The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-11-05
LEROY ARM Special Agent.
RISE AND FALL OF LAND.
How IL Is illustrated in the EIeva-
tiOn of Coast Lines In Diher-
ent Countries.

A series OF 80 marks were made in
1851 on the Baltic coast, from Tornea
TO the Maze of Norway, and in 1884
these were examined by a commission
of the Swedish Academy Of Sciences.
By these observations ii was estab-
lished that the movement of elevation
was contained in the north, and that
of depression at the southern extrem-
ity Of the peninsula. About Kalmar
and Karlskrona no change OF level
could be detected as having occurred
within recent years, but since 1850 1t
was proved that the head Of the Gulf Of
Bothnia had risen at the rate OF 1,170
meters per century. This rate Of ele-
walton declines progressively toward
the south. II is not more than 0.30 of
a meter at the Maze, and 1t Is zero at
Bornholm. The mean elevation Of the
Swedish coast is thus LOO meters per
century. From these and u host of
similar data, no doubt can exist re:
garding the rise Of the Scandinavian
peninsula, and ~inferentially there was
a period when the Arctic ocean com
municated with the Baltic. The Jap
anes Islands are also rising, and many
districts around the sea Of Aral and
the Caspian are In a similar plight, ac-
cordlng TO evidence equally conclusive.
In more southern regions data equally
cogent are ready TO u hand. Crete
has risen II feet above its ancient
level; the old Greek ports are high and
dry, and limestone rocks which the
sea never touches are to be found
pierced by a species of shellfsh which
bores into stone, though, II may be
added, so little can any law be formu-
lated regarding these areas Of eleva-
tion and subsistence that on the east
ern side Of the island the ruins Of sew.
eral Greek towns may be seen under
the water. Marine shells far above the
highest tidal mark are found plentiful
ly along the shores Of South America,
commencing at Terra del Fuego, and
along the west coast for a distance OF
at least 1000 miles, and in matches
probably as far north as the fsthmus
OF Panama, these evidences of up
heaval being deposited at elevations
varying, according TO Darwin, from
300 to 1900 feet over the sea level. The
raised sea beaches, which are taken as
proofs of the rising Of the land, are
found not only around the places al
ready noticed, but along the outer
coast Of Norway, South America-at
Coquimbo, for example-and along
many parts Of the shores of Great
Britain. At Brighton, for Instance.
there is a marked specimen Of this'in
the cliffs east Of Kemp Town; while
Robert Chambers wrote an elaborate
work, mainly descriptive Of those to be
traced along the Scottish coasts at all
heights up to 100 feet above the pres
ent sea level. Again, though belong
ing to the same class Of proofs, the
elevation Of the coast here Is indicated
by caves, formed by the constant dash
OF the waves, being found along the
coasts OF Scotland, neal Campbelltown
and NELL, In Cantire, for example. at
places far above the reach Of the sea.
which laves the base of the cliff IN
which they are ~excavated. In Natal
upheaval Is still going on, and the east
ern coast Of Africa is generally be-
lieved to be risingi Australia, on the
northeast II not on the whole OF the
east coast, Is rising. Until a late peri.
% In the geological history Of Tas-
mania, the site Of Hobart Town was
covered by the sea, and in New Zea-
land though there Is an area OF de-
preston on the extreme northwestern
Public Opinion.