Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-02-27

Most Wonderful Result of a
Scientific Research.

Y
| The subject on which we are to say 9
few words, is not of local character
by any means; but as at the present al
interest in and around Lawrence i.
turned toward the Capital of the State
, we consider this fine opportunity o.
treating our readers to a subject full Of
exciting interest and truly wonderful
4 Who is there among US who has moi
desired to be rich, and provided he was
very rich, has not said that he
would do this, and so and so. Having
considerable admiration and interest for
the science of the structure and mate
rials of the earth, their nature and
causes, We have long since determined
that were we worth hundred million
dollars we would spend half of that
amount at least in boring into the earth
at a greater depth than heretofore at
tempted, and find out what she was
made OF. This grand boring Crowded,
of course our dream of vast wealth was
realized), was to be done near Law
renee. As will be seen shortly the cit
izens of this good city have reason to be
grateful that we are only worth fifteen
cents.
While enjoying the contemplation of
what We would do, we were not aware
that number of the greatest scientists
and geologists of the world, backed by
the influence and money of four or five
of the great powers in the world, were
actually engaged in executing our pro-
ject. The operations were commenced
near the town of BRUCE in Belgium, in
lS49, and have been continually carried
on since that time until the 9th of No
vember last, when a fearful calamity
occurred and put stop to the work.
In 1S4S the government of France sub
mitted proposition to the government
of the United States, Great Britain and
Russia, and subsequently extended to
Belgium, to create an international
Board for Subteranean Explorations"
in furtherance Of science, and in order
primarily to test the truth of the the
ory of igneous central fusion, first pro-
pounded by Leibnitz, and afterwards
embraced by most of his cotemporary
geologists. A protocol of quintuple
treaty was finally drawn by Prof. Hen
ry, of the Smithsonian Institute, and
approved by Sir Roderick Murchison,
at that time President of the Royal So
ciety of Great Britain. To this project
Arago lent the weight ofhis great name
and Nesselrode affixed tile approval of
Russia-it being one of the last official
acts of that veteran statesman. The |
programme called for an annual appro-
priation by each of the above named
powers of 100000 $50, O,0OO), the appoint
ment of commissioner, and general
for the selection of a
site for prosecuting the undertaking,
and a board of scientific visitors, con-
sisting of one member from each coun-
try. President Fillmore sent Professor
Watson of Chicago, Russia, sent Olgo-
koff; France, Arago, Jr.; England, Sir
Sabine, the present President
of the Royal Society; and Belgium, DR..
Seechi. After considerable time spent
in hunting proper site for the opera
tions, the locality of the great salt shaft
at Dudzeele, Belgium, was selected.
Operations were commenced on the 10th
Of April, IS49, at the bottom of the
shaft above mentioned, which was al
ready 1870 feet deep. The thermome-
tor indicated 127 degrees at the bottom.
A successful eontrivance for forcing air
lown the shaft was made and the work
went bravely on. The mouth of the
shaft was first enlarged so as to make
IN opening 40x160 feet. As the deep
,ning progressed the heat at the bottom
increased, but it was soon observed in a
lifferent ratio from the calculations of
,he experts. After attaining the depth
If 1850 feet, which was reached early
n 1864, it was noticed for the first time
hat the laws of temperature and gravi-
alton were sychroons: that is, that the
leat augmented in ratio proportional
% the square of the distance from the
surface downward. In 1865 it became
necessary to devise some means to pro-
ect the miners. A compound solution
of selenite, alum and sulphate
If copper was prepared by Prof. Tyn-
lall, of England, with which the bodies
we're covered. The cage in which they :
worked was also covered with this sub
itance. By this means they were en-
sbled to endure the intensest heat for
bout two hours each day. The drill
ng was done by means of the diamond !
pointed instrument, and the blasting by
litro-glycerine from the outset, so that
he principal labor consisted in shovel
ng up the debris and keeping the drill
n position. :
Every appearance of water disappear y
d at the depth of 1900 feet. From this
lepth downward, the rock was of a r
,asaltic character, having not the slight
st appearance of granitic formation, /,
confirming in most remarkable man.
Ter the discovery made only last year,
hat all GRANTEES are of aqueous instead !,
# igneous deposition. The depth of !.
A 900 feet was reached in 1869.
On the first of November last, the
normous excavation measured 36,S1O
eet six inches from the floor of the =
haft building. The first symptoms of n
Alarm were felt on the evening of No
-ember 1st. The men complained of a 4
asst increase of heat, and the cages had
o be dropped every five minutes for the q
,reater part of the night; and of those q
Who attempted to work, at least one Il
Ialf were extricated in a condition of l,
ainting but one degree from syncope. q
towards morning, hoarse, profound and n
requent subterranean explosions were
eard, which had increased at noon to f
ne dull, threatening and continuous i,
oar. But the miners went down brave ;,
Y to their tasks. resolved to work as :
ong as human endurance could bear it. :
,ut this was not to be much longer, for q
ate at night on the 18th, after hearing a .
errible explosion, which shook the :,
Whole neighborhood, a hot sirocco is
ued from the bottom which drove them
II out in asphyxia. The heat at the
urface became absolutely uncomfortable, l.