58 Kansas Academy of Science. 



by the continued contraction of the crust. As we go from the 

 center outwards the intensity of influence becomes rapidly less in 

 proportion to the squares of distance from the heart of turbulence. 

 The severity of action in the interior is due to the extreme influence 

 of mass relative to" volume from pressure, to the nature of its elements 

 and to the comparatively great differences in distances between the 

 geolunar gravity center and the various parts of the indeterminate 

 core. A little way from this fountain of agitation the ratios of 

 distance are much reduced, and at the surface are quite small. 

 The tides are the last obvious phenomenon, the tail, indeed, of the 

 moon's interference with mundane equilibrium. I say "obvious 

 phenomenon," though, as a matter of fact, the petrosphere is sub- 

 ject to continuous vibrations, discernable at seismographic sta- 

 tions, similar to those affecting the most massive bridges under the 

 strain of footsteps, moving vehicles, and winds. And the atmos- 

 phere gives some indications of response to the tumult of the cen- 

 trosphere, but owing to its elasticity no perceptible movements of 

 its matter can be traced with certainty to that cause. 



I will now attempt to make clear the working of the tides, be- 

 ginning with the aplunar geohemisphere, or that hemisphere far- 

 thest from the moon. The point on the surface of the ocean di- 

 rectly in line with the geolunar gravity center and the moon is the 

 highest on the hydrosphere, because it is the most remote from 

 that center. It is common observation that water " runs down 

 hill." No fact in nature is better established as a matter of posi- 

 tive knowledge, and every grammar-school boy can tell why. He 

 knows that all fluids seek a position not occupied by something 

 heavier, nearest the center of gravity, generally regarded as the 

 center of the earth, but really the geolunar gravity center. The 

 flowing fluid is said to be seeking its level. This is what the 

 waters of the ocean do; they seek a level, an equilibrium. In every 

 direction they flow from this high point towards a lower one. If 

 the high point were fixed it would soon vanish, for the water 

 would attain its level and there would be neither high nor low point 



Only the westward and the eastward retreat of the waters from 

 the high point need be considered with reference to tidal action in 

 general. The water seeking its level westward exerts its weight 

 contrary to its rotational motion, and the latter is slowed; that 

 seeking its level eastward, in the direction of rotation, accelerates 

 its own velocity. The eastern land coasts of the continental areas 

 with undiminished velocity collide with the west flowing, or re- 

 tarded, water, and bury themselves in its breast, and this process 



