Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-07
l44O. Diamonds Ion Amy. tom Roee ::
"sYMMEs' HoL j.,

The two most important ature- of John
Cleves Symmes' theory are that all orbicu.
lar bodies IN the universe partaking of a
planetary nature are composed in q greater
or less degree Oh spheres con .entric, one
within the other, and to some extent open
at their poles; and that grav ty s due to
the pressure of an impalpable slenen com.
posed of minute conCentric spheres, exist.
ent throughout all space, elastic, and
changing its molecules by any -hange of
matter whatever throughout ace. To-
this substance Captain Symmes attributes
gravity, making it pushing instead of
pulling force, as it is now generally held to
be. But this latter theory of gravitation
he holds not to be essential to his theory of
concentric circles, which circles would be
formed upon the old theory of gravitation.
Captain Symmes published notes or ex-
plantations of his theory, which he called
memoirs. Memoir No. II says With
diyiGers describe a circle on plane of
matter of loose texture, and in the centre
add very small circle then draw line
through the center. Il is evident las mat
ter gravitates matter 10 proportion to
quantity and distance) that either half of
the inner circle, being almost equally sur.
rounded by matter, must be very little
gravitated centerwise so being suspended
only rotary motion is needed to throw it
compactly toward the outer circle, This
being admitted, it follows that half
way from the outer to the inner side
of this circle Of matter so thrown out, a
like rarity, suspension, or balance of grav-
ity should prevail, and hence disposition
to coaceptric circles therefore IL follows
that successive similar subdivisions should
exist, gradually lesseniug in force or guam
tity. BY applying this principle to the
earth found the necessity of hollow, con.
centric spheres. A decision Of school men
on these lines shall be followed by add.
tional positions, further explaining my new
principles of hollow spheres, open az the
poles, declared in circular letter of the
10th OF April, ISIS JOHN c. SYNI1ES. of
Ohio, late Captain of Infantry"
This is the basis of Symmes' theory.
This theory he maintained with great earn.
estness, courage and Observation-Disclosures dur
ing large part OF his life, and were he
living now he would in all likelihood be
doughtiiy contending for it still, accommo.
dating his theory to the Mares expedition
which went where he declared irrefuta.
bic optical proof could be had of the polar
openings-and all other discoveries what.
soever.
Among other arguments that he brought
to his support were the migrltions of ami.
mails to and from the arctic regions, atmos-
pherlc refraetion, and the variation OF the
compass observed in high northern lati.
tudes He supposed that there must exist,
"mid-plane spaces" IN each of the spheres.
and believed the interior Of the inclosed
spheres to be lighted by the direca and re
fraoted rays Of the sun. Each of these
spheres he supposed to be widely open at
the poles, TIE plan of these polar omen.
ings were said to be inclined to the plane
OF the ecllptlc at an angle of about twelve
degrees, so that the real axis of the earth
being perpendicular to the plane of the
equator, would form angle of twelve de.
grees with line passing through the sphere
at right angles with the polar openings.
and consequently the verge Tor edge of the
polar openings must approach several de-
grees nearer TO the eaTsh's equator on one
side than en- the other.
Symmes believed that there were he.
meath our feet miles and miles OF wondrous
unclaimed domain reindeer roamed It's
colder borders, FISH swan IN its seas. ami.
mails and trees and flowers of curious and
unknewn shape made its life primal glad.
ness splendid visions of untold wonders
misty dreams of sp'eadors unnamabIe
foatad tarough his nightly and daily
thoughts, and greater than ali burned
within him the ceaseless desire to become
the diecoyerer of this unknown land. And
the only thing needful was for the Govern.
ment to traverse the "icy circle, (" pierce
the polar opening, and sail in and take
possession-perchance 20 md man, to meet
mighty race Of people, to come face to
face with some stupendous revelation of
nature, to explore some splendid barbarism,
or disclose a civilization as yet undreamed.
[ Harper's Magazine.