The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-05-06
TERRESTRIAL HEAT.
AN ENGLISH SCIENTIST TELLS HOW
IT MAY BE UTILIZED.

The Earth Likely to 60 the Frig,d Wa, Of
th- Mech Borins for Hot Water Heat
Constantly ON Fapin Every Household
A Great scheme suggested.
GeologiSt> AMI astronomers inform us that
this earth upon which We live. move, and
have isiug Is in a transition state. \ few
million years ago, more or less, il WAS ali
aglow," us some Of the heavenly bodies are
presumed 20 he at present. Hfter time 1t
began Ia cool down ill the temperature al
lowed SalanentlerS and similar creature 10
exist on its surface Finally the fires 60, 81
low both in situation and degree of intensity
that ordinary animals, including man. could
live very comfortably upon IT. Recently
they b-gan 10 feel uncomfortable on account
az lack of sufficient heat. According 20 the
theory of thee very wise men. the future is
not very promising in respect H. temperature
They state that the earth. which was once rs
warm is the sun, will eventually if not
sUnar." become a. cold as the moon which is
declared 10 le Il played-out planet, destitute
If heat anil probably without water or even
air. Some state that it is simply compact
maSs of ashes. good for nothing except 10 re-
. hect the light of the sun
This earth is gradually cooling down. 1t
i,pretty cool III some places now. especially
IN the tops of high mountains and in the re-
sions visited 10y Arctic explorers. The in
terror, however, the scientists state, is still
molten niasS capable Of atfor,ling sufficient
a, III A, tl,,tl Al
face Of it. They live on burned crust Of
variable thickness. In some places, as in the
vicinity Of volcanoes. il 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 Thiscr is constantly
becoming thicker, and in process Of time,
il is believed. will become permanently
frozen
A scientific sharp III England. who has
practical turn Of mind, asks: why not
utilize the great amsint 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
ulcans In portions of the world where tho
crust /, quit" thin there are hot springs In
some places the water Of these springs is at q
boiling temperature. At Pcsth and Paris the
water is quite warm. At tho former place
it is proposed tn continue the behring's till boil.
INK water is reached This boiling water will
bo usol to warm dwellings and reenhouscs,
tor washing clothes, and for variou, 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 lc obtained by sinking wells TO the dis
tancc Of about 10000 feet. II you want heat
that will burn brick, roast beef, and melt
iron, you must 90 deeper for it. That there
are stores of heat Of any desired degree all
ready to be tapped, every geologist is ready
% admit II is conceded that il will cost con-
siderable to bore well several miles deep,
but everyone can SEQ that il would bc very
profitable when completed. Tho cost Of fuel
is now very great, and many people suffer
for the lack Of something TO burn. With Il
constant supply of hot water in every house
the expense of living would be greatly reduced
This distribution of hot water would put an
,nd to most of our present labor troubles, as
there would DO 10 more work for coal miners,
coke burners, or stoyemakers. Forests would
soon re-establish themselves all over tho
country, and our coal merchants coul,l retire
,n the fortunes they have amasscd.
1t Is recommended that every great city in
the world undertake the boring Of one or
moro wells for the purpose of supplying boil
ing water. In this city the revenue derived
from the sale of "iirc-water' might he used
for the purpose of sinking wells for obtaining
boiling water. Our municipal authorities may
frown on the scheme as fanciful, and declare
that there is no money in it, but they may
rest assured that there is millions in it,
Chicago Tribune.