New-York tribune., 1906-06-03
SHALL WE BE SUBMERGED?

) H 3 (Saeinaw. Mioh): IN your answer 70
7 n lNeWton. Comm you discuss the various
causes that may bring about the end Of the
world. u seems 10 me, however that you
omitted one II the most probable causes Of the
destruction ~ all life e. G.. q general submer.
sion Are there not scientific facts in favor or
this theory? Ana IL so. how long VIII IL take
before our globe VIII be swallowed up by the
ocean?
The possibility OF a general subnersion Of our
globe is almost inconceivaby small. though IL
a person considers only one class of evidence he
might easily believe in il. The continents are
constantly losing their substance, which is be
ing carried into The ocean. Geographers tell
Us that II all asperities Of the earth were evenly
distributed over its entire surface IT would
form 3 plateau about 200 metres above the
sea level This plateau is undoubtedly subject
10 the attacks Of the ocean and atmospheric in
fuences The rivers constantly carry into the
sea fragments Of the rocks disintegrated through
hUmidity. frost. thaw. drouth. etc. According
70 the eminent Scotch naturalist Murray, the
annual delivery OF the nineteen principal rivers
Of our globe amounts 10 $3.50 cubic kilometres
The waters carry into the sea more than one
Elonetre Of solid matter in suspension daily,
that is s. parts Of solid matter to every 100000
parts Of fluid. This calculation. applied 10 the
large and small rivers. gives $1,000 cubic kilo-
metres Of water carrying 10 cubic kilometres OF
sole matter into the ocean.
The waves too undermine the continents.
English geologists assert that the British coasts
Fecede under the action Of the sea at the rate
q three metres in e century. In France at
Havre for instance. the cliffs lose OBS Of
metre annually, while the loss of the calcareous
sotuheastern coasts is even estimated high
one metre q year, on the other hand certain
eoasts show hardly any disntegration wrought
g The waves. Now. assuming for the entire
gobe an ahlaton Of three metres in a century.
tas total loss for the whole extent Of the coasts
W the globe which is estimated al 100000 kilO
metres. has been calculated TO be 3DOOO0.DOO
cs.lc metres. CT - Of cubic kiometre:
Inert are besides other causes OF loss. such
ts TIE dlssOlvinR power OF the continental wa
ssrs The results of researches made into the
4lssssiDnt the Danube and the Thames 90 to
eloW that the quantity OF matter thus lost by
ne continents through dissolution is no less
ma i've cubic kilometres annually Altogether,
Nt nave, therefore. total Of l6 cubic kilometres
".lch ihe firm land gives up annually 10 the sea.
ne surface Of the continental plateau Of TOO
metres height iE 5000 coo square metres. The
Solation of is cubic kilometres causes IL an an
lla! loss of a slice OF i1-1O0 Of millimetre in
gicKness. The fragments OF this slice settle on
1ne bottom q the sea and occupy the place OF a
% Oetain quantity of water thus producing a
oertsin rising OF the sea.
however. there is another side 70 the case.
mere is evidence Of repeated changes or Level IN
ne past. whereby the continents were lifted
.son low u great elevations II is safe 10 say
- - these agencies viii perform the same func-
.'cns d. the future and thus offset the levelling
tshaencies Of The weather and streams Again,
-lie the coast line IS being eaten away IN some
sAoes. IN others II IS being extended by the
- ss'osf of sol! from the interior. The delta or
- Mississippi affords a good illustration OF this
-F ciscredit the notion that the earth VIII be
~Iely covered by water.