Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-24
CHANGES THROUGH WHICH THE
EARTH Is PASSING.

Mr.. G. Hilton Scribner, ex.secretarv
OF state for New York, has been giving,
the Troy Times his views on the mo-
mentous geological changes through
which the earth has passed, and is still
passing. Mr. 'Seribner finds q; ready
solution of many of the difficulties
which perplex the geologist. The
epochs through which the globe has
passed are due largely, if not wholly, he
believes, to the iact that the earth's axis
describes a circle in the northern
heavens. and that the effect of this is to
cause the earth to pass through long
winters and summers Of II, 900 years
each. During its WINTER" says Mr..
Scribner, leach hemisphere IS submef.
ged under the ocean its vegetation COM
pressed into coal beds its whole surface
| covered with marine deposits and sedi.
ment transported and scattered by ocean
| currents; and thus enriched, il rises
again alter u long winter OF II, 900 years
10 be renewed in life, clothed with veue-
tation and beauty, to become again the
theatre OF activity through vast sum.
mer as long as its season of repose.
Sixty i've coal-beds in horizontal layers.
one above another, with marine deposits
between. have been opened in the Brit
ish islands. which makes it probable
that ut least slxty-ive OF these long
years have passed since vegetation grew
upon the earth" This wonderful change
in the oceans level IS brought about.
Mr. Scrlbner argues. by change in the
earth's centre OF gravity, and this again
IS caused By the vast accumulation of
ice. around the pole OF Iue uuIn,sr.--A
which is passing through its long win
ter. F>g rie
I'VE have supposed this center Of
gravity oil the earth." he says, Ito be
shifted to the sothward by the causes
enumerated, about two miles or 10, 600
feet. This would increase the depth Of
water in the southern oceans1O, 900 ieet,
aud would decrease the depth of water
in the northern oceans 10000 feet, fl
order to keep theirs urfaces equl-distans
from the sarth's centre of gravity, or
upon water level but to increase the
depth OF the ocean in the southern hem.
isphere by an additional 10,OO0nte6e
would be to submerge nearly all tho
islands In the southern hemisphere, and
to increase the depth of the ocean by
1O.OOO feet north of the equator would
result in draining OFF vast continents in
the southern hemisphere. This il the
exact condition of things which the earth
to-day presents" Mr. Scribner cites
various facts which he believes to be
contirmatory OF these views; and finally
sums up as follows: "First, the north
pole Is toward the sun while the earth
passes slowly around the long portion of
FITS orbit. Second, the south pole ID t.
ward the sun while the earth moves
more rapidly around the shorter portion
OF its orbit. Third, this gives to the
northern hemisphere about tour days
more OF warm and four days less of cold
weather than the southern hemisphere
receives of each. Fourth, this keeps the
ice thinner and with narrower limits 1t
the north pole. and produces vast acca-
mutations Of ice at the south pole.
Fifth. this changes the centre of gravity
OF the earth to the southwark of its CEN
tire of bulk. Sixth, this causes the oceans
to flow from the north. draining off vast
continents, to the southern hemisphere,
and there submerglng others of equal
extent; and, lastly. extending the limit
OF the banana. the vine, OF grain and of
wood 500 miles further north than the
same varieties are found south of tho
equator" ALI OF VIII Oh, if not scientifi.
cally accurate, is at least an interesting
contribution on most fascinating sub.
ject. 5a f'l