Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-06-06

IL countries, one, En-
- - IA Ji,. gland, celebrated
49, @for its mild genial
climate, a climate
Sthat viii produce
80 nearly any agTieul-
Z tural product
known to the civilized world, climate
that presents the greatest attraction
on account of its salubriOusness to VS.
itors from all quarters Of the globe, a
climate very favorable to good health
and longevity, but possibly not friend
", by virtue of its miIdness, to great.
intellectual activity. The other cOun-
Scandinavia directly opposite, is
almost the reverse of thiss the sum-
mers are very short and cool, the win
ters long and severe, nearly all agri-
cultural products, native grasses and
forests, are of stunted growth, the
entire country seemingly cold and
desoIate. Why is this? What physi-
cal causes are responsible for this
wide difference in the climate and
productions of two countries nearly
in the same degree of latitude?
For, other things being equal,
the same latitude indicates the
same temperature, one of the first
things taught in the primary geOgra-
phies, but the rule does not apply to
England and Norway by any means.
Continuing the observation of the
chart, looking away down among the
tropic seas, and south torrid zone,
imaginary belts or divisions directing
US where to look for heat and cold, and
between the two, the temperate cli-
mate, we shall see what Is called the
Gulf Stream, and as itt.winds its way,
sometimes crooked and as often straight
through the ocean, we find it nearly
touches the shore Of England, but falls
to approach that of Scandinavia. Now,
as this stream, mighty river, has its
origin in tOrrid countries, its fountain
headis not only hot water but the stream
itself as it flows s1uggishly through
the seas of the torrid zone everything
but sin and immortality moves slow in
tropic cOuntries-it loses none of its
heat, but when it strikes the temper
ate and colder zones, in obedience to
that inscrutable decree of physics, its
motion becomes more rapid, and by the
time this channel separating these two
countries is reached the Gulf Stream
has developed into a tempestuOus tor
rent, a raging river, and, as it washes
the shores of England it deposits its
freight of heated yapOr on what would
otherwise be the same cold country as
Norway and Sweden. q
These two countries are warmed by
the same sun, and it's rays strike each
at the same angle, hence so far as the
suns power of itself is concerned, the
countries are alike benefited; but
what the sun fails to do the Gulf
Stream completes, what heat is lack
ing the Gulf Stream supplies, and
away north it makes another turn,
but comes back to warm and mOisten
the vineyards of France, but leaves
those beautiful countries across the
way, but in the same latitude, out in
the cold.
If it were possible to change the
current and general course of this
mighty river, the Gulf Stream, what
gigantic changes would be wrought on
the earth's surface. Cold, barren, and
desoIate countries would bloom and
blossom as the rose; sandy deserts
would be covered with rank verdure,
and icy plains become dense forests
and iungles; mighty mOnarchies would
disappear, Kingdoms, powers, and
oovernmen is would be only known in
history: entil.e continents. seas and
islands would be changed; animals
would perish and new species would
take their place; the vegetable king
dom as now found In certain sections
would wither and decay, neSY species
would spring up and feed upon their
ruins, as they did In prehistoric ages.
This giant river in the ocean seems a
strange phenomenon. In the seYerest
droughts it never fails, and in the
floods it never OVerfoWs It
Of the even tenor Of its prescribed
course. Its banks and It's bottom are
Of cold water, so salty it cannot be
drank, but its current is warm, and
its water approaches in chemical purity
dOubly distilled rain-water. It's
source is In the Gulf of Mexico,
and It empties itself away up in
the frigidest of frigid zones, the
northern arctic seas, where the foot
Of man has never been known to tread.
The entire world, so far as explored,
does not contain such another majestic
flow of water. Its current is more
rapid than the Mississippi or the Anna
ZOn, and It's volume more than ten thou
sand times greater. Its waters are
fresh, and away out from the coast Of
Carolina are Of indigo blue. These are
so distinctly marked that the Line Of
demarka51Cn that separates tins river
from the ocean may be traced by
the unaided eye Often One-half the
ship may be seen floating in this river
while the other half is in the common
water Of the sea, so sharp is the line
and the lack Of affinity between these
waters; and such, too, the reluctance,
so to speak, on the part Of that of the
Gulf Stream to mingle with the COM
mon water of the sea.
In addition to this there is another
very peculiar fact. The fishermen on
5he coast Of Norway are supplied with