Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-08

have f1Oated vast masses OF scorp, ana on
which from time to time descended show
ers Of meteOric nature and fluids contain
ing in solution all the chemical elements
we know, and probably some not
yet known, must be caNeruous
and in a state of more or less leneous
fuidity before il rests upon sea OF lava,
/ flowing around nucleus more solid than
itself, at the rate of 1000 miles an hour.
Then, Selling the idea that in the lapse OF
countless ages there were periods OF
comparative repoSe, during which life APP
! peared on the globe IN spite OF continued
contractiOns OF the surface, disturbances
of sea levels, descent OF meteoric and
aqueous showers and corrugations tend
ing to divide the land from the water,
we can form reasonable conception OF
how the present state of the earth was
effected. Then, remembering the pres
ence of "dYkes" in tine rocks, produced
by the injection from below Of igneous
matter into split, and of faults" result
ing from the subsistence of one side OF
split, we may understand the origin OF
the vibrations we call earthquakes, and
OF the subterranean roar preceding them.
AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED
by the rocks called Laurentian," be-
cause they appear on both sides OF the
cham OF lakes emitted by the river st.
Lawrence, is considered the Oldest of the
continents. From what are called the
shore-lines and from the existence of the
Ike in Norway and Sweden, where the
earth is SAID to be still slowly rising above
the waters, and from the soundings of the
coast of New Jersey, from railroad cut
tings towards the South, and from geologic
evidence. we can assert that the ocean
once rolled as far as the falls OF our rivers.
Beginning at Richmond these falls appear
to keep on a line parallel win the
seashOre, and running through Columbia,
;. c., Augusta, Millegeville and Macon,
Ga. The "hIgh hills of Santep." the sand
hills OF Augusta and the bluff OF the Sa-
vannab. on which this city is built, APP
pear to be what were once the dunes of
great bay. somewhat like those now
known as Raleigh, Onslow. Long bays 10
the north and Indian river on the south,
separated by narrow strips of sand from
the sounds" known as Albemarle and
PamlicO. II has been recorded that after
great storm on the coast the inlets 10
Indian river, or properly Indian sound,
were so stopped up that the fresh water
from the swamps at the head OF the st.
Johns river flowed in, and ahgators
In vast numbers and shoals OF fresh water
fish came in quantities so great as to kill
the salt water fish, whilst a return OF the
saltwater after awhile destroyed those OF
fresh water.
ALL THIS TOOK PLACE
in few years, perhaps in a few months
or weeks, but 1t makes no difference in
us value to our theory. AFTER we state an
other TACT. VIZ: On the delta between the
Edisto and the AshapOO river a canal cut
to let the fresh water above. through rice
fields. showed that there had been clearly
defined elevations and depressiOns of the
time between two Of Them bad been suiii-
cient to allow tue growth Of trees similar
in kind and size to those IN our present
swamps.
Now let us suppose that at one time the
country from Aiken, near which are
sinks" similar to those recently formed
above and in Charleston. was bay eX.
tsnding from the sand banks of savannah
indefinitely north and west to the noun
tains, and that sand bars, perhaps now
far uut at sea, or represented now by our
sea Islands, then existed. From the re-
mains in the fossil beds, now uncovered,
this bay must have contained vast shoals
of fish and marine animals, and been the
recepticle tor the carcasses of some ter
restrial species. Among the remains
some teeth indie the presence of sharks
one hundred feet in length, and other be-
ings in proportion.
AS THE LAND ROSE
and the waters sunk by filtration or drv-
ing up, these living creatures kept in the
deepest water, as is seen In mill ponds
when emptIed, and persisted there, 10 he
buried at different depths by succeeding
deposits OF earth brought from above. The
extentot the phosphate beds,
with the space drained into them, will
account Tor the quantity OF the contents
aud their compact association.
Now, as rivers seek the lowest point of
the assures opened to them, aud gradu-
ally NIL up their bottoms as the supply of
water diminishes, we see that Charleston
stands as it were on ridge. as indicated
by Is artesian wells of different strata,
separated by films OF water. This fOrma-
ton extends more than probably as far
as the sources Of the Cooper and Ashly
rivers, where the prOmontory Joins the
main body of the land. The tertiary for
nations rest on the primitive rocks, as is
shown by the clay state at Rae's creek
at Augusta, and slopes on the aIluvial
surface at least one foot TO the mile, and
deeper down surely many feet. If,
then, from any cause a "fault"
took place to the southeast of Charleston,
as seems to have been the case, tho radius
OF vibration Of the solid rock strata would
strike the coast perpendicularly and
strongest at this city, perched upon the
pinnacle OF partially consolidated strata.
a great deal might be said on this sub
iect, but this is enough to show how a
"fault' afar in the ocean or a land slide
on the borders of the Gulf Stream, pro-
duced by the vibrations caused by Yolca-
mic or other causes, may have done such
damage In Charleston and Summerville
above all other places. X. w. ii.