Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-10-31
THE coMsTock SCIENTIST.
Misiss PhmessphicsIiy Censidsred
Lecture BY Professor w. y.
Stewart ~ Association Hall.
n. y. Am.rieon EXCHANGE, Oct. Z.

- Lecture BY Professor W. u.
Stewart ~ Association Hall.
v. Y. American Exchange, Oct. 4.
Professor W. F. Stewart, OF Virginia
City. New. delivered the first OF q series
OF three lectures upon the philosophy OF
mining. at Association Hall last even.
ing. The object Of the course is Il treat
OF the chemical and terrestrial phenom-
ena OF the earth In their relations to
mining aud mining development. The
lecture last evening opened the subject
by explaining the theory OF electro mag
u.iism as the governing motor OF the
universe, and describing the origin Of
storms, waterspouts and earthquakes.
Mr.. Stewart said that in 1870 1t was
discovered that o wire, when charged
with electricity, would attract q needle
at right angles. This was the FIRST dis
covery in electro magnetism. and the
operation OF the Law had occasionsd the
assuring Of the earth and the forms Of
its continents and islands. All forus
OF motion took q spiral direction toward
0 center OF destruction, after reaching
which they again expanded. The earth
was enveloped in . great current Of
electricity which psssedfrom east to west
in q spiral direction. The motion OF Q
cometic body in the heavens was perl
odical In its circulation. but the periods
were constantly being shortened. Pro.
lessor Ste argued that the develop.
ment OF life on the earth resulted from
the globe In It's revolutions. 10 the
course OF time occupying Q position In
the universe which enabled the develop.
meuto OF conditions on It's surface favor.
able to the existence OF life. Il was
established by Michael Faradsy that the
electrical currents circulated most
actively near the surface OF any body.
The Professor denied that the earth was
u great mass OF liquid Ore at the center.
maintaining that II such were the case
the intense heat would necessarily de-
stroy the globe. He described the
formation Of the earth from Q mass Of
i~ncaudescent vspors to its present solid
form, aud claimed that in every transi.
ton a vertical tendency governed its
motion. The inside OF whirlwind was
vertical. with the momentivs force at
the outside. and IL was the same with
the whirlpool. he argued, therefore,
that the earth was hollow at the center.
its atoms not having such momentum a.
to throw OF the rings, ~ was the case
with the planet Saturn, but only SUM-
cient momentum to throw the part.
Giles into one body.
"As We penetrate toward the center
OF the EARTH" Professor Stewart said,
after passing the point Of the greatest
electrical activity the heat decreases. !
have no fear that the deep mines OF our
western regions will have to DO aban.
doued. According to Baron Won Hum
boldt. the heat Of the earth increases
u degree for every atty or sixty feet,
but II has been found that in many
places this theory does not hold good
The lecturer mentioned the fact there
was Ia Prussia an srtrsian we'll 5000
feet deep. solid salt existing all the way
down. There had been souudings oi
the deep sea some Ave or six miles down
since the time OF Humboldt. and ths
water was found colder at the bottom
than on the surface. At st. Louis ar
artssisu well had been sunk some $500
iset, aud although strata OF cold. warn
aud hot water had been revealed, many
| OF the cold strata were below the warmer
strata. The English commission whiet
explored the deep mines Of Belgium
found that while the heat increased ont
degree ut 80 feet, q depth OF ITO feet hal
to be reached before the heat increased
another degree.
Mr.. Stswart claimed that electrical &C
tivity was the cause Of heat In the earth,
This activity was greater IN some OF The
| Winter than in some OF the Summer
months. because the heat from the sur
when nearer the earth in Winter dc
vsloped greater electromagnetic action
within the globe. The electrical current
which euveloped the earth when passing
from north to south was negative. bul
reaching the south polar regions It b.
came positive and aseended. It was The
constant attempt Of these opposite cur
rents to squalize that occssioned earth
quakes, volcanic disturbances and A.
mospheric pbeuomsna. .,
Iu conclusion Professor Stewart paie
q tribute to mining under proper regula
tons a. ons Of the most legitimate ane
productive industries Of men. Capita
was needed in the further development
OF the mineral wealth OF the West, ant
10 reckless speculation in mining stocks
was avoided there need be no fear thaI
an investment in the mining industry
would be Improbable.
The psI, lecture Of the course will b
delivered tomorrow evening. All OF thu
lectures will be illustrated with maP'
aud diagrams.