Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-29

\ iSlteidri Digest
Geological conditions 10 Central ASH
are such as can be explained only or
tho theory Of extensive submergence Of
the region where the Scriptures ano
tradition locate the flood. This is the
| conclusion which has been reached b,
Prof g. +. Wright, of Oberlin College,
the we'll known geologiet, in recent
journey through Mongolia and Siberia,
and stated by him In an article in
McClure's Magazine DIR. Wright
asserts that the evidences Of q deiuge
are not one, but several, and extend
from Mongolia to the western borders
OF Russia. In the first place, he tells
us, there is no evidence In this region
OF glacial period such az once existed
in Europe md North America. lie
writes:
''On the contrary, throughout this
entire region we were confronted with
the evidence of a great place In recent
geological time, and which, in date,
would correspond roughly with that of
the glacial period in North America.
For several hundred miles, while
driving through the region south of
Lake Balkash and the Aral Sea, we
were evidently upon a terrace of the
fine loan which is called loess, about
2,50J feet above sea level. Indeed, at
different elevations this loess extends
continuously in>a broad shelf along the
base OF the mountains, from the Irish
River to the Caspian Sen, and is found
in extensive level areas over various
portions of the Caucasus and Northern
Persia around the base OF Mount
Ararat; while the so.called black
earth of Southern Russia is deposit
OF the same material, and probably of
the same age, 100 or more feet in
thickness. The distribution of this
loass is the key to the whole stu
ation.''
That these deposits are the result of
submergence and are not wind trans,
ported, as some travellers have main
tanned DR.. Wright is convinced. To
quote again:
ION coming around to the north
western side OF the great Asiatic
plateau, in Turke5tan, which is in
almost the exact centre of the con-
tinent, the wind hypothesis became
entirely incredible, and the evidence
accumulated that the land had lately
been depressed to such an extent that
the water of the ocean reached the base
Va VI" bo'optiuB mouuiulubj riSlnR 10
a height, certainly of about 3, 900 feet;
for, at this level, south and southwest
OF Lake Balkash; we found the loess
spread out in such 40 extensive terrace
that the wind would be entirely in
competent to produce the results. We
were interested to find, upon visiting
st. Petersburg that the chief Russian
geologists had arrived at substantially
the same conclusions which we had
formed.''
The recent depression Of Central
Asia, DIR. Wright holds, is also proved
by the fact that Lake Baikal and the
Aral Sea are fresh. We should expect
both to be salt, like the Dead Sea and
our own Salt Lake, as they have no
outlets. Says the writer:
1.-The only explanation Of the fresh
ness of the water in these two great
seas is that theie have recently been
great changes 10th in the climate and
in the level of that region. Salt is
washed into such enclosed basins so
rapidly that it would take no prolonged
period of evaporation to render them
salter than the ocean. In general, such
seas may be compared to enormous salt
watts which are approaching nearer and
nearer the Toint of saturation. lie the
case OF Great Salt Lake and the Dead
sea this point was long since reached /;
hut in tho case OF the Aral and Caspian |
Seas little progress has been made.
1t IL therefore clear that this region |
has lately emerged from below sea level, |
and, In consequence rapidly passed |
through climatic changes, which have |
1t from recently we'll |
Hatered region to one that is now a |
DESERT. During this transition stage, |
he rivers coming into the Aral Sea |
we're so much larger than now that the
lea oVerllowed the I'm of its basin in |
such volume that nearly all of its salt
vas carried into the Caspian and the
'ea thus hecame practically fresh. "
Ibis submergence took mace after
The creation of man. Says DR.. Wright:
The crowning point of interest is
cached in the discovery of Prof,
Ara ashevsl1y at Kief Of flint imple-
nents and burnt stones in connection
With the bones OF extinct animals 81
eet below the undisturbed surface of
he soil. The discovery was made in
he buff of loess Bordering the river
)neiper, whose general surface ia 633
eet above the sea and $40 feet above
he present stream, and totally unoon.
ected with any deposit that may have
'een made by It. In this discovery we
ave the link connecting the recent
biological changes lin the east with
hose in the west. The flint imple
1ents OF glacial man found In France.
England and the United States Indicate
he same stage Ut culture rs that at
aimed by the men who we're over
,helm IN the great subsistence of
central Asia aud Southeastern Russia,
nd OF the region about the base Of
iount Ararat. ="
In the opinion of the writer the
biblical story OF the deluge is shown
y these facts to be In Substantial
armony with geological history. He
lys:
IF We may be permitted briefly and {
to summarize the facts !
> they appear probable, both from the
iblical story and the illustrative
sological facts, the completed mar. {
tive might be made to read some q
ling as follows: t
Some time during the prevalence of !
Iaclal ice over northern America and c
orthwestern Europe man came into a
llstenoe IN central Aria, where the ]
innate was still congenial. From this I
pint he snrsad as far west as the At
ntIc sea6oard 10 Europe, and east
ara TO the Pacific coast, whence he n
'cceeded In reaching, by way of the c
ering Sea and Alaska, the western 0
'ast OF North merica, and thence b
igrated to the A tlantic coast. where II
is remains are found in the glacial 5
'avels Of Trenton, N. j. But the ex- y
eme and rapid chances Incident to 4
ia ClOsinO afabaa or the nlaa;.I .-.-, a.