Seward weekly gateway., 1907-06-01
ACCOUNTS FOR ALASKA ICE
$. A. Crandall Offers New Theory
 Regarding Climatic Change.

kGgarlluG SlllaLlC SuduSS' <. A. CrandalI of Valdez offers a new
 theory to account for the present cold climate of Alaska, which has replaced
 tropical or scmi-tropjcal conditions of
 previous ages. He argues for the
 theory of sudden change, as have . others, adducing the fact that numer- ous remains of mammoths and other
 huge tropical animals have been found
 perfectly preserved deep in ice or frozen ground. That these animals mus, have been almost instantaneously frozen and covered needs no argument, since in no other way could the flesh of the carcasscs have been preserved intact.
 Both science and history agree that climatic changes have been in progress . in all parts of the world as far back as . either can reach, but gradual changes . in temperature could not preserve ani- maj flesh. All through northern Alaska, particularly the northwestern portion, perfect remains of tropical birds and animals have been found,
 often in groups, proving their death by sudden disaster, as cities have been overwhelmed by volcanic eruption.
 Several ingenious theories have been evolved to account for this phe- nomenon, and Mr. Crandall in an arti- cle on Sunny Alaska" in the Valdez Prospector, formulates another. He suggests that wave of sudden cold
 was produced by the proximate tram sit past the earth of large body like a comet, leaving behind vacuum in the atmosphere which enveloped the earth. In support of this theory he adduces the we'll known facts that a sudden vacuum produces a fall in tenn perature and that vacuum and con- sequent cooling are created by the rapid movement of a physical body, citing a fast train as an example. Upon this premise he draws the fol- lowing conclusion:
 At an early period a comet of great magnitude came dangerously near to the earth; it's proximity disturbed the earth in its relation to the solar and planetary systems; it moved with l sufficient velocity to cause a vacuum in its wake; this rapidly created | vacuum froze everything solid. When we consider that the little, cold | and hteless moon at a distance of 24O,- OO0 miles is able to exert so potent an influence in lifting up the face of the ! water into tide does it require any . great flight of imagination to picture body of sufficient size and travelling . with sufficient velocity and approach | ing near enough to the earth to pro- duce every result heretofore sug- gested?"
 The result of this undefned disaster NIr. Crandall describes as follows:
 'In this cataclysmic change all life 1 9erished. Every river, rivulet and | ril. to it's profoundest depth and remotest source, was instantly bound with icy letters. The pertumed breezes were transformed into the biting winds of an Arctic winter whose bowling blasts throughout the ages were destined to sing a sad requiem 60 the departed glory of Sunny Alaska"
 At the university Of Michigan Mir. Craudall was one of half dozen students selected to attend the reading and revision of Prof Winchel's work on "World Building" and at the Smithsonian institution in Washington
 he attended lectures for several months upon the same study.