The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25
GREATER EVEN
TITAN OUTB|IRSI
OF MI. PELEE
Awful Destruction Of Island
Near Java in 1883.
BIGGEST NOISE IN HISTORY
When the Volcano Burst Into
a World of Dust.
BIGGEST NOISE IN HISTORY

In a forthcoming book entitled 1.-THE
Earth's Beginnings" the Lowdean pro
fessor of astronomy and geometry in tht
University of Cambridge, Sir Rober
Stawen Ball, Ii D.. F. R. s.. has un
dertaken to set forth the recent results
of scientific speculation upon the evolu-
ton Of the earth. the sun. and the plan
cts from the primeval fire mist. In one
chapter Of the book he has taken up tn,
phenomena of volcanoes and earth
quakes. and pointed out the differences
which they permit concerning the inter
nal makeup of the earth and the de
velopment it is going through. The fol
lowing passages are here produced:
We've already explained that : very
high temperature must be found at the
depth of even a small fraction of the
earths radius. and we have pointed out
that the excessively high pressure char
acteristic Of the earths interior must be
borne in mind in any consideration as
20 the condition of the matter there
found
Let us take. for instance, that pri-
mary question in terrestrial physics. as
to whether the interior of the earth is
liquid or solid. If we were to judge
merely from the temperatures reasonably
believed to exist at the depth of some
twenty miles. and if we might overlook
the question of the pressure, we would
certainly say that the earths interior
must be in a fluid state 1t seems at
least certain that the temperature to
be found at the depths of two score
miles, and still greater at greater depths.
must be so high that the most refrac-
tory solids whether metals or minerals.
would at once yield if we could subject
them TO such temperatures in our lab
oratories
But none Of the laboratory experiments
can tell us whether under the pressure
OF thousands of tons TO the square inch
the application OF any heat whatever
would be adequate 20 transform solids
into liquids. 1t may. indeed. be reasona-
bly, doubted whether the term solids and
liquids are applicable. in the sense in
which we understand them. to the ma
terials forming the interior of the
earth
A principle, already well known in the
arts, is that many. if not all. solids may
be made to flow like liquids ii only ade-
Quate pressure be applied The making Of
lead tubes is a wel-known practical IL
lustration of this principle. for these
tubes are simply formed by forcing solid
lead by the hydraulic pressure through
a rould which imparts the desired form.
II then a solid can be made TO behave
like a liquid. even with such pressures
as are within our control how are We
to suppose that the solids would behave
with such pressures as those 20 which
they are subjected 30 in the interior of
the earth2 The fact is that the terms
solid and liquid an least as We under
stand them. appear to have no physical
meaning with regard 70 bodies subjected
20 these stupendous pressures. and this
must be carefully borne in mind when we
are discussing the nature Of the interior
OF the earth.
1t must. however. be admitted that
the interior Of the earth I'm its actual
physical state seems 10 possess AT least
one of the most important characteristics
Of a solid, by this, that the material OF
the earth. or rather each particle Of that
material is very little inclined 20 move
from its position Nith reference 20 the
adjacent PARTICLES shown by the applica-
ton of force.
The line Of evidence which appears
70 prove. In the simplest and most direct
manner. the excessive risidity Of our
earth is derived from the study Of earth
quake phenomena. ard we must endeavor
10 set forth with Il the completeness its
Importance Deserves
As 70 the Immediate cause ~ earth
Quakes. there is 10 doubt considerable
difference in opinion. But I think it viii
not be doubted that an earthquake IS
one Of the consequences. though perhaps
a remote one. Of gradual loss Of inter
raj heat from the earth- As this terres-
trial heat Is gradually declining. il fol-
lows from the law that we have already
50 often had occasion u use the bulk
Of the earth must be shrinking M do,lbt
The diminution in the earths diameter
due To the loss of hest must be excessive
y small even IN a long period o. zine.
The cause. however. Is continually in op-
Grafton, and according 10 the crust OF
the earth has. from time 60 tine. 10 be