The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-01-31
NEWS.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 81, 1873.
C0AL.
Essay read before the weiAh Anniyer-
sary by Robert MIllIken.l

]
When the great Creator launched
the universe into existence, the
earth was without form, and void
and darkness covered the face there.
of. How impressive the unity Of
purpose with which nature has
pushed forward the consummatiou
of her vast schemes. We witness
in the plans of the Infinite Archi.
tect the same intelligent cohesion
of parts as in . well laid human
scheme. This ideal connection OF
the parts of the Creators works il
perhaps best traced in organized be.
ings, but its existence may be found
in the history of inorganic matter
The great diversity OF features have
been wrought out by the operation
of few forces working in definite
modes.
| Geological time has been marked
off into ages, periods, aud epochs BY
physical revolutions.
Come with me and let US journey
back in Imagination to the middle
ages of the history of the earth.
The growing continents had lifted
their brows above the surface of the
all-embracing sea, but their wide
spreading plains and long extended
shores were still the empire of the
garpike, and the nursery of the IL.
limitable beds of the encrinitis and
polyp. Denizens of the sea mad
for ages strewn its bottom with
ruins of their workmanship, noun
tains of coral masonry had been
reared, but in all the murky air
which hoated oyer the sea and the
land was not one animated being,
not g voice. No song of bird nor
hum of insects wing to break the
eternal silence.
The period had now arrived,
however, when this verdureless and
voiceless scene was to be clothed
and animated. The valleys of the
two great oceans had been deepen
ing under the weight of the great
mass of waters, and the interven-
ing continent had been gradually
uplifted until the waters had been
poured off the future continental
space and nothing remained but an
immense lagoon or marsh. On
every side innumerable plants
sprung from the newly deposited
sediment.
Vegetation In varied types starts
forth at the fiat of creative energy
the All Commanding has summon.
ed forth tribes of plants from the
shadowy and all powerful realms OF
omnipotence, and they stood forth
in numberless array, clad in the
newest and brightest dress of ma
lures magnificent wardrobe.
The soil was prepared to encour.
age the growth and wide spread OF
these beautiful forms. The inter.
nal heat of the earth warmed the
surface to a tropical temperature
and stimulated the roots of the new
born vegetation, while from the
tepid waters the atmosphere wai
reeking with moisture, and dispens.
ing its showers on the green carpet.
ed sward.
But more than all, the food most
needed by the luxuriant growth
was carbonic acid. This carboniC
acid which was death te the higher
orders of animal life, nOurishei
this dense vegetable growth into
magnificent lnxuriance. Beast, birC
and insect were yet slumbering il
the chambers of the future. FOOD
for them there was none. The at
mosphere was a noxious poison
charged with ali the carbon which
now exists in the form of modern
vegetation and beds of coal.
II was impossible that air breath
ers should inhabit the earth befor
the atmosphere became purified o
the noxious gases that then sur
rounded the earth.
The whole surface of the lant
from pole TO pole was clothed il
this immense cloak of verdure, Il
be swept down into the numerou
shallow lakes and marshes, only L
be replaced again and again. Thu
. were great quantities preserved an
stored away in the great beds G
coal for the use of man. What
wise provision in the almisht
Creator thus TO prepare the way fc
future organic life of q higher orde
than had yet occupied the earth.
Z, The scene of verdure was to b
of short duration, One of the eve
recurring commissions of the earth
crust, sank the whole growth b,
meath the oceans level. Uneasy
every attitude it maintained q pei
Betual upheaval and subsidence.
say perpetual although in NOV,
ments so great that century is bl
as moment.
|. Vegetation, which was appointe
Il the great scavenger of the TO
gases of the atmosphere, gathers
up its freight of carbon, and a we
timed subsidence of the surface i
: undated the carbonaceous accumul
) ton and buried 1t in the mud al
sand far from the reach of the de
troying influence of the atmospheI
Says Prof. Dana, "The coal peri,
was ono of unceasiDg change. Err
of universal verdure, aftermath
70 with others of widespread and d
U structiye waters, destructive of
vegetation and land life except ii
which covered the regions beYo
s. the coal measure limits" TIL
was formed the great product, CO
st which is destined to p rove so gr'
blessing to mankind.
Is Coal is simply an element of C,
M
nd bon along with some bituminC
ro- substances formed from decay
vegetation, mixed with more or !
earthly matter and impurities.
?. the subdivision of the geologi
:. history of the earth into parts, 4
mt part in which the coal is found
OF denominated the Carbonifer,
:. Age. This age is divided into tn
periods: L. The subcarbonifert
period. 2. The carboniferous p
y iod. 3. The permian period.
The Carboniferous Age, both
Europe and America common