MAGNETISM

ZETETIC COSMOGONY:
OR
Conclusive Evidence
THAT THE WORLD IS NOT A
ROTATING—REVOLVING—GLOBE,
BUT
A STATIONARY PLANE CIRCLE.
By Thomas Winship
1899

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(Post 23/47)

MAGNETISM.

In a work entitled "Magnetism and Deviation of the Compass," by J. Merrifield, L.L.D., F.R.A.S., 10th Edition, page 4, the statement is made that:

"When a magnet is suspended by a thread without torsion, or on a pivot so as to move freely, it will, when left to itself, rest only in a vertical plane which stands nearly North and South."

If this statement be read with an artificial globe in sight the assurance is at once conveyed to the mind that the shape of the world cannot be globular. On a vessel at sea, the compass needle could not point nearly north and south on a globular surface, but would point into the sky at both ends. To point north on the equator it would dip towards the North Pole at an angle of 45°, while the south end would be the same angle above the horizon, pointing into the sky. Only on a flat surface could the statement of Dr. Merrifield be true. What we know is that the compass needle is horizontal, except in high latitudes, and there, although it dips, spins round, and does various other extraordinary things, no constant of dip can be found. It is never the same at the same latitude at different times. In fact, there is nothing yet discovered that accounts for the deviation of the compass, lateral and vertical.

In an article in the Nineteenth Century, 1895, by C. R. Markham, it is stated that:

"Professor Neumayer writes that without an examination and survey of the magnetic properties of the antarctic regions, it is utterly hopeless to strive with prospects of success, at the advancement of the theory of the earth's magnetism."

It is confessed that our knowledge of what is called the earth's magnetism is very scanty. The Journal of the Society of Arts of 20th March, 1896, says:

"Magnetical observations in the south are at present not only urgently needed for the purpose of navigation, but also for supplying a missing link in our knowledge of terrestrial magnetism."

And Lord Kelvin, speaking at Burlington House, on 30th November, 1893, stated:

"We are certainly far from having any reasonable explanation of any of the magnetic phenomena of the earth."

It is evident that the sun has something to do with magnetism, as disturbances of sun spots have often been accompanied by disturbances of magnetic needles.   

The dipping needle is an instrument constructed to record the dip at various latitudes. But as this instrument does not allow of the needle moving in a lateral direction, it is useless for any determination of the deviation of the horizontal needles. It has been claimed that it proves the globular shape of the earth, by recording the dip of the horizontal needles. This, however, it does not, and in its very construction cannot do, for the reason above stated. In London, in latitude 51½° north, the dipping needle experiments should show that the dip is that amount, if the theory be true. In "Magnetism," by Sir W. Snow Harris, page 163, it is recorded that:

"Sabine in 1821 determined the inclination in London by the two methods of oscillation and by Mayer's needle, and arrived at three following results:—Mayer's needle, 70° 2' 9"; methods of oscillation, 70° 4' and 70° 2' 6"."

It is evident, therefore, that we have not yet sufficient information regarding magnetism to lay down any definite rules for determining the cause and cure of deviation, whether lateral or vertical. In Harris' "Magnetism," page 254, it is stated that "Our planet is a magnet," and "that a magnetic bar is horizontal at the equator, and that in north latitude the north end of the bar dips towards the south, while in south latitude the south end dips towards the north." That is to say, in both north and south latitudes the compass points upwards. This is clear from the figure.

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In "Magnetism and Electricity," by W. G. Baker, we find an illustration of the same supposed principle on page 16. Unfortunately for the exposition of Sir W. Snow Harris, the figure accompanying the text states the case to be the very reverse of that gentleman's figure.

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In this figure, the bar dips down from the centre of the magnetic field—the equator—towards both north and south.

Both these books are standard works on the subject of "Magnetism," and yet in this, the most important of all points, they are exactly opposite!

The statement of Sir W. Harris will not bear investigation. It may be an easy way of "explaining" (which the learned are good at), but it does not agree with fact.   

Mr. Norman H. Pollock, writing from 115, Broadway, New York, on 4th December, 1897, informs me as follows: "Your letter of enquiry dated Nov. 2 received. I am sorry that I cannot throw much light on the subject of the 'dip' of the compass. The vessel I was on was a wooden steamer, copper fastened. With the exception of the engine, and anchors and chains, there was no iron about her. The compasses worked well until we were about 100 miles from the entrance to Hudson Straits, when they became utterly useless. We had about thirty of them, and no two pointed in the same direction. When whirled around they did not stop towards the north, but in all directions, and when they did stop the needle was depressed about 45° and usually stationary. . . . . . I was on shore (nothing but rock) and did not see iron ore. . . . . . The highest latitude was about 67°. . . . . ."

It is well known that magnetism acts in a straight line. This of itself is sufficient to prove that the earth cannot be a globe; because on a globe, wherever the magnetic influence came from, the needle would point in that direction; sometimes down through the ship's keel, and always at an angle that would render it useless to the navigator. The truth about magnetism has yet to be discovered, but even in our present state of knowledge, the weight of evidence goes to show that the world cannot be the globe of popular belief.