many years. These obser-
vations have proved that sudden catas-
trophies are always merely local; but
that all the great changes in the surface
of our earth, as the upheaval of noun
tain ranges and the depression of val
leys and their ultimate change into lakes
and oceans, are gradual and go always
on, even at the present day. The noun
tains bordering the Pacific Ocean-in
fact, the whole coast Of California-are
perpetually rising, and have probably
been doing SO far half million of years.
while all the land containing in its
bosom our great American lakes is slow
ly sinking, with probable correspond
ing upheaving of the state of Kentucky,
of southern Indiana and the surround
ing countries. Geological investigations
prove that once our lakes had their out
lets south, till by depression at the north
new outlet was first formed, about
forty thousand years ago, through
Niagara to the st. Lawrence River. The
division line of the watershed of the
lakes and the Mississippi valley has been
slowly travelling southwark since that
time; and when the city of Chicago re-
Gently turned the waters of Lake Mich
igan up the Chicago River into the Mis-
sissippl valley, she simply re-established
the old state of affairs, which, if the
motion in question continues, will be
more difficult to maintain in the future
that it is now. Fortunately this motion
is very slow, and only very remote
posterity, some thousands Of years hence,
will meet with the difficulties we now
foresee, when the bed of the Chicago
River becomes lower and lower at It's
junction with Lake Michigan. 1t ap-
pears, further, that the state of New
Jersey is sinking, and this is even par.
ticipated in by the city of New York
Brooklyn, Long Island, &c, at the rate
of some sixteen or seventeen inches pei
century. This is insignificant, to be sure
j but let it only go on for q thousand
years and it is some fifteen feet, so that
the new stone docks now commenced il
New York city at that time will be to.
tally submerged; but then they will
probably not last so long, and the sol
of the lower part of the city may be very
easily raised half foot every thirty
years. 1t is evident that the most cor
rect date may be obtained at the sea
shore, as the main height of the ocear
possesses perfect stability. This mair
height is, of course, obtained by con
tinual observation of the tides unde,
different circumstances, and if anywher,
the highest tides reach higher leve
than they did one hundred or two hun
dred years ago, it is q proof of depres
sion or sinking Of the land.
This depression is going on along tn
coast of Northern France, Belgium
Holland, and northwest Germany, Will,
the cost of Sweden, along the Baltic,
slowly rising, including the capital G
Sweden, the city of Stockholm.
The latest scientific journals repor
two very striking contemporary up
heavals in Spain, entirely authentic
NJ. de Botello describes them in detail
and the most curious fact is that tn
short time of scarcely quarter of cen
tury was sufficient to produce an effec
which has surprised every inhabitan
who observed the circumstances former
ly, and compared them with the presen
condition. In the province of Jamors
it is observed that from the village {
Villar don Diego, it is now possible t
see the upper half of the church-steepl
of Ransfarzes, in the province of Wallis
dolid; whereas, twenty-three years agt
the summit of this steeple could onl
Just be perceived. The same thing OF
ours to the same degree and under th
same circumstances in the province {
Alva, where, from the village of Salvf
TERRA, the whole of the village of Sa
duende can now be seen, while in 1S4
the vane of the church steeple coul
hardly be perceived. These four poin
are on line parallel to the system
the Sanserrois Mountains, while the e,
q treme points are one hundred and fort
, miles apart.
I All the movements we speak OF hel
: have nothing to do with volcanic eru]
, tions; they are, of course, caused
, changed conditions of the inteior of tt
: earth's mass, which by these facts
proved not to be solid, the opinion
q some modern geologists notwithstan
i ing the earth, if not liquid inside, mu
|, at least .be.soft and plastic, in order
: make depressions in one placewith ain
a ultaneons elevations in another.
One other interesting fact we mu
q mention in this connection; it is tn
: the highest mountains are not the oldel
n as one would naturally suppose, b
belong to the systems last elevated
s the high Swiss Alps are much young
1 than the lower Jurs, and the Catski
q younger than the lower Shawangul
!. mountains.-Ne Manufacturer and Bat