THEORY AND FACT | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 22, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 16.

THEORY AND FACT.

THERE are some wonderful stories told to sustain some of the wonderful theories of the geologists, which many people are led to believe are all assuredly demonstrated. A correspondent of the Literary Digest gives the following, which illustrates the point:—

"In your issue dated January 9, you publish an article under the heading, 'The Amazing Vitality of Seeds,' in which the writer states that Dr. Isaiah Pile, of Franklin Co., Kansas, dug a well, and at the depth of a little over 100 feet, struck a rock, under which was found 'fine rich surface soil,' which produced a wonderful growth of tropical vegetation, such as date trees, palms, shrubs, etc. This article has been quoted by other papers, but I am sorry to inform you that it lacks truth. When I read the article I thought it very strange, as the doctor and myself had for over twenty years been special friends, that he had never mentioned this to me, and thought I would call his attention to this article the next time he paid me a visit, which I did a few days ago, and he pronounced it a wonderful yarn. He says he dug a well, but not 100 feet. He describes it thus: Went through dirt and gravel seventeen feet; through solid rock twenty-seven feet; under this rock was slate nearly like coal; went on thus about three feet, making in all forty-seven feet; no rich soil, no date trees, palms, or anything of the sort."