308 PROCEEDINGS OF THE OHIO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Chamberlin arising from his critical examination of the various 

 hypotheses for the origin of the solar system. Chamberlin's 

 "Planetesimal Hypotheses", in the estimation of one who has 

 studied his several papers from the related series beginning with, 

 "A Group of Hypotheses Bearing on Climatic Changes" {Journal 

 of Geology, Vol. V (1897), pp. 653; Vol. VH, pp. 545-584, 667- 

 685, 751-787.) is largely a by-product of his studies in reference 

 to the origin of the atmosphere. This fact illustrates how inter- 

 woven and interdependent are the various phases of truth. 



The simplicity of the Laplacian theory, and its accordance 

 with all that was then known about the planetary system, the 

 vastness of its generalizations, and the meager knowledge of the 

 fundamentals in any theory of earth-origin, led to its immediate 

 and almost universal acceptance. So long has this theory been 

 taught that the idea of a once molten sphere has become a 

 premise, almost an axiom, and is made fundamental in explain- 

 ing mountains, volcanic activity, and in petrographical studies. 

 The dissent from its teachings is still very local, as is a studious 

 interest in any alternative theory. Conservatism is the armor, 

 as well as the embalming fluid, of science. 



That the planetesimal theory as now stated, or slightly 

 modified, will in time be generally accepted, is the belief of most 

 men who have made themselves acquainted with the basis of 

 study from which this theory developed. In our generation no 

 greater contribution has been made to theoretical geology. 



