The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-09

Nay, 1t Is frequently found that while there is sur
face current direction. there is M under cur
rent In the opposite direction.
Exploded THEORIES.
For many years the Gnh stream wasa source OF
subierranoan In its origin. oherr VINO did not go so
far as this, failed 10 divine the cause IL was
The Pacific, IN the Indian and IN the Polar oceans
that the necessity Tor a theory based
on broad grounds Tho rotation o. the earta
was known to roduce trade winds westward
round tho globe The equatorial currents Of all the
oceans are driven In the same direction Tho equi-
TO regain It give rise the network OF oceanic cur
rents that has in latter years been unfoloed The
general effect Of those mighty streams, which
the world comb,a.d, is !. carry ,,ori:
induce corresponding currents OF cooling waters irm
the frozen regions OF the earth toward the burning
the rigors OF cold and IN equaiizing
tho distribution Of warmth through The nations
skniul navga,ors make a close study OF the oceanic
clear, according 10 the direction OF thor voy-
ages Tho passage from THIS country to
Europe is fakter than the contrary one, owing
TO the assistance rendered by the eastward move
mont OF ths Cult stream. The necessity that exlsls
stream Is dcspensd by the fact that cencurreat cacu
ations must be made TO tho location OF favorable
Inc stream his speculations to the wind would be
correspondinRy upset Hence the profound interest
corning the correctness OF hs ocauon OF tho oceanic
current.
IMPORTANCE OF CAPTAIN C0PPTN'S DISCOVERY.
Should tho Vows OF Captain Comm prove 10 be cor
rect an mmedate change IN the chart OF the stream
will become necessary. We must not lose sight Of
tho fact however that local hurricsnc could divert
the great C0rrent from It's accustomed route. IL
not improbable that u belt OF northery wind might
send tho stream aside. Again. there Is the proba-
biity that the margins Of the stroam-especially
where they not well dedned-as Is tho case
In midocean liable to ucuatc A. different seasons
or the year Should this prove to DO the case novel
and interesting department Of research will BE- opened
up, variations OF oceanic currents will be IN
tlfn nd y nsftl
at length the gers oil travel will be reduced
10 a minimum In this way the observations oil Cap
tain Conln will prove boon TO the world OF navga-
tiou-of acience ITSELF
Tho American government has done much to OK.
plore the devious wiudings OF tho stream. In con-
nectIon with the coast survey, extensive observa-
taken between the parallels OF twenty eght
and rortytwo degrees north latitude, ana sixtvave 10
eighty-one degrees OF longitude. Thus section Of
tho strca from Cape Csnavera TO limo drawn from
Cape Cod perpendicular to its course, was accu-
rateiy surveyed and mapped. Much OF this
work was donc under the supervision Of tho
late amented Admiral Davis, whose researches
shed much light the probioms OF oceanic
streams Amusing speeulstions are often made as 10
what would become OF the strcam 10 case tho Darisn
Peninsula were TO be cut through with canal A
hundred such canals would not be su icisnt outlet
for tho The danger OF rapid current through
the canal could be obvated by . couple OF gates ut
either end. In any tho statement OF the Drigo's
captain will stimulate Investigation ana shed new
light on tho question Of the true direction Of the
siroam.