The Earth's Shifting Crust by Charles Hapgood - wire of information

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EARTH'S SHIFTING CRUST
umn of the crust (that is, a section extending from top to
bottom of the crust) would be a shifting of light matter from
one point to another under the bottom of the crust. This
matter was discussed in the last chapter. While in that chapter
relatively minor effects were considered, it is true, never-
theless, that the shifting of light matter from one point under
the crust to another could take place on a very large scale.
What might be the upshot of all these changes during a
displacement of the crust? The result might well be that
while the distribution of light and heavy matter near the
surface would be unchanged, its distribution (average density)
between the surface and the bottom of the crust would
be materially changed. This is undoubtedly the direction in
which we must look for a solution of the problem of con-
tinents and ocean basins, as a means of reconciling geophysi-
cal ideas with the evidence of biology and geology.
I cannot close without reference to a singular confirmation
of the line of reasoning adopted in this chapter, which I find
in Umbgrove's discussion of the work of the geologist Barrell,
with whom he disagreed.
Umbgrove is considering the question of the submergence
of continents. It is clear from his discussion that Barrell's
conception of the process requires a theory of crust displacement.
Umbgrove states the problem thus: If we are to sup-
pose the submergence of continents, we must either suppose
a change in the amount of the ocean water, which, if it in-
creased, could flood a continent (or several at once), or, if the
water remained about the same in quantity, the submergence
of one continent must be balanced by the elevation of an-
other. He presents the findings of specialists to show that
the quantity of water on the earth's surface has remained
about the same, from the earliest times, and adds:
Should one, nevertheless, cling to the theory of submerged conti-
nents, the only alternative would be to assume that while vast blocks
were being submerged in one area, parts of the ocean floor of almost
identical size were being elevated in others. . . .