VOL. VII.

JULY 31, 1839.

EDMUND RUFFIN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

REMARKS ON THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM.

[Continued from page 376.]

No. 7.

mal relics, imbedded in carboniferous and chalk formations, that come under no known order, ge. nera or species, and are unknown to the botanists and anatomists of the present day. Hence it is Plants, from what has been said, are organized concluded, that they had an existence long before bodies, and, like animals, capable of begetting their the Mosaic history, and are fossil remains of a like, and continuing their species; each king- former world; or the remains of this world, before dom having male and female organs of reproduc-it was last renovated and fitted up for the reception tion. The first and most important account we of the present organic race. The science of gehave of the vegetable kingdom is recorded by ology has already proved that the surface of our Moses, in the 1st chapter of Genesis, 11 and 12 planet has not existed in its present form from verses. "And God said let the earth bring forth eternity; but has been revolutionized, in passing grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree through many series of creative operations, sucyielding fruit, after his kind, whose seed is in itself, ceeding each other at long intervals of time. upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth Primitive and secondary formations contain fossil brought forth grass, and the herb yielding seed organic remains, both of the vegetable and aniafter his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose mal kingdoms, differing in structure from organic seel was in itself after his kind: and God saw that remains of the present day. The microscope it was good." I infer from the passages just read, brings to view vegetable and animal organic rethat the seeds of plants were organized in minia-mains, from the greatest depths ever reached by ture, and when evolved required the vivifying influ- the art of man, or currents of water. From this ence, or male dust, to render them fruitful. The circumstance we must infer, that the earths surinspired writer does not say the principles or com- face has not only been broken up and dissolved, ponent parts, that form seeds, were given; he states but its whole mass agitated and convulsed by terripositively and explicitly "whose seed is in itself." ble events. The Rev'd. William Buckland, D. D. take the passage then as it is written, in its plain in his Bridgewater Treatise on geology and mineliter 1 sense, and will not trouble myself about ralogy, vol. 1st, page 390, says, "the number of vain theories of the schools, respecting the fructi- fossil plants as yet described is about 500; nearly fication of plants and the generation of animals. 300 of these are from strata of the transition seIf man may be permitted to raise the veil and ex-ries, and almost entirely from the coal formation. plore the hidden laws of nature within, I too, have written and published to the world, a speculative theory on "Generation," entitled perhaps to some credit for its plausibility; yet, I must publicly acknowledge that it stands on medical record, an effusion of vanity and presumption. The seeds of both kingdoms were given by the all-wise creator, and it never was intended that man, a worm born and nourished in sin, should understand such divine mysteries.

About 100 are from strata of the secondary series, and more than 100 from the tertiary series. Many additional species have been collected from each of these series, but are not yet named. As the known species of vegetables are more than fifty thousand, and the study of fossil botany is as yet but in its infancy, it is probable that a large amount of fossil species lies hid in the bowels of the earth, which the discoveries of each passing year will The most simple form of organic matter, was account of the coal mines in Bohemia he says, be continually bringing to light." In giving an first brought into being; for it seems from the Mo-"the most elaborate imitations of living foliage saic narrative, that the earth's surface was clothed upon the painted ceilings of Italian palaces, bear with vegetation before any mention is made of the no comparison with the beautious profusion of exanimal kingdom; and the most remarkable cir- tinct vegetable forms with which the galleries of cumstance in the two verses read, is that God these instructive coal mines are over-hung. The gave to each class, order, genera, and species, its roof is covered as with a canopy of gorgeous talike in miniature, viz., he gave to each plant, pestry, enriched with festoons of most graceful fo herb, &c., seeds, for the purpose of their repro-liage, flung in wild irregular profusion over every duction and continuance. It would appear from this account, that primitive vegetation, or that kind of vegetation spoken of by Moses, was not of sexual origin, but the immediate work of God. Unless it be admitted that our planet, six thousand years ago, was the ruins of a former world, having seeds promiscuously deposited in its chaotic mass; and when renovated and reduced to order the necessary agents acted on its surface and produced germination. Some philosophers of the present-day are inclined to this opinion, and think it consistent with the cosmogony of Moses: they say there are many circumstances which favor such an opinion. The infant sciences of fossil botany, and fossil osteology, are bringing daily to our view the remains of fossil vegetable and aniVOL. VII-49

part of its surface. The effect is heightened by the contrast of the coal black color of these vegetables with the light ground work of the rock to which they are attached. The spectator feels himself transported as by enchantment into the forests of another world; he beholds trees of forms and characters now unknown upon the surface of the earth, presented to his senses almost in the beauty and vigor of their primeval life; their scaly stems and bending branches, with their delicate apparatus of foliage are all spread forth before him; little impaired by the lapse of countless ages, and bearing faithful records of extinct sys tems of vegetation, which began and terminated in times of which these relics are the infallible historians."

"Such are the grand natural herbaria, wherein these most ancient remains of the vegetable kingdom are preserved in a state of integrity, little short of their living perfection under circumstances of our planet which exist no more. Lindley and Hutton, state, Fossil Flora,' page 16, "that it is the beds of shale or argillaceous schistus which afford the most abundant supply of these ancient relics of a former world; the fine particles of which they are composed having sealed up and retained in wonderful preservation and beauty the most delicate forms of the vegetable organic structure." From these quotations, and many others that might be brought forward, our planet probably had an existence before the Mosaic account of the creation. And hence it is that geological research has, unal within a few years past, been considered hostile to revealed religion. But I am inclined to the belief, that when the science of geology is properly understood, it will be calculated to give us the most exalted conceptions of the wisdom, power, and goodness of God. Geology has already thrown much light on many parts of Mosaic history, and in a few years it will be considered one of the most popular branches of science taught in the schools. "If I understand geology aright"| (says Professor Hitchcock), "so far from teaching the eternity of the world, it prove more directly than any other science can, that its revolutions and races of inhabitants had a commencement, and that it contains within itself, the chemical energies, which need only be set at liberty by the will of their creator, to accomplish its destruction. Because this science teaches that the revolutions of nature have occupied immense periods of time, it does not, therefore, teach that they form an eternal series It only enlarges our conceptions of the deity; and when men shall cease to regard geology with jealousy and narrow minded prejudices, they will find that it opens fields of research and contemplation as wide and as grand as astronomy itself."

I will now conclude with a few remarks on the fossil remains of vegetables.

The former races of vegetation that have beautified this earth for many thousand years, have passed away; except that portion the all-wise creator locked up in the bowels of the earth for the future use of man. We have reason to believe, immense forests have been heaped together in large masses, by violent convulsions of our planet, and transported to the bottom of ancient seas; and after being submerged and carbonized for ages, they were belched up by subterraneous fires, and elevated to the tops of lofty mountains, in the form of mineral coal. That coal is of vegetable origin, I infer: 1st, from the presence of terrestrial and marine plants in coalmines. 2ndly, when pit coal is seen through a microscope it is found to contain organic remains of wood, bark, leaves, and even the seeds of plants. 3rdly, the skeleton of plants are frequently found after burning coal in a furnace. "It is evidently seen, by the nature of the mountains which contain coal, that their formation has been sulmarine; for they all consist either of schistus, or grit, or lime-stone." These beds of fossit vegetable remains are now becoming the richest treasures of man, infinitely more valuable to him than silver and gold. They employ the labor and attention of a large portion of the human family at this time, and are daily becoming more and more interesting. The combustion of coal is substituted for manual labor throughout the whole civilized world; the surface of the earth is to be broken up and cultivated by the combustion of this vegetable mineral, and it will be the support of future generations. The great use of coal in administering to our wants, ought to interest every individual; we are deriving light and heat from fossil vegetation, that perhaps clothed this earth before its present surface had an existence. These primeval vegetables have not, like modern vegetation, undergone decay in yielding their elemental principles back to the atmosphere which nourished and gave them being; but are treasured up in subterranean beds and have become carbonized

As soon as chaos was reduced to order, and the waters separated from the earth, Gen. 1st. 9, 10, God clothed and beautified the land with vegetation. Whether the whole or a part of the dry sur-masses of coal, which, in the present age of the face was clothed in vegetation at that time, seems hard to tell; the inspired writer merely states the fact, and says, "let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, &c.:" the probability is, that only a small part of the ancient continent was at that time raised from the water to be decked with grass, herbs, &c., for the wants and support of the animal kingdom which was to follow. According to botanists, the entire number of known species of plants, now existing on the surface of the globe are 55,000; and they have divided the 55,000 species in 24 classes, according to their numbers, connections and stations of the male and female organs. The 24 classes, owe their distinctions to the stamens or male organs; and the sub-divisions of the 24 classes, are marked by the number of pistils or female organs.

world, are to man sources of industry and wealth. The city of London consumes five tons of coal per minute, 300 tons per hour, 7.200 tons per day, 216,000 tons per month, or 2,628,000 tons per year: which, at 12 cents per hundred pounds, will amount to the enormnous sum of $6,570,000 per annum; and its consumption in Great Britain and on the continent is beyond calculation. All the mechanical powers, the lever, the wedge, the screw, the wheel and axle, and the inclined plane, are in active motion, and made subservient to the arts, by the expansive force of this useful mineral. The combustion of coal is found at the bottom of the mines, in the work shops of the trades and family dwellings; on the ocean and all navigable waters; on rail-roads and public highways; it lights up our cities, towns, and villages, increases If all vegetable seeds that have been formed on population, begets riches, wealth and power, and the earth in the last six thousand years, could dispenses light, warmth and comfort equally to the have multiplied their species, unmolested and un-king and the peasant. It is the grand auxiliary diminished, and each plant retain its organization entire, together with the various crops of vegetation that have adorned this earth, the mass would in all probability so far exceed that of the tobacco and spleen-wort, as to fill the orbit of this earth.

in the arts, agriculture, commerce, manufactures, navigation and trade; and is daily and hourly administering innumerable blessings to the human race. What I might ask, would be the situation of England, without the fossil remains of vegetables? Her astonishing manufacturing machinery,

with a copital of 700,000,000 dollars, could not be 100 miles or more, salt springs are found; and here kept in motion without it could her 20,000 steam in a chain of mountains following the meanders of engines, that are continually cutting, splitting, saw-this stream, we have the most remarkable accuing, hammering, filing, polishing, twisting, screw-mulations of this vegetable production, within a ing, pumping, rowing, propelling, depressing, ex- few rods of the salt works, ready for combustion. cavating, winding, weaving, carding, spinning, In connection with these mountains of coal and and a thousand other operations be carried on from fountains of salt water, are inexhaustable beds of her forests, unassisted by mineral coal? I should iron ore, to be fused and wrought in pump rods, suppose not; for it would require half the popula- or cast in boilers for the purpose of making salt. tion of this globe, to move the various complex Here then, gentlemen, is an astonishing instance machinery of England, with the same force and of wonderful design in this single group of mineeffect that is produced by the combustion of coals. ral resources. When the James river and Ka"The amount of work done by machinery in Eng- nawha improvement is completed, Richmond will land, has been supposed to be equivalent to that of probably become a large manufacturing city; her between three and four hundred millions of men water power is unequalled; she has the advantage by direct labor, and we are astounded at the influ-in being surrounded and supported by extensive ence of coal and iron and steam upon the fate and fortunes of the human race.'

coal fields; her fires are now consuming this fossil, from which she prepares her food, and mainSir J. F. W. Herschel, in his Treatise on Natu- tains her forges and furnaces; lamps in a few ral Philosophy, page 59, says, "it is well known to years, will illume her streets and public halls, from modern engineers, that there is virtue in a bushel gas derived from coal, that has been buried in the of coals properly consumed to raise 70 millions dark recesses of the romantic hills of Powhatan, pounds weight. This is actually the average from time immemorial: together with these adeffect of an engine at this moment working in vantages, she will daily receive supplies of salt, Cornwall." Again he says, the ascent of Mont¦lime, iron, copper, lead, and other mineral treaBlanc, is the mos: toilsome feat that a strong man sures through the western mountains. Her macan execute in two days. The combustion of two chinery will be propelled by coal combustion and pounds of coal will place him on the summit." It water power, and at some future day she is destined is now ascertained by the most experienced engi- to become the Birmingham of America—a wealthy neers of Europe, that the combustion of one bushel manufacturing emporium, whose steam engines of coals well consumed, will raise 100,000,000 and water-works, will give employment to inepounds weight, which would require the force or chanics of the various trades; and the sound of united exertion of one million of laborers, sup- the bell, the file and the loom, will be heard in the posing each laborer lifted from the earth 100 streets and dissipate gloom. The smith also sitpounds. Let us suppose one bushel of coal weighs ting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, 100 pounds, according to this estimate, one pound the vapor of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he of coals properly consumed will raise one million fighteth with the heat of the furnace; the noise pounds weight, which would require the direct la- of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, bor of ten thousand men, or the combined strength and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the and effort of the whole population of Cumberland thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to fincounty, each individual lifting as before. If this ish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly." calculation be continued, we shall find that one We shall have abundant use for coals, the United ounce of coal in a state of combustion will raise States has become a wealthy powerful republic, 62,500 lbs. weight, which would require the direct extending from ocean to ocean, between two and labor of 625 men listing 100 lbs. each. Marvel three thousand miles in length, her population not at this, for we all know that the expansive hourly in reasing, her numerous rivers, long and force of a few thimbles full of confined power, will wide, her lakes large, and sea coast extensive. burst a gun barrel of the best temper, and rend in Her waters are navigated by steam engines, and fragments the hardest rock of many tons weight. if we add to these, the steam engines on her railThe United States has in store immense fields of roads, and those employed in the mines and vathis mineral; it is found at the head of tide water,rious joint-stock, and other laboring departments, and on the tops of her lofty mountains; there is we shall find that they will require a great demand throughout the union, and I might say throughout | on our coal fields. If steam engines, for one hunthe whole world, proofs of design in the various dred years to come, should increase in the same dispositions of carboniferous beds; they are inva- ratio they have in the last thirty years, there will riably found in situations most favorable for the be in the Uni ed States, and on her waters, almost comfort and convenience of man. On all our #countless number; and although the western navigable rivers, we have beds of coal, ready for forest is wide and extensive, these engines must combustion or transportation. Iron, copper, lead, ultimately be fed and propelled by coal combuszine, silver and gold, are treasured up in the vi- tion. The Old Dominion, the mother of this great cinity of coal fields, ready to be fused and moulded republic, has partly exhausted her forest, and coal by the hand of the artist. Wherever the forest is supplying its place. Let us then, if we regard is wanting, bountiful nature has, at hand, a substi- future generations, hold fast the fossil remains of tute in coals; and mountains of this mineral are vegetables, husband our resources, and have legisfound in connection with our salt springs. Welative enactments prohibiting the exportation of have then abundant reason to be thankful to the coals, which we all regard as sources of heat and wise creator of the universe for such singular light and industry and wealth. blessings. This earth is to be destroyed by fire, and if I In our own state these vegetable fossil remains am permitted to offer a single conjecture on this are invaluable; from the fails of the Kanawha Pawlul subject, it would be, that the most combustiriver to its junction with the Ohio, a distance of, ble matters will first become the immediate agents

of destruction. And whenever the wise creator thinks proper to bring about such an event, how easy will it be for him to set free latent heat, and let loose other chemical agents treasured up in coal fields and all combustible matters, in order to produce general conflagration, that will consume this earth and its furniture, and cause it to pass away like a downy feather in a furnace !

RALEIGH AND GASTON RAIL-ROAD.

Thus it will be perceived that all the elements of cost were, at that time, far less than they have been during the construction of this road.

These are certainly comparisons by no means unfavorable to your work, and when we add that yours is the only one of the roads mentioned, in which rock excavation was encountered to any extent, and the difficulties to be overcome by excavations and embankments are far more considerable than on the cheapest of these other roads, and nearly as great as on the most expensive, it is believed that the board have reason to congratulate themselves on the moderate cost at which their work will be completed.

In making the foregoing comparisons, the item bridges has been deducted in each case, because that is the only way in which a comparison can be fairly made.

Extract from the late annual Report. The calculations of the entire cost of the work have been carefully made, taking the sums actually paid for such parts of it as have been comple-of ted and settled for, and the most accurate estimate that can now be had of the parts remaining to be done. It appears from these calculations, that the There are five bridges on the Raleigh and Gaston work will be done within the estimate of $1,215,- rail-road, most of them in situations of peculiar 000 given in my last report. I therefore refer you difficulty. There are few bridges in the world to that as the sum which will not be materially higher than that over Tar river. The aggregate exceeded, if at all. This sum exceeds the capital length of the bridges is 3,240 feet, and their cost with which the company was originally incorpo- will be $155,000. When this is included, the cost rated, which was $800,000, with the privilege of per mile of the road will be $14.378. The bridg increasing to $1,000,000. I cannot feel surprised ing on the Petersburg and on the Richmond and at this excess of the actual cost over a conjectural Fredericksburg roads has been far less, while that estimate, made before any survey of the route, and on the Richmond and Petersburg road has been based on data quite vague and inaccurate. Even greater than on this. The cost of the Richmond if an accurate estimate had been made, the rise in and Fredericksburg road, when bridging is incluprices which occured about the period of the com-ded, is $13,934 per mile, and that of the Richmond mencement of this work, and which has most and Petersburg road $31.110 per mile; that of the unexpectedly continued to the present time, would Petersburg road is $10,110 per mile. have been sufficient to account for a great increase of cost.

Comparisons equally as advantageous might be made with many other works, but they are deemed unnecessary. I will merely add a list of several railroads and their cost per mile, taken from the late report of the president and directors of the Housatonic Rail-Road Company :

Boston and Worcester rail-road, $37,000 per mile.
42,000
Boston and Providence
Norwich and Worcester
Western
New-Jersey

66

22,000

34,000

45,000

40,000 68

40,000

61,000

19,000 66

52.000

20,000 66 15,000

Camden and Amboy
Columbia and Philadelphia “
Albany and Schenectady
Utica and Schenectady
Stonington
Hartford and New-Haven "
Housatonic

A comparison of the cost of this work, with the actual cost of the rail-roads in the same range of country in the state of Virginia, and with many roads at the north, will satisfy any inquirer, that it has not exceeded what was justly to be anticipated! from the character of the country passed over. I will instance the Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail-Road, both because it approaches nearest to this in character, and because no one at all acquainted with the management of that road, while constructing, has ever doubted that the strictest economy was used. That road cost $12,900 per mile, exclusive of bridging and of locomotives and cars, which is $360 per mile more than the cost of yours, with the same exceptions. The cost of the Richmond and Petersburg road, exclusive of bridges, cars, &c. has been about $21,444 per mile, or $8,904 per mile, more than yours. It should be mentioned that the Housatonic The cost of the Petersburg rail-road (not inclu-road is just commenced, and that it follows the reding the Greensville branch, which was much more expensive) with the same exception of bridges, cars and locomotives, has been about $9,700 per mile. This last will be perceived to be $2,840 per mile less than the cost of the Raleigh and Gaston road. This difference is fully accounted for by the circumstances of the case. Labor was hired during the construction of that road at an average price of about $70 per annum ; bacon was at 7 to 8 cents, beef at 2 to 4 cents, and corn at 40 to 50 cents per bushel. Rail timber in that section of country is much more abundant than it is on your road, and consequently, could be gotten for about 20 per cent, less. The iron for the Petersburg road cost about $17 per ton, delivered in Petersburg, while that for your road costs about $70 per ton, delivered at Gaston.

markably level valley of the Housatonic.

As some apprehensions have been expressed that the stock of this road will not be valuable, I hope I may be excused for saying a word on the subject.

It is well known that, since the road went into operation, causes beyond your control have prevented you from offering such facilities to the public as would ensure a large amount of transportation; and yet the amount has exceeded what any one anticipated. No reasoning man can now doubt that the tonnage transported over the road will fully equal the expectations of the most sanguine among us.

It has been suggested that the transportation of goods and produce on a rail-road yields but a small profit. Let us examine into this.