The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-15

already in the closing years of the
present one several keen observers have
found encouragement for this expecta-
ton. Indeed, geology presents no more
attractive field for investigation.
In the study of faunas, fforas and
the general life of the past the biOlogic-
al investigator has been irresistibly led
up to the conception of evolution, and
conversely the thought of the later
students has been most strongly in
fluenced by these views. Their appre-
citation and adoption were inevitable
with the growth of knowledge, and they
have in turn cast a flood Of light upon
the development Of life in the past.
Yet no one believes that the last word
has been said and many curious facts
and relations remain to be explained.
The forces back of organic growth, as
applied TO the genus or group as well
as the species and individual, give
subjects for meditation TO the well-in-
formed mind, especially If it possess a
philosophical tendency. Most import
ant of all in this respect = the origin
and future of man himself.
Another of the problems that are en-
tirely the product Of the century now
closing is that of the glacial period.
1t was suggested in the earlier decades.
but It has had its chief DEVELOPMENT
in the later ones Its phenomena are
so widespread and familiar in our
northern ATTITUDES that it has clements
of great popularity, as we'll as of pro-
found. scientific character. That the
great ice sheet existed no one longer
questions, but as to what caused it
there is still wide difference of opinion.
Astronomical variations. continental
elevation, and changes in the percent
age of carbonic acid in the atmosphere
have al been cited. There may be 9TH
ers of which we have no present an
ticipation. but the last two certainly
seem 10 have been of serious moment.
The phenomena produced by the ice
sheet are now recorded and described
in great detail and for their inteTpreta-
ton much study has been given to
Greenland and to other polar regions,
which still preserve the conditions now
long past IN southern ATTITUDES.
The study of the moraines and other
deposits of the continental glacier, as
well as Investigations of the earth's
surface in unglaciated regions, have
brought into prominence the import
ance of a proper understanding of land
forms and land sculpture. This fascin-
ating department of geology has de-
velOped almost a separate school of
scientific work. Its general importance
lies in its influence on the proper study
of geography in the schools, and there
in its effect is far-reaching. Realizing
as a fundamental conception that all
land forms are the results Of the &C
ton of geological forces, the noun
tains, valleys, coasts and interior
plains are explained upon this basis
even to the very young Rivers and
lakes reveal life histories and noun
tain range becomes not merely a Sc
Ties of lines on a map, but a great to-
+ biographical barrier, that may have had
a powerful influence, as in the case OF
our Appalachians, upon the develop
ment of the country. True conceptions
may thus be established at the very
outset which will afteTward bear upon
historical study in a most important
manner. History. political economy
! and all the subjects connected with the
evolution of states are involved in it.
And, finally, in modern mining and
quarrying, in agriculture and works Of
an engineering nature the influence OF
broader and more correct views i:
manifested on every hand. Greater
certainty of operation, less and less OF
wild and unreasonable expectation, anC
more and more of intelligent develop
ment are manifested 50 that in man!
ways not always realized by the gen
eral public the civilization Of the clos
ing year of the nineteenth century
owes a great debt to geology.