Evening star., 1928-12-06
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
THEORY BLASTED
DR.. Meinesz Discovers Pres
sure in Atlantic as Great
as Off Pacific Coast.

Practical dissolution of the theory
that the earth crust forming North
America is floating westward on the
subcrustal viscuous substance which
forms the interior of the earth is one
of the main results of the studies of
gravity pulls at sea made recently in
the Gulf of Mexico and in the Carib-
bean Sea aboard the Navy submarine
S-21, it was reported to the Washing
ton Academy of Sciences meeting in
the auditorium of the Interior Depart
ment Building, by DR.. r. A. Vening-
MeinesZ, Dutch geodesiSt, In charge Of
the expedition
The westward float theory, advanced
as the result of DR.. MeineSZs studies
made in the earthquake regions Of the
Pacific Ocean, just off the Pacific coast
when 1t was found that there was a
distinct pressure against the earth
crust beneath the Pacific from the con-
tinental shelf of the Pacific coast, re-
ceived a sharp jolt when DR.. Meinesz
in his latest expedition discovered the
same pressure being exerted on the
san floor by the Atlantic continental
shelf.
Earth's Crust Folds.
That thrust of the continents of
North and South America against the
ocean floor on the Atlantic side had
been of such strength, ii was discovered
by DR.. Meinesz, that the great ocean
deeps, known as the Mares BartlettS
and the Sigs5ee deeps with other
lesser assures in the ocean floor. are
a creaSing of the outer skin OF the
earth. These folds in the earth's crust,
which in some places are OF miles
depth and Of 65 to 200 miles width,
are the direct result, it is confidently
believed by DR.. MeineSz, Of the con-
tinents of North and South America
leaning in upon each other.
Whether the movement of the two
continents toward each other is con-
tinuing. or whether the earth at that
particular spot is convalescing from its
wound, has not been determined.
But it is certain that, geologically
speaking. the crease in the earth's crust
at this point is of comparatively recent
origin. Asked for an explanation OF
that comparatively recent" diagnosis,
DR.. Fred E. Wright of the Carnegie
Institution here, who accompanied DR..
Meinesz on his expedition, replied, go
900 years, maybe much more. It's just
Both DR.. Wright and DR.. Meinesz
addressed the large gathering OF
geolesists, geophysicists. biologists and
other men of science last night.
Silt Load Equalized.
Another outstanding discovery made
hv the scientists on the expedition
aboard the S-21 was that the vast
yearly deposits of silt by the Missis-
sippi River at its delta are not creating
a heavy gravity load on the earths
crust at this point, but that the crust
is keeping its equilibrium with COM
pensating settlement which takes care
of the great deposits.
Another discovery made on the ex-
pedition was that the Gulf of Mexico,
although by its geographical conforma-
ton an inland sea, is subject to the
same positive gravity pulls that have
been found by Dr. Meinesz in various
parts of the Atlantic Ocean. In other
words, it has been found that the Gulf
of Mexico gravity pull, in common with
that of the Atlantic Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean, is tighter to the earths
crust than is the pull of the conti-
mental structure of North America.
The studies made In the various deeps
of the Caribbean and the Gulf are of
utmost importance to science. These
regions are, from q geological stand
point, among the most interesting on
the earth's surface, and, due to their
comparatively recent formation and
ever-changing aspect, are excellent ex-
am1les for the study Of the causes of
the earthquakes which are very fire.
quent in this area.
Secretary of the Navy Curtis D. Will
bur, who was an honor guest at the
meeting last night, injected a political
note into the meeting when he ques-
toned DR.. Meinesz as to whether the
continental pressures forming the
creases in the earth's crust in the
Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are
bringing the continents of North and
South America closer together.
DR.. Meinesz replied that Mr. Hoover
was doing that very well at present.