FARMERS' REGISTER— GEOLOGICAL. 



473 



despatch is of so rauch consequence^ and in war 

 almost indispensable, in the present advanced and 

 improved condition of the country. Nor will it 

 be of less importance, to accomplish such a work 

 from the southern termination of the Petersburg 

 rail road, to tlie passage of the Roanoke river 

 through the Blue Ridge of mountains. 



The Nortli Western turnpike road which was 

 authorised to be constructed, is in progress, and 

 promises to be as extensively useful as its friends 

 exi^ected. The entire location of it has been fin- 

 ished, and seventy-four miles of the distance has 

 been put under contract for its construction, twenty- 

 four miles of which has been completed in a style 

 highly gratifying to its friends and the public gene- 

 rally. There are many other works which pro- 

 mise to be extensively useful, which will claim a 

 portion of your fostering care, and will doubtless re- 

 ceive the attention due to them. The condition of 

 those works generally in wliich the state has an 

 interest, will be made more fully known to you by 

 the report of the board of public works, which will 

 shortly be laid before you. Whilst on this suliject, 

 I will suggest the propriety of some enactments, to 

 enable the board of public works to fulfil the in- 

 tentions of the general assembly by clothing it 

 with some discretionary power over "the subject of 

 subscription, and to exclude all companies from 

 participating in the benefits of a subscription by 

 the state, without having one of the engineers in 

 the service of tlie state, first to view and locate the 

 contemplated road, and furnish an estimate of the 

 expense of its construction. Nor ought the col- 

 lection of tolls, nor the erection of gates, to be 

 suffered on any road, whether the state participate 

 or not in the work, without first having a report 

 from the engineers in the service of the state, set- 

 ting forth that tlie work has been executed in all 

 respects agreeably to the terms of the charter. 



Whilst engaged in the improvements of the 

 state, by constructing roads for the safe and speedy 

 transportation of the products of agriculture, we 

 ought not to be unmindful of the great wealth 

 Avhich lies buried in the earth, which only requires 

 the examination of men of science to bring befoi'e 

 the country, and make known its value and use- 

 fulness to capitalists, who would be induced to en- 

 gage in fitting it for commerce; thereby creating 

 new sources of wealth. It is well known that 

 Virginia affords, perhaps, the most extensive mines 

 of iron, of any country of the same extent, and 

 fine specimens also of gold, lead, copper, plaster 

 of Paris or gypsum, and inexhaustible mines of 

 bituminous coal, besides many valuable earths 

 which constitute the finest manures, as will fully 

 appear from the inspection of a communication 

 herewith placed before you, received from a gen- 

 tleman of much scientific knowledge and reputa- 

 tion. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 GEOLOGICAL. 



The eartli has been in existence nearly six 

 thousand years; and since its formation subjected 

 to dreadful revolutions, very violent and destruc- 

 tive in their consequences. It has been shaken and 

 convulsed to its centre by earthquakes, inundated 

 with water, and its whole surface broken up and 

 dissolved. Myriads of primordial rocks from the 



Vol. 1—60 



bpwels of the earth have formed mountains eleva- 

 ted far above the clouds. " And the waters pre- 

 vailed exceedingly upon the earth ; and all the 

 high hills that were under the whole heaven were 

 covered. Fifteen cubits upwards did the waters 

 prevail; and all the mountains were covered." 

 This terrible event swept off every living sub- 

 stance from the face of the earth ; and nothing re- 

 mained but fossil, vegetable and animal productions 

 iml)edded in earth and ponderous rock. 



The inequalities of the earth's surface could not 

 have been produced by the flood alone, for there 

 were hills and mountains soon after its formation. 

 The present appearances on the surface must be 

 owing to other causes, viz: chaotic matter not 

 having been reduced to order by attraction. Should 

 gravity continue its action on the earth for a length 

 of time, all the bottoms and cavities wHl be filled 

 and nothing but a smooth surface of water observed. 

 Every rain which falls upon the hills and moun- 

 tains, carries with it a portion of earth, which finds 

 its way to the ocean by branches, creeks and rivers. 

 This is proved from alluvial formations at, or near 

 the mouths of large water courses. Streams enter- 

 ing the ocean terminate in a bay or gulf, and in 

 time give rise to islands in consequence of alluvial 

 depositions. The currents of stream's entering the 

 ocean are diminished in proportion to the quantity 

 of matter deposited, and the bed of the ocean must 

 in time be filled and its water displaced, occupying 

 a larger surface. This revolution will, in all pro- 

 bability, go on until the whole earth is covered 

 with water. If the earth had existed from all eter- 

 nity, as some profane philosophers have supposed, 

 it would long since have been an entire plain. 

 Heavy substances would have found their way to 

 the centre, and lighter bodies occupy the surface. 

 Observation confirms such an opinion, for the earth 

 has diminished and water increased, and if the 

 earth continues in existence for a length of time, 

 water will occupy its whole surface. In proportion 

 then as water increases, will the vegetable and ani- 

 mal kingdoms diminish; this diminution will con- 

 tinue until both kingdoms become extinct by their 

 being swept off in the general deluge, and leave 

 oidy the watery tribe to pi'opagate their species and 

 fill up the great aqueous void. 



We have a promise, however, that this will not 

 be the case. The earth may be destroyed in vari- 

 ous ways, but the most probable manner of des- 

 truction is that of heat. The volatile parts will 

 be first separated and form a cloud in the upper 

 regions, water will be acted upon next, leaving be- 

 hind, the vegetable and animal kingdoms ; they in 

 their turn will become blended with the great at- 

 mosphere : The earth, minerals and ponderous 

 stones being lastly antagonized, follow in the rear, 

 making every effort to oppose its mighty enemy and 

 keep its centre ; but being hurried on by the pow- 

 erful efforts of repulsive, will be compelled to 

 journej' onward. This antagonized matter may 

 now be carried through immense spaces which lie 

 retired beyond our limits and comprehension, until 

 it comes within the attraction of some sun or planet 

 and unite in a mass with it. This, however, is 

 only a minor change that may take place in an in- 

 dividual planet. 



When all the planetary systems and worlds are 

 destroyed by the great and mighty cause, it must 

 be by attraction. System will unite to system until 

 they become oxk "whole ! Buffon, Leibnitz, Des- 



