Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-12-07

OTIglu.-lDe origin OF the cave Is uu-
doubtedly due to the slip of the south
ern part of the bluff, caused by the un-
dermining of the river. This is shown
on the outside; also in the Ice Chamber
of the cave, where the south wall
curves over the path and rests on the
solid north wall Besides, the direc-
ton of the cave is westward-the direc-
ton of the fault. No signs, outside nor
inside, are there that would indicate
that it was formed by erosion. The
Ice Chamber is at depth of nearly
uniform temperature throughout the
year, namely, about -E-90 c.
THEORY.
Theories were advapced to explain
the phenomenon of the Ice Cave. For
explaining the cause of the formation
of ice in the DEBORAH Ice Cave, and in
any ice cave so far reported, some of
the proposed theories are absolutely
untenable. l shall not touch upon
these in this paper as they have been
dist ssed to some extent in Mr.. Batch's
"I,e Caves and the Causes of Subter-
rancan Ice."
Asin different years there are changes
in some things relating to the phenom-
enon, such as the dates of the first APP
pearance of ice, the maximum quanti-
ty, the lowest and highest temperature,
cts, and the changes in temperature in
general, we must have true descrip-
ton of the variations throughout one
year at least before we can safely draw
conclusions The facts noticed about
the cave during the past year briefly
stated above and likewise give below
my conclusions.
The density of air and gravitation
cause the currents into and out of the
cave. If the denser air is within the
cave, the natural flow is outward, and
inward when reverse are the condi-
tons. The strong breeze outward and
the cloud of condensed vapor on hot
day in June or July is due to the great
difference in temperature (outside and
inside the cave), sometimes exceeding
$40 c., To the difference iq tempera-
| ture is also accounted the moisture on
the walls. There being many small
qualifications of the cave besides the
main passage, the cold air of the win
ter penetrates these and actually freezes
the walls of the cave to great depth.
The air passing through the cave grad
ually changes its temperature to the
temperature of the surroundings, and
then escapes through the opening in
the Daylight Chamber and also, though
probably less, through the hole, and
through little crevices, out above the
bluff. In this way the walls of the
cave come in direct contact with the
cold atmosphere of winter and store w
IN themselves great amount of "cold''
for the use in summer when reverse
takes place.
The length of duration of the ice in
the cave during the spring and sum.
mer depends upon the quantity OF
"cold" stored up in the walls, and this
again, upon the Goodness and the
length of GOODNESS of the previous win
ter. If the winter be severe and long
the walls will store up great supply
of "cold" for the gradual dissipation in
the spring and summer, and conse
quently the phenomenon of the ice in
the Ice Chamber will last longer. Last
winter, with the exception of the fore
part Of December, was quite mild. Al
a result the ice began to disappear the
latter part of June, and totally disap
peared by the end of July. Through
information I learned that during the
years 1856 and 1887 the Ice Cave con.
tanned especially great amount of ice.
This is apparent, as the winters previ.
Gus were remarkably severe for this 10.
cality and a vast amount of snow COW
cred the ground.
The time of the lowest temperature
i'll the cave depends upon how soon the
cold spells of winter begin; for the SOON
er the walls begin to freeze to greater
depth, the sooner have they stored up
the greatest amount of cold, caeteris
paribus.
Last winter the cold spells were dur
ing December, and the lowest tempera-
turc noticed was on February 26, 1898.
In the"winterof 1896 and 1897 the cold
est spells came about the end of Janu-
airy and the lowest temperature was i'm
April; same according to w. O. Nord-
helm, of DEBORAH, was true in 1895.
February 2S, 1895, when the walls
contained the greatest amount of "cold
there was no ice In the cave, for the
reason that no water made appearance.
Could water have appeared no doubt u
great amount of ice would have formed
but ny the conditions are the water has
to come from the ground outside, and
this being frozen at the time, water
could not In any natural way appear.