Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-02-01
DEEP SEA CURRENTS.
MYSTERIES OF THE OCEAN THAT
<. HAVE PUZZLED THE SCIENTISTS.

For more than century scientists
and philosophers have been vainly try
ing to discover the origin and cause of
the mysterious current IN the Atlantic
ocean called the gulf stream. Why SO
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
II it had the power to draw this stream
at the rate Of FIVE miles an hour from
the coast Of Florida 1t 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 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 no such heap
ing of the waters in that gulf. The
waters there are sluggish. and there is
| ID lItECtplIDlc CuTIent tOWulu
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 it cmergcs. 1t is warmer and
of q 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
temperature of about 90 degrees,
lessening gradually as 1t proceeds on
its journey of thousands of miles across
the Atlantic ocean, warming the west
crn shores Of Europe.
Having seen the fallacy of the the
orles concerning the gulf stream, we
will turn ou: attention 70 the great Pa
clnc 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 northcasterly, 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. lis dark blue
waters nre in striking contrast to the
surrounding seas, giving II the name of
Murra s;uar, or black water, 1t IL an
independent stream where no combina-
ton of winds or currents can possibly
cause the mighty rush of warm blue
water with velocity Of from five to
six knots an hour from the start
In its characteristics Of heat, color
and direction 1t resembles the gulf
stream in every particular, aud the
origin of the two streams must be the
same, whatever they may be, which
shall cndeavor to show later on. There
Us another ocean current similar in all
respects to the other two, with the ex-
ception that 1t runs in an exactly or
posite direction. Starting from the Vi
cinity of the south end Of the island OF
Madagascar it runs southwesterly
IL disappears off Cape Lngullas. AS q
current probably part of 1t is diverted
into steady set OF the eastern current
caused by the prevailing westerly
winds in that region. No scientists, sc
It far as l am aware, have attempted tc
II account FOR this current. Having now
Y proved beyond refutatlon that ell the
II orles advanced MS to the cause of oceal
d currents are groundless. 1t remains Il
n be proved what the true cause is.
10 II must be admitted that the currents
II have similar origin. ms they are iden
tlcnl in every respect as regards color
!, heat and velocity, springing forth II
: the same manner spontaneously from
~ the earth in some mysterious way
There IL 10 place on tho surface OF the
- earth where the water can be heated
" 10 furnish the heat contained In thest
y streams that gush forth from thu
y depths of the sen: consequently tn,
u forces must be subtcrranean and cal
X only be accounted for by large bodie!
= of clear, blue water from the ocear
forcing It's way into the depths of TIN
10 earth under its crust. where 1t burrow,
ii n channel OF It's own TO the surfac,
+, again, having received Its warmth OF
the way by contact with the interna
n heat Of the lower regions of the earth
a. forced on by continual pressure from
k, behind.
That there are orlfices In the earth
la crust cannot be denied. also what be
comes of the vast volume Of water tina
cannot be computed which is constant
- ly running ut the rate of from four 4
six knots an hour from the Atlanta
ocean, through the strait OF Glbralta
into the Mediterranean sea. The M
merous rivers, too, are continual,
flowing in, and yet the sea remains n
the same level. Evaporation canno
account for II, for what Is evapornte
is formed into clouds and Is precipltat
ed again into the sea by the medium o
storms and frequent rains.
The water must enter the earth fror
the ocean through these apertures o
an incline as II gushes forth In thes
three mighty currents and cannot b
discovered by soundIngs: consequent
these three mighty currents are nott
ing more or less than Immense geyser'
Captain b. +. Sherburne In Clevt
land Marine Record.
Didnt want IL NJ the Price.
IL have my opinion OF you," sarca