Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-08-06
The GUILE STREAM.
IL Would Take Two Thousand Mississippi
Rivers to " ,.ual IL.

IL WOuiu take Two InOusau0 mIs6isStypl
Rivers TO " ,.ual II.
The currents of the ocean are the
great transporters of the suns heat
from the torrid zone TO temper the
climate of the polar regions. says John
K. Pillsbury in the Century. Ii is ar
gued by some hat such a stupendous
change as that which occurred in Eu-
rope and America at the time of the
glacial period was caused simply BIZ a
DETECTION in the currents in the north
ern hemisphere, whereby its share of
tropical heat was partly diverted to-
ward the south. In the three great
oceans. the Atlantic, the Pacific and
the Indian, there is to be found a sim
liar circulation-a general westerly
movement in the tropics, a flow toward
the poles along the eastern shores of
the continents, an easterly set in the
temperate zones, and a current toward
the equator along the western shores.
This system thus becomes q grand cir
cular movement, some parts being
very slow. but still quite constant, and
other parts very swift. There are of
shoots here and there due To local
causes, and perhaps in the slowly NOV
ing current there may be a temporary
interruption, but, taken as a whole,
the movement is continuous.
The part of this circulation flowing
along the eastern coast of the United
States is the greatest of all these cur
rents, and, in fact, is the most magni-
ticent of all natures wonders. This
is the gulf stream. The name gulf
stream was first suggested by Ben
jamin Franklin because it comes from
the gulf of Mexico. While ii is a por-
ton of the grand scheme of ocean cir
culation, and the gulf of Mexico is in
reElity only a stopping place, as il
were. for its waters, the name is gen.
orally applied to the current when il
reaches the straits of Florida. north OF
Cuba. In the large funnel-shaped
opening toward the gulf of Mexico the
current al first is variable in direction
and velocity. but by the time Havana
is reached il becomes a regular and
steady flow. As it rounds the curve
of the Florida shore the straits con-
tract, and the water then practically
fills the banks from shore to shors and
reaches almost to the bottom, which is
at this point about 5000 feet deep. As
it leaves the straits of Florida It's
course is about north, but it gradually
changes in direction, following approx
imately the curve Of 100 fathoms deem
until il reaches Cape Hatteras. From
this point it starts on its course to
Europe. 1t has lost something in vel
ocity as well as temperature, and as il
journeys to the eastward it gradually
diminishes in both, until it becomes a
gentle flow as it approaches Europe.
People think the Mississippi river q
grand river, and il is so in truth, as
far as land rivers go; but great as it
is it would require 1000 such rivers ia
make a gulf stream. The great ocean
river is an irresistible flood of water.
running all the time, summer and
winter, and year after year. 1t is as
difficult for the mind to grasp its inn
mensity as it is to realize the distance
of the nearest stars. At its narrowest
part in the straits of Florida it is thir-
ty-nine miles wide, has an average
depth of 1000 feet and a velocity al
the axis-the point of fastest fow-oi
from three to more than five miles per
hour. To say that the volume in one
hours flow past Cape Florida is 80, 000.-
000, 900 tons in weight does not convey
much TO the mind. If we could evap-
crate this one hours flow of water and
distribute the remaining salt to the
inhabitants of the United States, every
man, woman and child would receive
nearly sixty pounds.
Ii is curious to note in the history OF
the gulf stream how great its influ-
ence mas been on the fortunes of the
new world. Before the discovery OF
America strange woods and fruits
were frequently found on the shores
of Europe and off-lying islands. some
Of these were seen and examined by
Columbus, and to his thoughtful mind
they were confirming evidence of the
fact that strange lands were not far Ia
the westward. These woods were car
ried by the gulf stream and by the
prevailing winds from the American
continent, so that in part the gull
stream is responsible for the discovery
Of the new world. Ponce de Leon,
while on his famous search for the
fountain of youth, made the discovery
of this more practically beneficial,
phenomenon. The whalers of New
England were the first to gain a fairly
accurate knowledge of the limits OF
the current between America and
Europe by following the haunts Of the
whales, which were found north of one
line and south of another, but never
between the two. This, they reasoned,
was the gulf stream current. Ben
jamin Franklin received this informa.
ton from the whalers, and published
it on a chart for the benefit of the mai
packets plying between England and
the colonies. The chart was first is
sued about i770, but was not accepted
by the English captains. Before i,
came to be generally known and used
the trouble between England and the
colonies had begun and Franklin know
ing the advantage the knowledge
would be to the British officers. sup.
pressed it all he could until hostilitie.
ceased.