Tanana leader., 1909-10-07
FRENCHMAN WANTS
 WELL OF EXPLORATION

situation on the earth's surface, while unstable, is nothing like so dangerous as an incandescent fluid exterior would make it.
 The latest theories suppose the earth throughout to have the general rigid ity of steel and to be both solid and elastic. But this, too, says Flamma- rion. is only a theory. We do not know what is under our feet. The only way to ascertain is to dig the big hole. But what about the increasing heat observed in mines? Theory apart, it seems to be very real. It does not ! frightcn Flammarion. He aff1rms that science and industry are ready to meet , it, and who knows that the heat will continue to increase in ratio as we get deeper down?
 In existing mines heat increases on an average of one degree centigrade !! per B yards depth; but it is not the same all over the world. In some mines the heat increases one degree centigrade every 60 yards down: in others 100 yards, while in yet other ! parts of the earth it goes up one degree i centigrade with every 10 or l5 yards depth.
 1 It scarcely tallies with thin crust and molten interior. But what else could cause the varying heat observed
 in mines? Scientific men, both in Flu rope and America, are coming to be- lieye that it may be caused by radium or even yet more powerful ray-giving substances as yet unknown.
 A fascinating article, written by one of our foremost scientists for q recent American magazine, gives all the cal culations which show what small pro- portion of radium scattered among the rocks beneath our feet would make up the heat lost annually by the earth in rolling through frigid space. And the calculations indicate those active ra- dium layers not far from the surface. { They may begin at three miles depth.
 There is strong theory of modern science by which the heavier metals are situated, in mass, lower down. Aluminium, the lightest, is scattered all over the clay of the earth's surface; but the gold and platinum we secure so painfully is where we find it by acci- dent. Their great masses exist deeper down.
 Out of the big hole might come un- limited gold, platinum-and what? Un- limited motive-force from that interior heat, those unknown metals whose E properties will help to transform life. Flammarion says that the big hole may be at least three, four or five miles deep. ...:..- T.. ..#= "" .~.
 To begin with, the heat conditions will be infinitely more favorable than in stuffy mine. The big hole will be at least 300 yards in diameter. In such 8 vast circle-with its vent to the free air above-the refrigerating industry will play a great role. Flammarion and his engineers have planned Titanic machines for keeping the sides of the hole frozen. Giant cranes and excava- tors, snch as are beginning to be seen at Panama. will tear out half-frozen masses of dirt and rock.
 At two miles depth, according to geo. therlnic theories, the temperature of boiling water should be reached. Here intending motive force should be tapped in vast horizontal halls dbg round in the holes sides by the same refriger- ating processes. In these great halls, the Titanic steam-generating machine would almost work themselves es--with- out fuel. The men tending them would spend their time in chilled rooms round about them, here and there-venturing to the edges of that heat, for necessary adjustments and manipulations, through chilled corridors of asbestos or other feeble conductor.
 Flammaron is not alone in this ter. rife scheme. Eminent engineers-wh took it up at first, perhaps, out of mere friendship for the astronomer-have planned the machinery as for an actual industrial undertaking.