Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-11
Utility OF Volcanoes.
THEIR AGENCY IN CONTRIBUTING IMPORTANT ELR-
MENTs OF ORGANIC LIFE.

THEIR AGENCY IN CONTRIBUTING IMPORTANT EIR-
MENTs OF ORGANIC LIFE.
Prof. Shaler in scritner's
The solid matter thrown out by volcanoes is the
most important contribution TO the materials
which the sea has at Its disposal for the nouris-
ment OF its life and for the formation OF strata.
The quantity OF the pumiceous and finely -pulver-
lied material Is enormous When IL falls upon the
1t either floats for time or al once sinks into
the depths. In either case IL Is TO a great extent
dissolved In the ocean waters ana so contributes
TO the store OF materials which may be appropri-
ated by the organic life OF the sea- When n falls
on the land IL is generally 80 incoaerent that Il
easily sw pit away by the rains and comes
quickly into the ocean. The importance OF Ills
contribution TO marine sediments has been over
looked by biologists, but II Is easy TO see that
It may amount In mass 10 something like as
much as the earthly matter which is brought 10
the sea by the rivers. The volcanoes OF the Java
district alone have within century thrown out
mass OF this fragmentary rock amounting probably
to not less than 100 cubic miles, and perhaps 70
twice this quantity. Now, the Mississippi River
carries out IN the form OF dissolved matter, mud
and sand about cubic mile In twenty years or
cubic miles 10 century; thus these volcanoes OF
the Java district have brought up from the DEPTHS
OF the earth and contributed TO the sea many times
as much detrftus as has been conveyed TO the
ocean by the greatest river OF North America
Allowing for the greater porosity OF the volcanic
dust, Il still seems not unlikely that the elections
from half dozen great volcanoes OF the East Indian
Archipelago In the period OF little more than a
century from 1772 TO 1853, far exceeded that
brought into the oceans by all the rivers Of North
America In the same period
Although the volcanoes OF this district are by
far the most powerful which are known, We still
cannot iairy Reckon that their elections represent
anywhere near the half OF the total Quantity
which came TO the earths surface from such vents
during the aDoye-named period OF III years For
during this time some scores OF great craters were
In eruption, including skaptaT, In Iceland yesu-
v1us, -Etna, various volcanoes In South America
and elsewhere IL seems, therefore, not unlikeiy
that the solid materials contributed by volcanoes
to the sea floor, may, on the average, amount 20
as much as that taken by the rivers from the lane
Among these solid substances which are elected
by volcanoes We ind some OF the most indispen-
Sable elements OF organic lie, including phos-
phorus, soda, potash and other materials. Tne
Value OF these materials 70 vegetation NAV be
judged by the fertility which so often character
lies the regions In The immediate vicinity OF VOL
canic cones which cast forth large amounts OF ash
II The rainfall be sufnclent This ash quickly
dec0npOSeS into lie soil, which tennis
the husbandman TO replant the NEEDS as
last as they are rayaged by the ex-
plosions. Were 1t not for the const ant return of
these rarer and precious Materials To the superb
It Is likely that the earth's surface would want
many OF the substances most necessary Tor mic
life. We thus see that volcanoes play 4 very i'm
portant part in the physical history or our planet
The action is, IN large degree, restorative. They
help TO maintain the earth surface In q condition
this internal heat OF The EARTH acting through yo
canoes, serves TO counterfeit certain Injurious
effects arising from the operation OF the solar
forces The heat oil the sun Operating Ia the rivers
and the waves wears away The materials OF the
land, and lures them In the strata OF the seaoor
along with part OF the waite: OF the seas. lie
internal he & expels the most volatile and the
most nfe-giving portions OF these substances
anordlng them a chance TO take their places onoe
again In the activities OF the surface.