The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1884-07-13
Geology Of Florida.

The general shape of Florida has
suggested the idea of Il boot, the pen
insnla constituting the leg, with Cape
Sable, its southerninost point, constitut-
ing the top of the leg.
The general causes which operate
now have doubtless been in operation
ever since there has been sea These
causes send the surface current Of the
water from the equator nUrthward, but
divergng to the east. Had there been
no obstruction the course OF the sea cur
rent from the east of the coast of South
America and north of the equator would
have been through the Caribbean Sea.
Gulf of Mexico, and on up the valley
of the Mississippi into the North Polar
Sea. But the rise of the Appalachian
Mountains obstructcd this course. and
forced the current around the southern
point Of uphcaval that reached the s.lr-
face of the water. Possibly ut that
time the Gulf of Mexico extended far
north of its present boundary, and the
states lying north of the Gulf were all
under water. and in that ease Georgia
wa, II peninsula, occupying II position
similar to that of Florida ut the present
day. Now. granting that this upheayal
that gave origin to the Appalachian
Mountains shot out Il spur from it,
southern extremity. and this spur,
trcnding 10 the southeast. and we have
all the conditions necessary TO ac-
count for the origin of the PENN
sula of Florida. with all its
phcnomena The heated and
turbulent water from the shallow gulf.
II |, 4 /
eastward, would, by such obstruction,
be turned further 10 the south. This
would necessarily create an eddy iu,t
oil the southern point OF land. AT such
points. where the water from the eddy
could iiud comparative rest, sand bars
would he formed. The sediment from
the turhid gulf. and the salt and lime
with which it is saturated, because OF
the rapid evaporation OF a hot sun on
the wide surface. in its shallow water
would be prccipitated in UNUSUAL guam
titles from the double cause of compare
! tive rest in the cddies and contact with
the colder waters of the Atlantic. South
of each successive sand-har and deposit
the current would br Swifter. In such
a swift current. saturated with lime and
salt. the coral insect would delight to
! build. For the coral insect, like til,
/ spcckled mountain trout, loves Il rapiC
current; and au abundance of lime il
the water furnishes material for rapi(
building.
And thus it has beca going on TO
ages-sand- bar and deposit, and coral
reef. And thus the building and cxtcn
sion of the peninsula continues 10 th
day. The gradual uphcaval OF the lan'
has lifted the northern and central por
lions of the peninsula far above the sea
level. This elevation will probably in
crease, and the Everglades become dry
even if not assisted by artificial means
The digging of wells. etc, has disclosc'
this great variety of formations through
out the State. 1t is not inireQuent tia
as beautiful deposits OF coral are dis
closed high up in the peninsula an,
Northern Florida as are to be found ol
the reefs south of Cape Sable. Shout,
these causes continue the deep channc
of the Gulf Stream may be closed, Cub;
annexed by natural causes, the Valley
of the Mississippi be extended and th'
Gulf of Mexico become n fertile plain
--JockSonrRte (Fa.) Times Union