The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-05-09
BRIDGING THE PACIFIC.
VIVA NATURE IS DOING DAY AND
NIGHT IN THAT LINE.

agent tne w Orh Is the
Yukon River n Alaska.
There will he bridge connecting
this country with Asia at no very dis
tant day" said Professor McGee, the
eminent Government scientist.
Across Boring Strait, you mean,
professors" inquired your correspond
ent.
by no means"
But that is only forty miles. is it
not? One might conceive of the CON
struction across it,"
We'll, hardly" replied Professor
MCGEE. 81 do not think that / would
like to be the engineer charged with
the task. The bridge of which [
speak is already in process of build
ing"
BY whom, pray"
BY nature. 1t is very much
longer bridge than the one you sug-
gest, but it is thoroughly practicable.
and, as | have said, its construction
has been going on for some time. in
fact, portions of it are already fin
ished, and for its completion it re-
quires only to be supplemented by
some portions that are as yet missing.
but must be added by date not very
far off.
81 confess myself puzzled, profes
sor.
You need not be. It is very sim
pie. If You will look at any map of
the world you will find the bridge I
speak of indicated by the line of the
Aleutian Chain, which extends from
Southwestern Alaska westward in n
curve bearing somewhat toward the
south. This chain, supplemented by
certain Russian islands which, physi-
geographically speaking, form part of
the same system, is the southern
boundary of Boring Sea- The line of
islands extends clear across from
Alaska to the Asiatic side, with many
gaps yet to be filed in before the
bridge is finished"
But how do you know that thew
will be filed in?"
The best possible reasons exist
for knowing that they must be filed
in, and that the land bridge between
our own territory and Asia will be
made complete. 1t is a certainty. en-
tlreiy beyond dispute, that the ISL
ands of the Aleutian Chain are stead
lily rising. In fact, gradual folding
up OF that part of the earths crust is
taking place, and the line Of the fold
is represented by the Aleutian Islands
and the Russian Islands, which con-
tinue the system across to Kamchat.
ka."
How very interesting, But what
Is the cause of the foldiug?"
There is no difficulty in answering
that question:" said Professor Nc
Gee, "but it is necessary first to tell
you of something very remarkable
that is going on, and which, up to
the present time, seems almost to
have escaped observation The terri
torial expansion of the United States
is progressing by natural as we'll as
through political means. 1t is pro-
crossing III northwesterly direction.
owing to geologic causes, the dry land
OF Western Alaska gaining steadily on
the sea. In other words, the west
coast of Uncle Sans arctic province
IS advancing toward the Asatic
shore"
"And the cause of that?'
''Is the Yukon River, which from
the interior of Alaska, is continually
bringing down to the coast enormous
quantities of detritus and depositlnr
1T off shore. The Yukon, of course. is
one OF the greatest streams in the
world, and at the same time it is one
of the most active in this particular
line. The detritus of which l speak
does exactly what is accomplished in
cities where the refuse dumps event
ually form great areas of new ground
for the extension of streets and the
foundations of houses. In word. it
is landmakel, and in the way I de-
scribe, it has added thousands of
square miles to the Alaskan territory.
1t has built the whole of the immense
Yukon Delta, and has made the waters
off shore so shallow that even small
vessels can hardly get within sight of
the coast. Necessarily, before very
many years have elapsed these shall
lows will be converted in their turn
into dry land by the continuous out
pour of material from the river.
80, after awhile, the Yukon itself
might DO expected to build n bridge
across to Asia?,
''Do not go too fast; / will come to
that presently. II IS fact that the
entire crust Of the earth is in a condi-
ton Of what may be termed hydro.
static equilibrium. One portion of it
cannot be depressed without causing
another portion to rise CORES ponding-
" The deposition of such vast guam
titles of heavy material of the Alas
kan coast causes a sinking of that re-
gion, aud this it is that is bringing
about the steady uplift Of the Aleutian
chain. II the Yukon were TO cease 60
flow and TO bring down its volumes Of
detritus, the Aleutian uplift would
stop, but the cause would certainly
continue, and therefore the Aleutiau
chain will go on rising. SO we are
able 20 look forward TO the time when
the bridge 20 Asia. which now has so
many gaps, will become complete. and
one will be able TO travel all the way
from New York 90 Paris without
crossing any body Of water greater
than river. The Traussiberian
Railway will he connected with
American lines by that time, pre-
sumably.'
How fastis the building going on 2''