The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-11-20
SYMtI rs HOLE.
Revival OF AN Old Theory The Undiscovered
Country in the Earth's Interior.
From the Louisville Courier.Jou.nal, Nov.s.

! Revival OF AN Old Theory--The Undiscovered
| Country in the Earths Interior.
From the Louisville CourierJou.nal, Nov.s.
A little more than half century ago, John
| Cleyes Symmes, then captain in the regular
army of the United States, with headquarters
at ST. Louis, became impressed with the idea
that the earth was hollow, and habitable with
! in as well as without. He devoted all his
spare Iaomen'c to the study of philosophy,
and in 1919, while stationed at st. Louis,
maze known his theory of the earth by means
of iiculars first, and then through the press
OF that city
The theory was then talked about consid.
erably. Capt. Symmes concluded to devote
the remainder Of his lite to the realization of
his theory, and for this purpose resigned his
position IN the army. HIS next step was TO
make his position and theory known to the
world This he strove to do by lecturing
through the country, principally, however, in
the Middle and Eastern States Capt Symmes
was of the opinion that Congress might per
haps make an appropriation necessary for
fitting out AT expedition To the north, were
his theory presented for consideration. About
this time he visited Col. Richard NJ. Johnson,
of Kentucky, and prevailed upon him to pre-
sent the theory and desire of the originator
10 Congress. Col. johnson did so, and after
numerous delays the matter received the con-
sideratiOn OF Congress, by which body 1t was
laid on the table, the vote for such proceed
ure being small, however. Capt Symmes
was disc ,uraged, but did not despair, resolv-
ing to again present the theory. Before he
could do So, however, Count Romansoif, of
Russia, having heard Of Capt Symmes, his
hopes, etc, wrote him letter concerning the
same The letter promised Capt Symmes all
that would be necessary tor flung out an eX.
petition 10 The polar regions and an lnveSti-
CATION OF the theory, besides agreeing to place
the American in command if he would con-
duct the same under the auspices and authori-
ty of Russia This kind offer by a foreigner
was declined because Capt Symmes prefer
red having the expedition fitted out 10y his
own country, and should any honor result
from an investigation of his theory, that hon
or would belong to the United States.
The theorst then went east, and while Ice
turing In Ne, England, was taken sick and
conveyed TO his home i'll Ohio. Here he
died, beseechng his eldest son, in his last
moments on earth, TO uphold and endeavor to
investigate the theory. THIS son, MIR. Ameri-
Gus Symmes, was thee under age, and, by The
death of his father, made to care for large
family. For years he lived without doing
anything concerning the theory. He Is now
aA old man, bat at this advanced period Of
his father.
Mr. Americas Symmes lives in Jefferson
county, near Louisville and devotes much of
MS time invt stigatlng his fathers scheme.
From him copy OF 1t has been obtained.
lie firmly believes that it will some day be
verified and, indeed, says some of its slate
ments have been proved by the discoveries of
Hall and others III the polar regions.
Mr.. Symmes now hopes 10 do something
for the theory by leCturlng His initial at
lenpt Will be made next Tuesday in Louis
y.iIe, aud il properly encouraged, he intends
speaking in all parts of the country. The an
nexed copy Of Symmes' theory will give the
reaLer an idea Of what 1t is.
According to Symmes' theory, the earth is
globularhollow, and widely open at the poles
rhe diameter OF the northern opening is sup
posed TO be about two thousand or tour thous-
and miles wide from outside to outside. The
south opening is supposed to be somewhat
larger The planes OF these openings are par
allel to each other, but form an angle OF II
degrees with the equator so that the highest
part Of the northern plane is directly Oppo-
site the lowest part of the southern plane
The shell Of the earth is supposed to be about
1909 miles thick. The edges of this shell are
called verges, and measure from the regular
conCavity within to the regular convexity
without about fifteen hundred miles. The
verges occupy about twenty-five degrees, and
If delineated on map would show only the
outer half OF the verge, while all above, Or
farther from the equator both north and south,
would lie on the apex and within the verge.
All the polar regions upon the present map
would be out of sight. The meridian lines |
extend at right angles from the equator to the
outer edges of the verges, and then wind
along the surface of the verges, under the
highest parts of the same both to the north |
and south.
From the regular cOnveXity of the interior
cOncavty OF the earth across the verge is fit |
teen hundred miles-a distance 50 great that |
a vessel in sailing over the verge would not
perceive the change in her direction except
from the apparent change of the heavenly
bodies, or from the observation of the differ
ence IN the eXpanse of the visible horizon.
a ship going north along the detected me
rldians upon and over the verge causes the
apparent change in the North star mentioned
by Capt. Parry, because he says that when
sailing northward in high ATTITUDES the star
in question rises over the bow of the ship
to the zenith, and then declines toward the
stern,
According to the Newtonian theory, the
ship must have sailed directly under the star,
and over and down upon the opposite side of
the earth. This can hardly be true, as 10
navigator has sailed SO tar north. The YES
sci must have been sailing over the verge and
into the earth THIS would necessarily bring
he North star over the stern of the vessel
Capt. Ross, another experienced navigator in
the north, when in high ATTITUDES beyond the
verge, speaks Of the Arctic sea as calm and
clear OF ice, while south of him was belt of
ice. lie describes the current OF air coming
from the north as being so warm as to melt
the snow and ice tar to the south. Capt. Par
ry makes frequent mention of these warm cur
rents OF air coming from the north and north
east, that is, from the interior of the earth
according to the theory of Symmes Explor.
ers all agree that 6S degrees and 20 degrees
north latitude is the coolest region to pass
through, and the farther north one goes from
that point the warmer it gets.
Drittwood is found on the northern shores
of Iceland, Spitzenbergen and Norway, while
none is found ON the soathern SIDES Flow
ers are also found in these regions. They