Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-12-05
DEEP SEA CURRENTS.
MYSTERIES OF THE OCEAN THAT
HAVE PUZZLED THE SCIENTISTS.

A Theory as 10 the Origin and Cause
of the Gulf and other Strenms--Are
They the Product of Immense Sub
marine GeySers.
For more than Il century scientists
and philosophers have been vainly try
Ing TO discover the origin and cause Of
the mysterious current Ia the Atlantic
ocean called the gulf stream. Why 80
called Is not apparent, as nothing IN
the gulf OF Mexico is in its composition.
There have been many theories, which
have been abandoned. some perfectly
absurd, such as its being caused by the
earth in its revolution on its axis, for
If it had the power Ia draw this stream
at the rate of five miles an hour from
the coast of Florida It would draw all
the water from the east coasts OF
North and South America at the same
velocity. The prevailing theory is that
the northeast trade winds drive a cur
rent into the Caribbean sea and, aided
by the feeble equatorial stream, heap
up the water In the gulf of Mexico,
thence rushing around the south OF
Florida from the source of the gulf
stream. But there is nc such q heap
ing of the waters in that gulf. The
waters there are sluggish, and there is
no perceptibe current leading toward
the gulf stream or anywhere else.
This theory has been accepted for
want of better, but those who favor
1t are not entirely satisfied with it. The
gulf stream is an independent body of
water. having no connection with the
water around or behind the point
where 1t emerges. 1t is warmer and
of u deeper blue than the surrounding
seas and gushes forth from the start
ing point off Cape Sable at the rate of
from five to six kuots an hour, with
q temperature of about 80 degrees,
lessening gradually as it proceeds on
Its journey Of thousands of miles across
the Atlantic ocean, warming the west
ern shores Of Europe.
Having seen the fallacy of the the
Ories concerning the gulf stream, we
will turn our attention to the great Pa.
cific current. Identical In all respects
with its sister current of the Atlantic
and concerning which there are no the
Ories to contend with.
1t starts spontaneously from spot
few miles from the south end OF the
island Of FormoSa. in the Banshee
channel. following the coast Of For.
mosa northeasterly, past and through
the Loochoo Islands. skirting the coast
OF Japan: thence turns eastward on Its
long journey across the wide Pacific,
warming the coast of America from
Puget sound to Mexico. Its dark blue
waters are In striking contrast 10 the
surrounding seas. giving II the name of
Murra Suar. or black water. IL is an
independent stream where no cOmbina-
ton of winds or currents can possibly
cause the mighty rush of warm blue
water with a velocity Of from five 10
six knots an hour from the start.
In It's characteristics of heat, color
and direction II resembles the gulf
stream in every particular. and the
origin Of the two streams must be the
same. whatever they may be. which
shall endeavor 10 show later on. There
Is another ocean current similar In all
respects to the other two. with the ex-
ception that it runs in an exactly op-
poSite direction. Starting fIom the Vi
cinity OF the south end of the island Of
Madagascar. 1t runs southweSterly
around the Cape of Good Hope, where
it disappears off Cape Lagullas. AS q
current. probably part of it is diverted
into steady set of the eastern current,
caused by the prevailing westerly
winds IN that region. No scientists. SO
far cs am aware. have attempted to
account for this current. Having now
proved beyond re.utation that all the
ories advanced as TO the cause of ocean
currents are groundless. It remains to
be proved what the true cause IS.
1t must he admitted that the currents
have a similar origin. as they are iden-
teal In every respect as regards color,
heat and velocity. springing forth in
the same manner spontaneously from
the earth in some mysterious way.
There Is no place on the surface OF the
earth where the water can be heated
TO furnish the heat contained in these
~--'".,.', r''"' Ur'Sh forth from the