New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
THE AGE or THE EARTH.

The address which Sir Archibald Geke de-
livercd before the British Association for the
Advancement of Science this year Will be gen
orally regarded as helpful contribution to the
discussion of fascinating problem. The lapse
Of time since the earliest known forms of life
were left in the earth's crust as fossils has
been the subject OF more or less animated
but courteous controversy for nearly forty
years And the opinion Of Lord Kelvin that our
globe has not been I'm condition that would
lit It for the abode Of living creatures for more
than twenty million years has been accepted
by a large proportion Of scientific men. though
it has not gone undisputed. The value Of Sir
Archibald Geilc's paper on Geologic Time
lies not 80 much in any specific figures that he
furnishes although he does entirely agree with
Lord Kelvln-as In his recognition Of the ser
vice rendered ~ others who have wrestled
with the question. and his suggestions as to
the possibility Of obtaining better estimates in
the future
Before making clear his own Ideas on this
subject, Sir Archibald declares that Lord Kel-
vim then Sir William Thompson earned the
gratitude Of biologists by his attacks on them.
They have been forced to abandon the vague
ana nebulous notions In which they once in
dulgcd regarding the extent Of geologic time.
With the frank Indifference Of Huxley 10 some
Of the elements Of the problem Sir Archibald
says he has no sympathy Anything which af
forls more distinct conception Of the an
tiquity with which the geologlSt has TO deal
should be welcomed. And Lord Kelvin was the
first man. speaking with authority. to pin other
scientists down to anything like precision.
1t IS to ne observed. however, that only one
man whose voice is likely TO command atten-
ton has made more modest estimate than
Lord Kelvin Professor TAFT. who puts the age
of the earth at ten million years; whereas soy
eral others have insisted on a period Of greater
length Professor George Darwin. the Cam
bridge expert in astronomy and mathematics
said thirteen years ago that he was inclined to
follow Kelvin in limiting the existence Of life
on the earth to one hundred million years but
he did not express a preference for the min
lmum estimate Of the same authority Shortly
after this utterance Of Darwns came n boder
one from Professor John Perry. who occupies
the chair Of mechanics and mathematics in the
ROYAL College Of Science. at South Kensngton
Lord Kelyin's calculations had been based On
the known rate mt which various rocks radate
heat He said that If the earth was once
same rate rs the specimens OF rock tested by
modern experts, less than twenty million
wears would have been required to bring the
temperature ut the surface down TO the point it
has now reached But Professor Perry not only
called In question the accuracy of the particular
data employed, but emphasized the fact that
Lord Kelvin had considered the matter from
only one point Of view that Of the physicist
Geology and paeontology also had something 10
say Professor Perry was willing TO allow
them a hearing. and added that If those other
two classes Of students Of Nature insisted on
taking more time for the phenomena observed.
he saw nothing in the field Of physics to deny
them all that they demanded mp to one thou
sand million or even four thousand million
years.
Sir Archibald Gcikle speaking for geology.
takes M position between that Of Professor
Darwin and that Of Professor Perry. He deems
Lord Kelvln's estimate inadequate. but eX-
presses himself with marked moderation. 80
far" he says. "As have been able 10 form a
"concuslon. one hundred million years would
suffice for that portion Of history which Is reg
.stcrcd I'm the stratihed rocks Of the crust But
IF the paleontologsts find such a period too
narrow for their requirements, can see no ar
"gumcnts on the geological side why they
should not he AT liberty to enlarge It AZ far as
they may lind necdful for The evolution Of or
gained existence on the globe
The most emphatic and practical uttcrances
Of Sir Archibald however. are those which urge
upon his fellow biologists more thorough and
more carefully concerted observation. with
view 10 obtaining numerical data. The proc
esses Of denudation and deposition are he
thinks. taking place al substantially the same
rate to-day MS in past ages. II the phenomena
were studied with special reference TO the time
required now. It might ultimately become prac'