The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-11

all substances. Even the relatively trifiing
amount Of 1t THAT We can apply by our sIts WI
we may fairly presume that its particles would 10
NJ driven together that II would become In a man
7 ner solid. II In true that the heat Of the depths
would tend W keep II from attaining solidiiy;
but We may we'll believe that the load would he
even more effective in bringing II into that state.
II seems likely, In a word, that the effect Of that
internal pressure. due 10 the weight NJ the overly
ing matter, in inducing what we term solidi'y, IL
greater than the effect NJ the heat In bringing
matter into fluid condition.
We may bring the points above noted into q
clear view II We consider what We would find u
We could critically examine the cubic foot Of
matter which lies in the very centre OF the EARN
II In pretty certain that We should find I hotter
than anything has been on the surface Tor some
hundred million years; hotter than anything
We s~e, except II may be the surface OF the sun
We would doubtless find that the atoms or
molecules NJ the mass were driven nearer together
than the like units of surface materials, and that
/, was more rigid than glass; yet, under NE strains
In mountain folds, this bit Of the central EARN
would move readily, ~ oil the deep parts evidently
If we could complete this imaginary obser
walton by bringing the central bit OF the planet
70 the surface. keeping IL, during the 4,OoO miles
Of Journey, in unchanged conditions Of heat ana
pressure until II was in the air. and then SUI
denly release its bonds, IL would explode after
the manner Of fired gunpowder.
There IL the evident question as 10 me r.
lation Of volcanoes 10 the heated interior oi ,ne
earth. This IN still much debated, but opinion
Is inclining 81 the conclusion that volcanoes are
really superficial in origin, that they have thelr
source in the outer hund red miles of so ot the cruS',
and not, as was believed at the beginning oi the
century, in the central region, The TACT 'nat
they are limited while active 10 the floor ot me
oceans and greater seas and 10 the lands wlthln
a few hundr red miles of the seashores, indicn,es
that they are not Of very deepseated origin. me
most remarkable explanation IL that they, are
due to the effect arising from the laying down
Of strata in water
Such deposits act as a blanket serving 70 holu
In the rocks the heat that Is continually seeking 10
escape into the cold outer space ~ the heavens;
The result Is that II twenty miles OF beds are ,aiu
down on any part Of the earth land we know oi lko
ihicknesses having leen formed the lower layers
and the crystalline rocks on which they lie may
come 10 have u temperature Of 1000 degrees ram
cnhelt or more. In this state OF heat the WAFER
will tend 10 explode. II crack, such a. a fault
in the everything rocks, gives a chance oi es'hpr,
what we term a volcano, J. O., an outbreak OF very
hot seam driving out molten rock, will he formed.
The problem Of the earth's interior Is among me
most difficult that science has 10 face. Unless me
physicists invent for us some application OF ne
ROentgen ray apparatus, SO that We may be aple
To examine the internal conditions of the sphere
as We may the lesser bodies II bears. II VIII ever
remain a field for speculation, Yet II il easily
seen that the %inquirers " our time have managed
Ia apply criticism 10 their views In q way unknown
10 their predecessors; So that, while very much
remains Ia be proved, their opinions have been SO
limited by criticism and So adjusted by criterla
that they evidently leave us relatively near the
truth. In fact, the modern system OF inquiry
makes the intellect Of man an apparatus for send
ing light through dark places, I has not yet
illuminated the earth's interior, but i has re-
yealed To MS more than was learned In all the
n. S. SnALER.