New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-27
Thc Troy Ca.a.,5ephe.

The Troy Whg has the following conjeotural
explanation Of the late Land Slide at Troy
Whether founded in truth or no,i merits attention
All those who have visited the land slide have
been surprised at the large extent of surface cov-
cred BY it, when compared with the size OF the
opening in The side of the hill Ii seems inpossi-
bic that SO vast quantity of earth could have been
taken trem a spot OF such narrow dimensions
And when al! the facts in relation the land slide
are ascertained, We believe that 1t will be acknow-
edged that only small portion o: the earth which
now covers surface of many thousand square
yards, could have fallen from the side of the hill
gentleman who was standing, at the time of
the disaster, the level ground at the base OF the
hill, formed by the slide of 1887, informs that
the first movement of earth proceeded from the
lecel ground and not from ths hill That the level
ground was thrown up if by some internal force,
and thrown over like the waves of the sea. That
the hill did not begin to fall until after this up
heaval of level ground; and that the first move
ment of the earth was accompanied BY an e3Flo-
sion like that of gunpowdsr. From ihe state
ments of the occupants of the houses in the vicin-
ity it also appears that their houses were much
shaken if by an earthquskc-their furniture
moved, &c. &c.
1t seems probable, therefore, that the houses
which were destroyed, were overwhelmed, not by
the earth from the hill, but by tha breaking up OF
the earth on the leve at the base of the hill.
The cause of the upheaval of the earth in this
unusual manner, was probably produced in the fol-
lowing way:
For two or three days previous to the landslide
Of 1887, stream OF water was perceived issuing
from the face of the hill, about half way from the
base TO the summit. This stream continued TO run
for some time after the slide, when it ceased TO
flow. A day two previous to the late slide
stream of water also broke out the spot
whence the stream issued in 1887 and still con-
tinues to aow. Our belief is that both land sides
have been caused by the action of water, which
has run under ground a, the foot of the hill, until
so large quantity has accumulated, that, aided by
the pressure constantly exerted by the stream, 1t
has burst up the earth above 1t.
Those who acquainted with the principle of
the hydrostatc bellows, and who are aware of the
great force exerted by water when properly ap.
piled, will easily perceive that eur hypothesis may
be correct.
To illustrate it, let US suppose reservoir TO be
constructed under the surface of the level ground
at the foot of the hill and this reservoir to DO fill
ed by the stream of water which runs from the hill.
When the reservoir is full, the water having no
power to overflow on account ofthe superintendent
earth, and its volume being constantly augmented
by the stream pouring in from above, will of course
force tor itself passage in the direction in which
it can the most easily be effected. This direction
would of course bc upward, and could only be ac-
quired by throwing up the earth with tremendous
force.
We have moi copy of Basil Halls Patchwork
at hand but it strikes u.s. that it contains several
instances fsimiler disasters in Switzerland, which
the author supposes to have been produced by hy-
drostatic pressure.