On the west coast, the currents bring water down from Alaska after moving up Russia, Bering Sea, etc.
On the East coast, the water is moving upward from the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. It's why hurricanes never get very far north on the West Coast.
It may have been thought to have been accurate at the time with the measuring equipment that was available then.
Actually, time changes things, it may have very well been a fact a 100 years ago.
That being said, it really wasn't the reason I posted it to begin with. It illustrates that the kids were actually taught to think and learn as compared to what they are taught today, which is not much.
After all, despots wouldn't be able to control people who would question them and their intentions or logic, would they?