New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-08
GIACIAL DEVELOPMENT.
LECTURE BY PROF. wINCHEIL Al COOPER INST
Tr,Tr

IRCIURE BY PROF. wINCHEIL Al COOPER lNSIl-
TUTE.
Prof Winchel, Chancellor of the Syracuse
University delivered the third lecture OF the free course
al Cooper Institute Saturday evening 10 very large
audience. The lecture. which an hour and quar-
Ter long pictured the continent OF America at the close
Of the OF mammals, when II contained not only It's
present outlines and Dimensions, but clothed with
nearly the same vegetable growths as now tracing
downward TO the appearance Of man upon the scene
marks of the renOvatng process by means OF which
this land was made appropriate abiding place Tor
ntell gence, with account Of the surface phe-
of geological character which present them
selves 10 common observation, and an explanation OF
the origin OF the sand, pebbles, and growth which
constitute the basis of soils. and occupy the greater
part OF the terrestrial surface The lecturer in the be-
GINNING, described the extent TO which the erOsive
agencies had dsfgured and destroyed the ancient sur
the Colorado Valley, showing how the river IL
telf had excavated for many mile the deep gorge
through the sated rocks that the traveller there
find his progress suddenly arrested without much
warning by the presence of deep and precipous dc
scent into the bottom OF a canon, which sinks down
1000 or COCO feet and the bottom OF which the great
rver. Ike silver thread winds its devious The
whole country there is off IL shattered by
earthquake and Is assured worn and denuded Of s
soils almost impossible TO traverse itand des'
tined remain the great American Desert for unknown
years. The speaker mentioned this illustration OF
had been subjected before the advent Of man. The work
Of reparatou 10 a broad continent demanded piece of
engluery which could not he equaled by human inelh
reuce began with oscillations OF the land great mp
heavas great vertical movements. The northern part
OF the continent been destined 10 undergo
gradual uplifting and in consequence Of that there
was q depression OF temperature OF the surface upted
from those Northern regions In those times
were cooler than those which had stimulated into lux
growth tropical forests which had been IN
existence here, and the upheava of the Northern
continent proceeded change in the climatic con
dons still further advanced, and the time came when
here was a decided chill, and there frost in
The winds BY degrees IL became Alpine and
arctic here where II had been at least mild temperate
climate. and the SHOWS, which had descended from the
northern plains slopes consequence OF the depres
al the temperature, were undSsoved by the lnnu
snce Of the Intervening summers ia snoI, 'nd mantle
of which II Is conceivable had, even In geologic
gradual extension towards the South. The SHOWS OF
Winter fell upon the plains OF British America and were
not dissOlved they accumulated from year To year and
under the influence OF cue sun underwent tnat peculiar
change which converted them into the material OF ga
mat now hover over slopes Greenland, the higher
Alps and other parts of the world As the vgors ofte
Increased the glacier tnued TO encroach upon
The more southern lautudes.
was again inundated, aud when reptiles aud mOlusks
hecarne The deHiZens Of the lana. condition OF the
,arih moi TO be- deprecated Dut regarded means
10y which the Continent rendered adapted 10 the
quirCnens OF man Again IN turn came an uprising OF
Inc oceans bed which resulted IN this that the
higher peaks emerged above the surface OF the waters
aud az the waters rereated down the slopes OF the rising
hlle and ridges the waves, beating upon the accumu
lated sands cXertcd asserting agency, separating
The materials from the finer, leaving the large
powders at the bottom OF the deposit and keeping the
smaller ones-the sands and the cays-n a state OF
agitation deposited above the cOarser materials, so
that surface might be better calculated for prOpa
cation. Every inch Of TINS surface became subject TO
This Asserting agency aud the result In the
different c0irred strata OF sands through which rail-
rOads sometimes have TO cut their The continent
thus restored AT length to its existing condition.
The remainder of the lecture was devoted more par
tcuary detailed sketch of the condition of some OF
ihe great lakes, Superior. Michigan and Huron, whose
Joined and spread the country TO such
u extent there l. recorded the OF Indian
who padded his in Illinois, from bloomington 10
kpringhcd. The speaker had in his possession spec-
mems OF forest that had been brought up from depth
o. co or feet which evidences OF the work Of
thG great glacier. and other things brought up at
o nm Of more fetbeneath the existing surface
the prairIes Central Illinois, which sufficient
any reasonable tina. they the work