Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-09-10
The Earth Only 500, 100000 Years Old.

In an interesting lecture on the age Of the
earth, Professor Proctor, of Weymouth Col
lege said "Scencehas given us very much
more satisfactory information as to space
than to time. We have first the size of our
own earth TO use as basis in measuring the
planets around us. 70 get an idea how this
is accomplished, picture the earth as globe
one inch in diameter; the sun three yards
in diameter, and the distance between the
two three hundred yards This will convey
a much better idea Of the difference in size
between the earth and the sun than if we
dealt in the stupendous figures which are
actually correct From this dimnutvo
sphere astronomers have to survey the sun
and the whole solar system, and twill read
lily be seen that the angles upon which we
make our measurements must be 80 minute
that observations must be most carefully
made, for the smallest error would make II
II difference from correct results Of many
miles
In measuring time we have no basis to
Npih upplls ~ w tfii huOW Dl0lllNtiJ bIt
age of the earth our movements would be
greatly facilitated All estimates are com
paratiyely doubtful, though biologists tell
US that there are certain conditions in the
crust OF the earth which have taken such
and such terms OF years 10 form, and from
their deductions | think moderate estimate
OF the age of the earth would be 500000,00O
years, and this is generally accepted by the
most eminent geologists Even this is UNI
certain, however, as the changes in the earth's
crusts, having all been formed by the action
Of the sun, We do not know that that action
has been uniform throughout all these years.
We know that before the crust formed the
earth was in molten condition but finally
cooled off and became solid. Now suppos-
ing the motion mass was at a heat Of 1000
degrees centigrade, and had ~ cool down 10
300, the highest rate NJ which life could cx-
list, 1t would have taken, according 10 sci
cntists, at least 350,0OOO0O years; and then
add 100000 year. for the time during
which the earth was contracting, and TO-
100000 years which the crust has taken 10
form, and we have u total Of b000O0000
years.
The solar system as At present understoond
corresponds with this idea Of the age Of the
earth and we work on the basis that the
smaller the planet the older 1t is, as in the cool
ing-of process the molten mass contracts and
grows smaller and smaller The moon Is
believed 10 have passed through all the
stages which the earth has undergone, and
being considerably older, has experienced
many changes which the earth may expect
TO experience Jupiter, on the other hand,
being much larger than the earth, IL be-
licved b. be much younger, and it is csti
mated that il will not reach the present con
dition Of the earth for three thousand mil
lions of years, and that it will take the sun
five thousand years longer Venus Is nearly
the same age, and Mars and Mercury are
both older than our globe.
Ailer few remarks about metcOrs, a.
teriods and the condition of Jupiter and the
nhl1 wv l'ihNl'i tiit luluIt ~ lllt
earth, as follows We find that Venus, be-
ing nearly our own age, IL surrounded by
atmosphere and has oceans and soas some
thing like our own, and we may call her
our sister planet rheearth will constantly
get smaller and smaller until it gc.s b. the
size Of Venus, and from that 10 the size and
condition Of the moon Now, let ms see
what Observer have found out about the
moon. We find that IL Is desert, and as
desolate place ~ eau be imagined II "a
covered with craters and seams, and we find
docivi,ie7 which show signs Of having been
Oiled by large bodies Of water. They are
empty now, however and there is no water
10 b. discovered on the moons surface. Il
b believed that this water has rctreatod into |
the bowels 81 the planet, tor the moon Is
planet the same a. any other There being
no atmosphere surrounding il Of itself would
render life impossible, and we may expect
that after the lapse u many millions Of
years our oceans will dry up and the earth |
become uninhabitable by any living thing
. -