Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23
Is GEOLOGY FAULTY I?
Facts That Do Not HarmOnize With
Its Accepted Theories.
EXISTENCE OF THE CONTINENTS.
investigations Which Tend to Show They
Never Fell Below Water.
DEPOSITS ON THE DEEP SEA FLOOR
rwK1rrEN roR THE p1srArcH.r

sustained by recent developments in physi-
cal science?
In the light of recent research and discov-
cry it would appear that the science of
geology is passing q crisis in its develop
ment, and like the science of astronomy in
its early history, is brought face to face with
conditions, which, in the present state Of the
science, it is impossible to reconcile. The
difficulties here referred to are OF charac-
ter very similar to those encountered by the
science of astronomy, under the ''old
Ptolemaic hypothesis" which led, in the
fifteenth century, to complete revision
and revolution of the entire system and a
transferring of its center from that of the
earth to that of the sun. This radical
change shifted the center of the system
93. .OOO. 600 miles remodeled the orbits and
simplifed the movements of the planetary
bodies. and, as an astronomical coup d'etat,
was complete solution to the difficulties
which so long STAYED the progress of correct
astronomical knowledge, and finally, under
the surveillance and scrutiny of the master
minds of that century, astronomy rose to be
one of the most complete and intellectual
sciences to man.
FACTS THAT WILL NOT HARMoNIZE.
To-day the status of geological science
seems to be in the same condition that astro-
nomical science was under the Ptolemaic
hypothesis; and under the pressure of cease
less investigation, so characteristic of the
age. new conditions arise and facts come to
light not only not in harmony with the sci
ence but actually at variance with its fun
dsmental principles leading to the belief
that the premises upon which the whole
science rests are faulty, and before these
facts and conditions can be reconciled with
the science the entire premises, like those of
astronomy, will have to be subjected to the
most thorough and critical revision.
A few more expeditions like that of the
Challenger will not only demOralize the sci
entifc world but raise the question whether
to remodel the present system to suit these
conditions or to displace it by one more in
harmony with the new discoveries A re-
cent writer, speaking on this point, says:
Scientific theories necessarily lack fnality.
Sufficient to-day to explain all the known
facts, to-morrow's discoveries may show
{ their inadequaey and lead to their modifca-
tion or abandonment"
The science of geology as now generally
accepted by the scientific world is. it may be
said, the especial protege of the renowned
geologist, Sir Charles Lyell. He it was
who wrote its most elaborate history and
did more to systematic and develop the
science and TO give it scope and direction
than perhaps any other. His principles
OF Geology" will stand q monument to his
noble genius and untiring industry as long
as books are read; and so high has he been
held in esteem by his contemporaries and
scholars generally that precedence has al
ways been
FREELY AWARDED HIM
as his own Just merit. In the science of
geology he has, without reserve, been ae-
knowiedged dictator; and in the interpreta-
- fnha oil of rialv Nha-
nomena, few indeed could be found to vent
ure an opinion until his had been freely ex-
pressed and known.
Such eneomium and laudation may be
thought by some as extravagant and even
fulsome, but have we not the warrant for
all that is contained therein, in the fact,
that he is universally quoted and his oPin-
ion in doubtful or obscure cases, or when
found to favor or support what appears to
be an eXtraVagant assumption, is accepted
as royal authority and the court of final ap-
peal
The scope and direction of the science, as
conceived by Mr.. Lyell, may be summed
up in few studied expressions, taken from
his Principles The position and con-
fguration of the land surface is constantly
and slowly changing, and Mr.. Lyell, noting
how the dry land thus shifted about in the
sea, concluded that no limits could be set to
its peregrinations. "It is" he says, mot
too much to say that every part of space
now covered by the deepest ocean, has been
land"
Again on page 102 he makes The following
declaration: However constant may be the
relative proportions of the sea and land, we
know that there is annually some small
variation in their respective geographical
positions, and that in every century the land
is in some parts raised and in others de-
pressed in level, and so likewise is the bed
of the sea. By these and
OTHER CEAsELEss CHANGES
the confguration of the earth's surface has
been remOdeled again and again since it be-
came the habitation of organic beings, and
the bed of the ocean has been lifted up to
the height of the loftiest mountains"
Then again, on page q, while expressing
appreciation of calculating the loss of solar
radiation by irregularities in the earth's mo-
tion, SAYS: 'Such inquiries, however, can
never supersede the necessity of invesTigat-
ing the consequences of the VARYING position |
OF continents, shifted, as we know them to
have been during successive epochs, from |
one part of the globe to another"
Lastly, quote from Mr.. Hitchcock, who |
follows in the wake of his great cotempor-
ary: ''The amount of land above the ocean
has varied in every period of the earth's |
VI
submerged, once were important theaters of |
terrestrial life."
The above opinions have the merit of be- |
ing in perfect harmony. They regard the |
surface of the earth. including both conti- |
nents and oceans, as subject to oscillation, |
and though in all ages of the world, says |
Mr.. Lyell, the proportion of the land sur
face, TO that of the water, has been about the |
same; this condition, he continues, has been |
main tanned by the subsldence of the one and |
the elevation of the other; in other words, |
as a continent, or part of a continent sunk |
down, the ocean bottom arose to take its |
place. That subsistence alternating with |
elevation has been characteristic of the |
earth's surface from the beginning.
THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.
In reference TO this point, Mr.. Dana, |
speaking of the North American Continent, |
says: This Continent has always had the |
same shape it now has. From the earliest |
times it has gradually been growing, just as
q tree continues to increase in size. retain |
ing the same proportions; and that all the |
continents have always been, the more |
elevated portions OF the crust aud the ocean |
basins have always been the more de- |
pressed portions of the crust"
The above quotations are taken from three |
of the most eminent biologists of the day, |
and no one reading them can TAIL to dis |
cover the conflict of opinion therein ex-
presSed. While the two former maintain |
the theory that elevation and subsistence |
have characterized the earth's surface from |
the beginning, the latter afhrms that all |
the continents have always been the more |
elevated portions of the crust and the ocean
basins have always been the more depressed |
portions