The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-02-01

NAV be. Local causes may eHect
water to a certain extent, but exper-s
ence shows that the salts extract ed
from sea water, in whatever part OF
the void are substantially the same
in kind. the only difference being in|
quantity. The salts contained are =
Chloride Of sodium common SALTY.
chloride of potassium, chloride Of
magnesium, sulphate of lime common
CHALK, sulphate of magnesia, carbon
ate of magnesia.
The actual contents are set out In
full because there is common belief,
founded on a confusion of terms, that
common table salt is the only ingre-
sient in sea-water. AS regards the
aggregate quantity of salts contained,
some idea may be formed Of it by
stating that if all the salt contained
in tue water annually evaporated
from the northeast trade wind region
of the Atlantic could be heaped into
one place, it would cover an area
equal to the British Islands to the
depth of fourteen feet.
A moments reflection will serve
TO show that in ATTITUDES where there
is great evaporating power, and but
slight diluting influence,the sea-water
must necessarially be rich in salts ;
and that in ATTITUDES where the con-
trary conditions exist. the water must
be poor. That such is the case has
been proved, and it is attested among
other signs. by the color of the water,
which in rainy, sunless districts, is of
a light green in rainless. sunny
places of deep blue-vitriOl blue.
The compensatory balance between
briny water and brackish is kept up
by system of currents, which per-
vades the whole ocean. These cur.
rents, running from north to south,
and from the south to the north, are
the means of equallzing, to some ex-
tent, the charge Of saline properties
which the waters respectively hold in
solution, the water of the cold
climates being strengthened by the
heavily.laden salt streams from the
south, the southern waters being re-
| freshed, as it were, with drink from
the comparatively fresh waters of the
north. But after all has been done
the equatorial seas are still SO rich in
salts that they have a super.abun-
dance. and are glad to be rid of their
burden to any thing that requires it.
An abundant demand is kept up by
the myriads of coral creatures which
live and move and have their being
in the tropical seas. and require for
the purposes of their work an amount
of calcareous and saline matter, pro-
portionate to that which the over
burdened waters have to spare. The
excess as drawn by them on demand,
and appropriated to those manufact
ures which these small workers un-
dertake to the glory of their Maker.
The source of salts is found in the
washing of the coast and in the con.
tributions which rivers bring. Rivers.
in their way to the sea. gather from
brooks.springs, surface drainage, and
other such sources a great quantity
of soluble matter; they wash down.
also. a considerable amount Of earth
which the sea water can. though they
cannot, dissolve. Into the great res
ervoir of the ocean they fling theil
stilty cargo, which is absorbed in
the pores of the water. and is Their
distributed by means of the oceans
circulatory system already advert ed
to.
The sea is salt by reason of tn,
earth washings poured into it it has
different densities because of the in
fuence of rainfall, rivers and evapo
ration it is prevented from stagna-
ting by universal system of ocean
currents and it yields out of it,
abundance materials for the building
up of continents yet to be. Such ar
the facts and conclusions involved
in the consider alton of the saltnes
of the sea.