The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-07-29

: near Headquarters at half-pa one o'clock, p
M, I observed that on the western side in thu
5 region Of the vein, the mercury stood at 81
t degrees, and on the eastern side at sixty-two
j Now this spring-pool, whose depth Is is IN,
i IL rectangular III form, each side Of which il
i about feet, and 50 walled mp, that At thin
hour, the western half was III the shade. while
i the eastern portion lay open to the direct rays
) of the sun.
also observed that in lifting the thermom-
eter vertically from the vein at the bottom to
! the surface it changed from 51a to 90. This
} is one of the strongest and best managed
! springs Of all this line.
: have already said that the temperature Of
the surface of the ground is constantly fluc-
] tuating as the season is colder or warmer
But by means of descending into mines, deeQ
wells and the like, we learn that the earth a
!, few hundred feet beneath the exterior is moi
subject to such changes in its caloric, but
maintains a temperature more uniform
: throughout the year. Hence springs, the
{ veins of which are the natural exits of foun-
w
low the surface, have more uniform temper
allure throughout the year than those whose
reservoirs are more superficial. Consequent
ly we see that those which are famous for be-
ing the coolest in Summer, are the warmest
in Winter From these circumstances we infer
that the fountain from which the springs Of
this line flows is not superficial
eli tl,ak y
in temperature in the springs of this line, is
not greater than we would expect, even if they
all come from the same fountain, since the
temperature of the rocks through which they
must pass in coming to the surface, must be
constantly influencing Them
! As to the instruments by means of which
we ascertain the thermal condition of water,
air, and the like, l beg leave to make a few re-
marks. In comparing the temperature Of one
spring with that of another, the same Their
mometer or one that is so corrected that it re-
ally is exactly like it, must, under all circum-
stances, be used. OF the thermometers that
are commonly sold in our hardware stores, and
almost the only ones in use among the COM
monalty, it is quite impossible to find two out
Of package Of a dozen that will read alike.
In fact have never been able to find two that
would, although have examined many dozen,
and should ever find the like it would be but
a matter of accident. They will all cores
pond at two points, namely, at freezing and
at boiling, but between these degrees there is
very little dependence to be placed, especially
if accuracy is to be desired. But do not wish
. in toto they are cheap instruments, and are
worth probably as much as you pay for them
and if you wish accuracy and are willing t.
r pay the maker for his labor in nicely adjust
ing an apparatus by which you may arrive at
this, you can obtain them. But it would b,
folly to expect as good an instrument fol
seventy-lve cents as for ten or twelve dollars
ter cannot be bought for a less sum than the
last mentioned However, these cheap instru-
ments answer very well to hang up by the side
of door to tell you whetherit is warmer one
day than another, or to test springs IL you
be satisfied to come within one, two, or three
degrees of the mark.
A further discussion Of this instrument is
not advisable here, bnt hope ere long, if the
proprietor of THE RECORD will permit me SO
to do, to place before you an article discussing
tho thermometer, and its uses, from ga y to
"zzard''
have already said that the springs of this
inc abound in the same microscopic forms Of
lie, namely, Of plants and animals That this
may be the better understood, allow me to
state few facts which may be of some inter-
est All the water as it exists in nature, teens
with animal and vegetable lilc--but the forms
are SO small as not to be seen with the naked
eye. But If drop Of the purest spring or
well water is subject to the microscope, we
see that myriads Of animals gay and risky,
are carrying on the process Of life even with
| in this small sphere. Nor is the same drop of
water less productive in vegetable forms.
Now from the present state of science, it is
believed, and pretty accurately settled among
scientific men, that every spring, or every sys-
tenn Of springs, has its own Fauna and Flora,
or system Of little animals and plants. No
borings have been made SO deep into the earth
but that water taken freshly from their bot
toms have presented these forms Of life. No
springs are found so cold as not to be inhabit-
ed by them, none SO hot as not to afford them
a dwelling place--even the Boiling Geysers Of
Iceland, and those of California, have their
Fauna and Flora. And | might here say in
a general way that there Is no part of the earth
that we now have or ever will have access to,
but that teens with these little animals and
plants. No fountain hot or cold, however deep
ly and securely buried up in the rocky frame
work of our earh--it may be thousands Of
feet below the surface and hot beyond descrip-
tion--but that in it live the forms Of animal
and vegetable life that the Creator has plant
ed there. The ocean and the air we breathe
constantly swarm with this kind Of life and
even the several parts of our own bodies
each have Fauna peculiar to themselves--our
muscles are inhabited, even while we are alive,
: with peculiar little animal, our liyers are in
habited by anothers our kidneys with third,
! and if time and patience would permit
would continue to ennumerate and would de
cribc the several little animals that dwell in
our nesh--in the different organs of our body
. from the time we are born until We die.
{ Now every one acquainted with geography
knows, that ever continent and every ocean,
every island of any considerable size, and