Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
DEPTHS OF THE EARTH
PROPOSAL TO INSTALL SUFFER-.
RANEAN oBsERVAToRIEs.
Instruments to Be Lowered Into Deep
Borings-Temperature of
the Interior.


From the Literary Digest
A proposal to install several hundred sub
ferranean observatories at depths of any
where from few hundred yards 10 a mile
or so. may appear sufficiently startling. 1t
ceases to be so, however. when we learn
that the observers themselves are to be on
the earth's surface; 1t is only their instru-
ments that 1t is proposed to place so far
under ground, and these may be lowered
into borings such as now made for
artesan wells. The principal measure
ments would be of temperature; but it Is
claimed by NJ A. Laisant. who advocates
the plan, that its results would add greatly
70 our knowledge of the earth's crust and
It's phenomena. both normal and Abnormal
M Laisant sets forth his plan in La Raison
: IN an article quoted in the Revue Scen-
: Unique. He says:
While astronomical Instruments involve
b considerable expense account of their
high precision. the apparatus in use for
meteorological observations cost much less.
and this would also be true for those that
would be employed in subterranean obser-
Walton 1t would be sufficient to sink at a
certain number of properly chosen points
holes in the same manner as artesian wells
or sun better, in the way that is used in
America to bore for petroleum. The depth
would De more or less considerable accord
Ing to the region and the nature of the
geological strata; 1t should be governed
by data known to science, but should In
general be as great possible. 1t would
probably not be chimerical to think of
reaching a depth of several kilometers In
some places, while in others a few hundred
meters might suffice.
Geologist to Be Consulted.
AS to the locations of the borings and
their number here. too, the biologists can
furnish the necessary indications We
should note here that deep borings while
In course of making, will give interesting
geological information since they will fur
nish continuously specimens of the strata
traNersed. which may be studied and ana
tyZed When the boring has once been fin
lshed IL will be easy to introduce into il
measuring apparatus. and especially Their
mometers. The study of the pressure at
these great depths, that of the composition
of the gases that are encountered the
electric and magnetic state of the medium
ana other elements, will possess equally
great interest With the registering an
paratus now at our disposal NEST OF the
indications mentioned will be easy to OBJ
tain. when the installation has once been
made without the necessity of displacing
the Instruments
When large part of the surface of the
globe has thus been covered with subter-
ranean observatorfes properly located, the
systematic Capitalization of the observa-
tions and daily exchanges of them will soon
furnish an important contribution to ter
restrtal physics. and We shall see that there
Is necessary correlation between the va
rlauonS of temperature pressure etc at
the different spots and also between these
variations and certain exterior phenomena
such an organization should involve no
welghty sacrifice. in comparison with the
expense. for instance. of astronomical OBJ
servations- Nevertheless. that 1t may be
truly useful an international understand
ing would be necessary. and that perhaps
would not be without difficulty.
international Agreement.
Meanwhile, before any International