The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-02-27
ACADEMY o. SCIENCE.

an rJ.. TezEns WscI.aa Ia.J 3 "a Ir>-
day NiEnt-Dr. rirOSvn-s iect"re ''
the Geological FsrT.:stisn o. This
section oF shc CoUaTTT.
Oaefot the mo-. i7tsrsz,i7g meetioss Cf
the Acsi5Ea7- til zs4zJa co,ur1sd on Thurs
day e7s7i-g less. a carefully prepared
paper on the Geological History of Pilot
Knob p;s. read BY DR.. il J. Brown, ybioh
el:c!led quite an animated discussion upon
several OF Its points, participated in by Dr.
Backus, DR.. Sinks, and DIR. Brown.
4 consideration of the two following
questions, proPounded TO the Academy %
Or. Backns, was next entered upon: What
was the cause Of the uniform tropical
climate, extending from pole 10 pole d"r-
ing the early geologic eras, and the cause
0. tie change in temperature ultimaticg IN
the glacial epoch; and %, what was the
length in wears from the first formation Of
the crust Oi The earth to the appearance Of
man up n the earth
Mr.. IS. Z. COlemsn explained that the
cause OF this equsble warm climate OF the
early eras was due TO the thinness OF the
earlh's crust, 10 the great prepondersnce Of
water surface and the lack of any extended
continental system and absence OF high
lands or mountain ridges, (maritine tenn
perature being generally eqUsble, while
continental is extremely yarlable) The
changes in temperature, as al pres
ert, we're due 10 the inclination of
the axes Of the earth 70 the plane
Of the elliptic. or 10 liz orbit, which l. now
al an angle oi % degrees, but which ia in
constant and ever variable; also, the relative
distance of the sun from the earth in sum
mer and winter msasu.ably affects the
temperature. Tie glacial epoch was CAUSED
By The isct thst about 80 600 year sgu the
ea,th was, 10 winter, 10 800 OC0 Iniles far
ther from the sun than 10 summer; the IN
ciiua;iou of the axis Of the earth 10 the
elliptic Wa' mu,h greater Than row; and
the elevation Of lands at the poles caused
an increa-e 10 cold IN polar regions, which,
prooaSated 10 the sCjacent continents, pro-
ducea immerse bodies Of ice, ultimating in
glacial action.
According 10 the calculations of geolo-
gisi=, based upon the growth Of seGimsDtsry
strata 81 the rate of one mile in twenty mil
lion years, there has elapsed period OF
O. 600 900 years from the beginning OF the
prinoriiaI era to the qusrtenary.
Dr.. Sinks informed the Academy that, in
an elaborate paper Published by the Smith
sonian Institution, quite similar causes for
the eGuahle Temperature OF early e.as were
expounded as those set forth above.
DR.. Bsckus tnen elaborated his theory,
which explained the cause OF the incli-
nation Of the earth il It's orbit, its
tipping over. causing the sun TO travel
from the equator to twentythree and one
half degrees, as at preseTt, and TO probably
seventy five degrees in past ages, TO the up
heaval OF the continents above the waters.
The sun is now travelling back, and will in
time reach the equator again; and, taking
a. basis the present rate OF speed of the
sun ON his return, only about S25 600 years
had elapsed from the primordiai 10 the
presen. This latter point was taken ex-
cep,ion TO by Mr.. Coleman, who argued
that millions OF years at least bad elapsed,
as established by geologic researches.
The next meeting OF the Academy will be
held at the same place, instead OF the High
school building, when an address will be
delivered on Maierialism and Creation
A series OF questions WAS presented for con-
siGeratIon al subsequent sessions involving
the harmony or inharmony between the
teachings Of science and the Bible. or Cen
.is and Geology.
p7. BRowS'S PAPER.
Dr.. Brown presented the geological lea
turez Of this section OF the country, also the
causes that were in operation that made
the bluff, hills and valleys \ geological
examination Of strata IRON the bed of the
river 20 Pilot Knob, showing seams OF
-,
tom of the coal-shaft Was once the surface
Of Tie earth, and dense iOres: trees covered
il, and above all was an accumulation OF
limestone, made bY the remains Of she'll
FISH and other marine snimais.
The chalk sea was formed a long time
after this region was dry land and consiG
ersbly below its present surface, the eleya-
ton oil the Rocky mountains at the
close OF the cretacsous period,
raised the land between here and
Denver, TO its present hight, the water was
thrown in this direction and made the
Missouri, Pi-lte and Arkansas rivers.
The lecturer give his observations in re-
gard TO the sction Of the glaciers on the
Pilot Knob and various parts of the bluffs,
the scrspirg OF the surface, and deposit OF
quartz, bOulders, &c, and the statement
that he believed that the prai.iss were
once covered with forest, that have been de-
stroyed by ice.
The wearing aching Of water was alluded
10 as making the Uneysnnsss Of the suTflCe
Of the earth, that deep cuts, g0rCes and cav
ern- were worn away By water. II Is fsst
eucroacbinE on the land, Ieveling the hills
aud mountains and washing them into The
ocean.