Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-05-22

Ih9 zSSsA S0NnIy !lSId21 SASSOSlaVlS-l.
GUILDHALL, VT, May &c. 1875.
The mountain system of the earth's
surface has always been regarded with
deep interest by mankind. A noun
tain that towers up with head far
above the clouds must even be re-
gsrded us one of the greatest objects
in all natures vast domain. We have
in North America the longest noun.
tain chain in the world. The highest
mountain in our country is Mount St.
Elias, in Alaska, 1890 feet high.
The highest mountains in the world
are the Himalayas, in India, the
highest of these having an elevation
Of five and half miles. II is impos-
aible to go TO the top Of these noun
tains, the air being so rare rs not to
he sufficient TO support life. Springs
OF running water have been found at
an elevation of 10000 feet.
But one of the almost unknown
things connected with this subject is
the fact that all the great oceans on
our globe have their submarine sys-
tens of mountains and active vol
canoes, as we see them on the land
portion of the earth. The deepest sea-
soundings reach the depth of seven
and threG-fourths miles, which is deep
enough to take in the highest noun
tain we have any knowledge of, and
leave depth of two miles of water
above the SUBMITS; but in sea-sound-
ings, and particularly in the laying of
submarine telegraph cables, widely
extended and comparatively level
plains have been found in the bottom
Of the ocean, and gentle hills, abrupt
precipices and high mountains have
been encountered far beneath the sur
face Of the ocean; and it cannot be
doubted but that there are active and
powerful submarine volcanoes, but
which, for obvious reasons, can sell
dom be located. 1t is certain that
there are submarine earthquakes
and they are among the most terrible
phenomenon that can be presented to
the eye or mind of man. The com.
mon effect is to send tidal waves
across the ocean within which they
may occur, and these waves are any,
where from forty to sixty feet in
height, their fronts almost rs perpen-
dlcular as a wall of solid masonry
These tidal waves run with in.
credible speed, and are always &C.
companied with q peculiar roaring o.
the sea that is truly appalling. A
large number Of cities and towns have
been destroyed by these earthquak,
waves, and larger numbers of vessel.
have been hopclessly wrecked, or hay,
been driven and left high and dry Of
land by these waves. A forcible ant
scientific writer has this to say -
"The speed of these sea-how
from continent to continent is aston
ishing. From the shores Of Soutl
America they travelled northward t.
California, four thousand miles, in
little over fourteen hours. Toward
the northwest, in the direction O
New Zealand, they passed from til
coast line of Peru, over six thousant
miles, in twenty-nine hours. And tn
rolling waters, driven from Peru b.
the great earthquake, trayerscd tn
distance to the Sandwich Islands, fu
five thousand miles away, in the in
credible period of four hours, whic
facts show a speed of from six t
twelve hundred miles an hour"
The Scientific American says =
These facts nnvey a very impre .slv
idea of the tremendous power re
quiled to disturb the whole BODY G
the ocean for q distance of from tire
to five thousand miles, by a move
ment distinct from its ordinary It'd;
swing" ...
Fire at Rutland.
Rutland is again the victim of