Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-11-06

Dallas, Tex. Nov. e--No fact IN
geology seems more difficult 10 adc-
Quoicly appreciate by the beginner N
this science than tho fact that the
enrth's surface ~ now IN state Of
very slow change. and that n always
has been changing In the past, az far
hack aa any records tell. writes Dr
J a. Uddcn. goologat for the bureau
~ economic geology ana technology.
University OF Texas. IN the Dallas
News Texas was several times In
the sen BEFORE the last general sub.
mergence there were no Rocky Noun
tnins Later on these mountains
rose ont Of the SEQ, ana with them
also the entire region Of the western
plains.
What has caused some parts Of the
onrth 60 sink aud other parts to rise
az different times In the past ls no,
known. and porhnps never viii be
known. Some have thought that Il
~ due to general shrinking Of the
earth, others that u IL due 60 the
loading ana unloading of different
parts Of the earih's surface by erosion
of the land and deposition IN the
sen. still others have thought that
Il h due 20 changing differences Of
resistance Of the oarth's interior. act
ing IN combination with other forces.
Bui these are mere spcculations our
best biologists take but little Interest
IN such questions and are contont to
admit that they do not know the
cause.
Another great fact which II also
stumbling block Go the novice IN
this science " the slownCss with
which these changes have proceeded.
The early Reoiorists Of 100 years ago
looked upon the earth In its present
state as finished. They Inscribed the
great changes that evidently had taxi
en- place IN the past To- immense ca
tastrophos. enormous cataciysms.
such as volcanic outbursts and In
undations by the sea affecting sud-
denly entire continents. Gcoiogists
now know that nothing 81 the kind
has ever happened to this planet.
They know that the greatest changes
over wrought on the oarth's surface
have been 80 slow that they are quite
comparable with the changes going
on ut the present time. In fact.
many believe that wo are now living
In an age when geological changes
proceed at q rapid. rather than al
stow rate.
The extreme slownesg OF geological
Processes ~ perhaps most easily per-
ccited from o study of the general
erosion. which continually destroys
nP lands and which would ultimately
II not commended hy tho unknown
forces IN the oarth's interior. eat away
the continents and deposit them IN
the sea.
Land Bcing Washed Away.
How unreasonable u 40 first appears
that such rains ar we now have
should wash away America or ART
GA from tho face of our planet! The
work ~ the rains is 80 slow that We
seldom notice lts effects. IN life
time or within historic times the
general reduction Of tho land has
been go small that q would be impos-
sible 60 measure directly. Neyerthc-
less little reflection makes IL clear
enough that the land OF the earth o.
continually being destroyed. u is
slowly carried away and deposited in
the sea.
This can De- proved In several ways,
simple enough Go Doe comprohcuded
by any ono who is willing 90 use his
reason, by any one who is not pre-
judiccd.
That creeks and rivers cut their
own channels ~ fact that Is evi-
dent enough During floods mann
acres 81 land on river bottoms may
Dee cut away by the speedod current.
The progress ct tho work can be
watched ne tons after tons fan down
from the banks. But that this work
in the channel Of river should In
time result In the making of valley