Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21


Immense Tidal system.
Data from different wells and springs
seem to suggest that there exists beneath
the surface of the earth an immense tidal
system, which is affected by the moon,
and which rises and falls. or at least moves
about with as much regularity the tides
of the ocean. II is not stated whether
there is any intimate connection between
these underground streams and the great
streams and bodies of water which exist on
the surface, except that they are both gov
erned by lunar influence, and that the
natural process OF percolatfon may In
directly connect them with each other IL
is a known fact that the variation Of water
from springs under barometric changes is
very great. and the surface of Lake Men
dota has been shown, even in winter, when
covered with ice. to be subject to extremely
complex oscillations some OF which appear
TO be barcmetric.
II is a contention of Professor King that
these underground waters embrace a world
wide zone. They are not, therefore. con-
fined to the United States alone, but UNDER
mine the surfaces of Europe. Asia, Africa
and Australia well. Professor King Is
working TO perfect a map of the under
ground streams Of the world, and soon
as he has finished shall doubtless know
more of what the interior of the earth is
like. The substitution of a theory to the
effect that the interior of the earth is &C.
cupied by large bodies OF water is only
arother refutation of the old theory of ;he
molten character of the earth's Interor.
Years ago il was thought that the center
of the earth was a molten mass which was
the result of the former geological condi-
ton. Ii was held that The earth had pro-
crossed from its original entirely molten
state; had cooled of on the surface, and
was gradually cooling OF toward the CEN
ter. but that there must in the nature OF
Things, yet remain a large portion Of the
interior which was yet in a molten condi-
ton. During late years, however, scien-
lists, while holding this view to be I'm a
measure correct, yet contend that The pro-
cess of cooling is very much more advan eel
than IT was formerly supposed to me. They
contend that the center of the earth is
very hot. but that ii is not precisely mol
ten mass.
Heat Underground.
That the center of the earth is quite hot
is proved when very deep penetration
through the surface is made. IL is found
that the temperature gradually rises as the
center is az preached. All deep wells are
much hotter at the bottom than at the top,
and Professor Hallock of Columbia Col
lege recently made test OF very deep
well near Pittsburg, Pa, in which the tenn
reratUre, at a depth of 5..yJ2 feet had
reached an altitude of LIS degrees. This
well is being dug i'm the interests of science
and 1t is the intention of the owners to
eventually carry the well down until a.
depth of two miles is reached In Australia
there Is gold mine the shafts of which
have been sunk 1000 feet into the earth
Temperature Investigations show that the
heat OF the earth is materially greater at
1000 feet than at the surface
The possibilities of Professor Kings
theory are very great. and from a scientific
standpoint his Investigations are very val
liable. and the final results are being eager
ly awaited by all scientists