The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-07

crushed together by force well-night in
conceivable. The pressure, increasing
steadily all the way from the crusr,
amounts at the very middle of the planer
to not less than 100000 of pounds on
each square inch.
1t is safe to assume, then, that the in
terror OF the globe is largely made up OF
metals, most of which are only found ON
or near the surface through having been
cast up from within. Did you ever 20
down INTO very deep mine2 If so, YOU
VIII nave noticed that the temperature
increases as you descend. On this ac-
count workings cannot be carried beyond
a certain depth. because the laborers ara
not able to endure the heat. The Their
mometer rises at the rate Of one degree
Fahrenheit for every fifty feet This keeps
on biologists say, until at least 1000 de-
grees is attained. At that point every
known substance-metals rocks and all
becomes fused and LIQUID This condi-
tlon or things Is found al depth of twen-
ty miles below the surface; from there on
the thermometer probably remains about
the same all the way to the very middle
Wen, even supposing that there is unlim-
tied gold to be found at these depths, what
chance is there of getting hold of it1
Very little, apparently; but one must NOT
jump at the conclusion that attempts will
never be made in that direction All that
Is needed is hole In the ground twenty
miles deep. Once let this point be reach
ed, and, owing to the release OF pressure.
everything from below must spout up in
molten shape Of It's own accord.
There would be no expense of mining
lt has been suggested that such a con-
duit would be to all intents and purposes
volcano, but any dangers which it would
otherwise threaten might be obviated easi-
ly by establishing the work on an open
prairie. The cost of boring twenty miles
would be trifie compared to the value OF
anticipated results.
1t is necessary to realize the fact that
ages ago the earth was a glowing and
fiery ball of molten and gaseous stuff-a
small sun, in fact. As 1t cooled, 1t slowly
shrunk. the heavier particles seeking the
middle and thus 1t comes about that the
average materials of the crust of the
planet average so much lighter. Accepts
ing this idea, IL follows that such a heavy
substance as gold would tend to gather
| close about the very center of the globe,
| Indeed, biologists are inclined to think it
not at all unlikely that the center of the
| sphere Is actually surrounded by q great
| ball of gold. A striking notion, is it not 2
Plenty of gold elsewhere in the bowels
| of the earth, undoubtedly; but here solid
| core Of the yellow metal surrounding the
| center of gravity-a treasure of immensl-
| ty beyond the grasp of human imagina-
/ ton! Perhaps the ball is many miles in
diameter. Just a chip off 1t would buy
a kingdom. Not Of pure gold Is this won
derful ball, maybe; indeed, that would
| not be likely. There are two known SUBJ
| stances heavier than gold-platinum and
| iridium; very likely there are large guam
titles of these metals mixed with the yell
| low stuff Platinum, by the way, Is worth
| about half as much as gold in the market
to-day. Iridium Is nearly twice as costly
| as gold, fetching $3.50 an ounce. 1t is
| utilized to some extent In making instru-
ments of delicacy, which must have the
property of not corroding; but its only inn
portant use is for tipping gold pens.
The earth, as already stated, is dead
sun. Yet, though only cold cinder, It is
not completely defunct, being live enough
beneath the thin crust. Think of a tenn
perature of 1000 degrees only twenty miles
down, and congratulate yourself that you
| do not dwell in volcanic country where
the imprisoned fires are liable to burst
| forth at any timel At the same time, 1t
must not be imagined that the fusion of
everything inside the earth implies that
| rocks and metals there are flowing about
| in liquihed condition. The fact Is that
/ this enormous incandescent mass, which
would flow like so much water If IT were
| free, Is held together by the pressure due
to gravitation so nightly as to be aa
rigid and compact as so much steel.