New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-24
rs TIE EARTH SOLID TO THE CENTBEf
SOME ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE THEORY THAT Ii
L. IN A soMEwuAT FLuIp CONDITION.

sour ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE THEORY THAT 1T
ISM SOMEWHAT FLUID CONDITION.
TO the Editor Of The tribune
SIR: started TO read with much interest the
article in your paper entitled "Ibe earthquake
Theory but soon was dis pointed to find that what
had been taught to regard as an exploded theory WAS
taken as the fundamental data In the solution OF the
problem the fuidty of the carths interior. The
writer states: aThe reasons for believing that the
nterior IA I'm somewhat fluid condition are vnrious
The most important are /. From very many observs'
tons ads ia mines etc., 1t Is discovered that there 10
an increase OF temperature from the surface down.
ward . sufficient to melt all known rocks !"
This is true but with the increase OF temp erature Az
we go downward is also found an equal increase OF
pressure of the superncumbent masses OF rocks ana
IL is well known law in physics q at the fusng point
OF all matter is raised by pressure by increasing the
pressure to a high degree above that OF the atmos-
phere water has been heated red-hot and rocks have
been raised a temperature far above their fusing
point without changing their solil state so In accord
ance with this law of nature 1t would impossible
TO find point no matter how tsr below the earth
surface where the rocks in state OF fusion so
the earth of necessity be solid to the centre OF an
monsly high temperature the higher the lItaer
we get below The snrface-but still solid Again the
writer cites 40 by certain geological agencies GER
tain rocks from below brought to the surface IN
mountain building and these rocks show evidence OF
melted" Greatly heated they certainly were while
stll in their or gina bed but not melted until their
fsing point lowered by relief of pressure. and
then rs of the matter flashes into gas the whole
molten mass Is beched forth through some volcanic
vent or assure no speaks OF III No s. This relief OF
pressure oi superbeated matter with the results that
OF immediate conse luence constitute the phehom-
enon OF volcanic eruption Were the rocks always IN
molten condition il would be hard TO assign canse
for the Ill !den and violent outbursts to which many
volcanoes notably Vesuvius, are subict TO al long
intervals Volcanoes notably occur along lines oil
weakness in the earths crust where pressure has nee
lessened II volcanoes be merely vents OF an internal
molten sea- whv should they almost always occur in
definite regions of the ear,h's surface And why
sboud they not be of almost constant occurrence in all
vents In fact Astronomers tell us that we're there
general molten mass Within the moon would cause. by
a tidal influence yelling forth Of lava as regularly
rs il cause. high tide anc shores Astronomers
also assure that in all its Astronomical relations inc
earth acts like a sphere rigid as one of glass
Again. issuing from common source tho
products of volcanic eruption woul Id lie more or
less alike the world But even in closely adoin-
ing volcanic districts the rocks often totally differ
emit as IL the case OF the old volcanic rocks IN
Central Europe showing totally different origin.
The outcome OF all these facts would clearly setn 10
point TO the earths being sphere, ut an enormous
because OF the equally pressure OF the super
of weakness would the melting OF rocks at
certain pons and the eiectng of this molten matter
from these local pockets at the tim, OF relief OF
pressure. write tho above more III the form OF a
nuery than n positive statement. WIN, l.. K.
a h gofyL Som y