Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26
THE EARTH'S CENTER,
All the Evidence Points to the Belief
That it is Molten.
thickness OF THE COOL CRUST.
Proofs Gathered From a Long Series Of
Well Known Facts.
PROBABILITIES AS To THE INTERIOR


"inout assuming anything for granted
and accepting only such conclusions as
come from the evidence inevitably, as we
pass along, let us survey the earth aud en-.
deavor to ascertain the character of its in
ternal economy. The surface features that
hrst impress us are the great water and land
areas. Calculations have proved that three.
fourths OF the surface is water and ice: the
remaining fourth is land. The water is of
varying depth. but occasionally reache.
distances Of from four 10 six miles. This in
deeper than any land point is high.
Huge ribs known as mountains dispose
themselves on all continental areas, and ara
generally ranged in lines parallel with the
coasts. AT irregular intervals along these
mountain ranges openings, known as vol
canoes, penetrate down into the earth,
through which, from time to time, vast
quantities of molten and gaseous matter are
poured out, thousands of islands of consid-
cradle area having been formed in this way.
These openings bear every indication of
being vents, some of which have closed from
dlsuse, and some, after having been inactive
Tor centuries, again become active. These
vents are more frequent in the vicinity of
coasts, and are also ound on islands,
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAS.
From what we know, the bottom of the
seas presents about the same Typographical
features as the dry land, as beneath the
water line are mountains, bills, plateaus.
valleys, ETC., etc. Extensive and impassa.
Die ice areas cover the polar districts. and
here also we find volcanoes and the evil
dences OF volcanic action. We TINS find
this volcanic feature in a pretty general
distribution all over the surface OF the
earth.'
Having now briefly surveyed our globe.
exterior and noted the chief physical char
acter1stlcs, what are the phenomena pre-
sented, so far as We NAV absolutely know.
beneath the surface? What NAV we be
able to determine as to its physical interior?
ShaIting and drilling to whatever depth
disclose layer after laver OF rock stratifca-
ton and the temperature rises uniformly
with increasing depth. The temperature, il
the rate of increase be maintained. yould
reach the melting point at less than so miles,
As it is about 1000 miles to the earth's
center, we fine that this shell, ii we accept
5O miles as Its thickness, is considerably less
that per cent of the distance.
Now, since there is strong indication of
corroooratl7e evidence OF such a condition.
EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES.
There are occasional Earrings or shakiprs
that are difficult to reconcile with the theory
of solid interior, but which are readily ex-
plalnable on the assumption that the earth
IS only solid she'll with plastic or igneous
Interior. These Earrings, which are known
as earthquakes, have some connection with
Innc
affected when earthquakes occur, and their
activity is often premonition of vibrations
OF some kind. Now, il the earth's interior
be really molten or gaseous, and if these be
vents through which any molten or gaseous
substance is thrown in considerable quanti-
ties, what effect would this outpouring, il
long continued, have on the surface?
Simply that of subsistence to the precise
of the matter emitted from the in.
terror. Then what? As the she'll is cold
is of immense thickness, of great weight and
lateral frmness, as it has to gradually ac-
,ommodate itself to a slightly smaller
,phere, it follows inevitably that this she'll
must exhibit bulges or wrinkles on its sur
ace, and ii such a result is to follow such
condition, we may conclude that mountain
'anges are thus formed, being such buIgea
" wrinkles.
FACTS AID THE THEORY,
But, is there any evidence of erupted mat.
er anywhere. in sufficient quantities to lend
olausibility to the view that the wrinkles
Known as mountains are the measure OF such
ubsidence? Yes; the Hawaiian group of
Stands in the South Pacific Ocean affords a
striking instance OF the immense volume of
olid matter that may be expelled by volcanic
lction. These islands are wholly volcanic,
Use up where the water is $4,000 feet deep
md the peak of Mauna Loa is still 1900
,bove the water level, so that here is an
Instance of 81 900 eet OF perpendicular up
leaval or nearly six miles. When it is con-
Iidered that the bases OF these islands are all
,onfuent, some idea may be derived of their
quantity of matter, which does not include
my estimate oi the merely gaseous or vola-
lie portion of the outpour.
This theory would demand eruptiye and
haking phenomena over the water areas,
md these we also find, though they are not
% apparent as on the land. Tremendous
Tolumes of matter may pour forth and
pread over the ocean floor, where the depth =
5 great, without any commotion on surface.
But tidal waves and many other marine
'henomena can thus be readily accounted
Or.
IS THE CENTER A VACUUM
Now, as regards the problem o. pressure
t the center of the earth: Has anyone DEM
nstrated that grayitation extends its full
Drce to the center? Is there any likelihood
hat the maximum o. pressure may be found
ONE distance this side of the center? Is
here anything to cause us to suspect that
here may be simply nothing at this central
oint? Would there be much attraction
There there Is nothing to attract?
There is fairly conclusive evidence that
ing forms of matter may occur in the pro-
essos o: nature. May hollow shell, then,
orm in somewhat analogous manner, and
7ould such form of material be just an
II we conceive of a mass of incandescent
natter whirling. for millions of years, will
here be tendency for the matter to move
oward the surface, and will such movement /.
reate a central vacuum? But this is TOO