The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-06-24

sell IOr ten OOllarS an ounce anu nag
ments, suitable for children's 8 necklaces,
are rated at q tenth of that price.
1t was once perplexing question
with students of nature to understand
how coral-reefs and islands could be up
reared from out of the depths Of the
fathonless Pacific. The problem was
very much changed. however. when it
came to be noticed that these creatures
cannot live more than one hundred and
eighty feet below the surface; nor can
they exist above the level of lcw-water
mark; for they die off a soon as they
come in contact with the air, the sun,
or with the fresh water or mud of q
river. Scientific men are now well
agreed on an explanation which meets
all the conditions Of the case. 1t is
based on the belief that both the granite
islands and tho coral reefs are under
going gradual process of depression,
in common with the bed of the ocean.
These stone-masons begin to build in
shallow water, having as a foundation
the sloping shore of q continent or
island. As the base slowly sipks down,
the structure continues tc rise, until at
times the highest granite peak is sub
merged. In such way are formed the
singular atoUs-those ring-shaped reefs
which have single opening into CEN
tral lagoon, on the side sheltered from
the wind. While the depth within this
safe anchorage may be only ohe hun
dred to four hundred feet, the sounding
line little beyond the outer edge of
the reef may fail to touch bottom at six
thousand feet. These atolls run in
breadth>f from a hundred yards to half q
mile; the largest measures eighty-eight
miles by twenty-eight. Most Of them
are still growing upward, though they
may appear to remain at rest; and the
best test is soundings within the lagoon.
These coral formations are upheaved
above low-water mark by other pro-
cesses of nature. Sometimes q tre-
mendous volcanic shock uplifts a reef
to n height of q hundred or thousand
feet. But generally the doing of the
task is quieter and slower. Masses of
coral are torn away by the billews and
heaped on the reef until its head is
above high-wator mark. These blocks
are cemented to the rocky coral by a
fin e chalk-like sediment which the
waves grind out of the smaller frag-
ments; or. in other words, by the ooz-
ing through of water having carbonate
of lime in solution. In this way solid
wall of limestone rises above the water
level. This bare surface is enriched by
the sea-drifts, of weeds, plants and
seeds. The hardy cocoanut palm-tree
soon takes root, Just beyond the reach
of the tides. When its slender tuft is
lifted toward the sky, birds gather be-
meath its branches, and a rich tropical
sol! results. Soon the adventurous
Malays begin to settle upon the narrow
margin of land, although it lies only a
few feet above the white topped break
ers that besiege it SO angrily. But all
this while the patient insects are still at
work, on the outermost edge of the reef,
and thus are guarding it from destruc-
tion.
A word as to the fine white mud
which results from the grinding action
of the waves on the softer coral, and
which is then sprcsd over the bed of
lagoon and the ocean. This Is Identical,
when dried, with the hard, white chalk
so familiar to US all, and which occurs
in such vast deposits throughout the
globe. Biologists recognize the action
of the minute coral insect in the forma-
tion of the vast limestone regions OF
America They have no hesitation in
declaring these huge layers were
digested from drop after drop of the
ocean waters. The conclusion follows
that similar process is now being
enacted on the Pacific bottom, and
that, should our earth continue -to
exist for ages to come, u new continent
may be upreared from this abyss ol
water.-Goiden Days.