Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-30
TERRESTRIAL HEAT.
An ENGLISH SCIENTIST TELLS HOW
1T MAY BE UTILIZED.
The Earth Likely to Go the Frigid Way OF
the Moon-Boring for Hot Water-Hest
Constantly on Tap in Every Household
A Great Scheme Suggested.

Biologists and astronomers inform us that
this earth upon which we live, move, and
have being is in transition state A few
million years ago, more or less, it was "al
aglow," as some Of tie heavenly bodies are
presumed to be at present. After time il
began to cool down till the temperature al
lowed salamanders and similar creatures to
exist on its surface. Finally the fires got Sc
low both in situation and degree Of intensity
that ordinary animals, including man, could
live very comfortably upon it. Recently
they began to feel uncomfortable on account
of lack of sufficient heat According to the
theory OF these very wise men, the future is
not very promising in respect to temperature.
They state that the earth, which was once as
warm as the sun, will Eventually, if not
sooner become as cold as the moon, which is
declared TO be a played-out planet, destitute
Of heat and probably without water or even
air. Some state that it is simply a compact
mass of ashes. good for nothing except to re-
fleet the light of the sun.
This earth is gradually cooling down. 1t
is pretty cool in some places now, especially
on the tops of high mountains and in the re-
gions visited by Arctic explorers The in
terror, however, the scientists state, Is still
molten mass capable Of affording sufficient
heat to all the creatures that live on the sur
face of it. They live on a burned crust Of
variable thickness. In some places, as in the
vicinity of volcanoes, it is quite thin, and
people derive considerable benefit from the
fires that rage beneath them. In other places,
however, the crust is so thick that the people
suffer from the cold. This crust is constantly
becoming thicker, and in process Of time,
it is believed, will become permanently
frozen.
A scientific sharp in England, who has-a
practical turn of mind, asks: "Why not
utilize the great amount of terrestrial heat
that is beneath our feet for the purpose of
warming our dwellings, cooking our food.
and running our engines" He states that
the Americans have obtained oil by sinking
deep wells into the reservoirs that contain it.
They have also obtained gas by the same
means. In portions of the world where the
crust is quite thin there are hot springs In
some places the water of these springs is at a
boiling temperature. At Pesth and Paris the
water is quite warm. At the former place
it is proposed to continue the borings till boil
ing water is reached. This boiling water will
be used to warm dwellings and green houses,
for washing clothes, and for various other
purposes, and the steam issuing from the
same well will be employed for running
engines.
In the opinion Of this man, boiling water
can he obtained by sinking wells TO the dis
lance of about 10000 feet. If you want heat
that will burn brick, roast beef, and melt
iron, you must go deeper for it. That there
are stores of heat of any desired degree all
ready to be tapped, every geologist is ready
to admit II is conceded that it will cost con-
siderable to bore well several miles deep.
profitable when completed. The cost of fuel
is now very great, and many people suffer
for the lack of something to burn With
constant supply Of hot water in every house
the expense of living would be greatly reduced
This distribution of hot water would put an
end TO most of our present labor troubles, as
there would be no more work for coal miners,
coke-burners, or stovemakers. Forests would
soon re-establish themselves all over the
country. and our coal merchants could retire
on the fortunes they have amassed
1t is recommended that every great city in
the world undertake the boring of one or
.nroi- wells roa oi.o pun pose of supplying boil
ing water. In this city the revenue derived
from the sale of '-fire-water" might he used
for the purpose of sinking wells for obtaining
boiling water Our municipal authorities may
frown or the scheme rs fanciful, and declare
that there is no money in il, but they may
rest assured that 'there is millions in it,
Clicayp TriiIlcs