The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-06
EARTHQUAKES.


tirely 10 electricity. The author repudiates
altogether the idea that in the centre Of the
globe we dwell OI, aa1d TO within two miles or
it's surface, there is o mass Ct molten fluid--a
theory which scientific men generally now
either discard or treat with little consideration.
To the motions OF that molten mass under the
Influences which control the tides, and the ex-
plosions OF aqueous vapor from the infiltration
of the waters of the sea to contact with the
molten mass, eal thquakes have been generally
attributed.
The writer nm Backwood. rejecting the whole
theory, asserts that the earth is not only solid,
but it's density Increases towards its centre, by
reason of the existence OF bodies of metals of
great speclac gravity, specimens OF which are
occasionally found upheaved to the surface.
Those meteas are sucn as platinum, osnalum.
iridium, &c; This is Inferred from the fact
nearly five and half times that of water. the
mean average density Of ihe strata which COM
pose Ourtcontinents, and which are accessible
to Us, Is less than three times that If water;
and when we take the whole surface Of the
planet, Land and sea together. it is, of course,
much less-Humboldt says only one-half
denser than water And then it is ascertained in
the digging OF wells and mines that the hea t va
rles at different depths-a lower stratum being
colder than one higher. &c.-while mine in
Cornwall reached point where increasing
heat ceased altogether, and the temperature
The writer argues further, with reference to
the theory chat the interior fluid mass occa-
slons surface aSitations BY its irregular mo-
sonss @ that ;a. me supposed crust Of two miles
of tissue paper, but would give way. and thu
mass OF molten lava would pour forth9and
deluge the surface.
Passing through great deal Of entertaining
fact with referelce to electric forces as dis.
played in many curious phenomena, he comes
to the main question. We present his ideas
IN brief. He states that the .atmosphere is re-
garded commonly as the native seat OF elect1i-
cal disturbances which give rise to hurricanes
and thunder storms which .convulse 1t and
cause 50 many disasters; nevertheless, it is in
der, storms dwelIs The atmospheric phenom-
ena' are secondary. 1t is the solid surface Of
the earth that is most influenced by solar ac-
ton. It becomes highly. charged with solar
heat OF summer, in large degree, comes from
the earth, where it accumalates, and acts like
supernascent gas upon the atmosphere. Five
miles up in the air the thermometer hardly
SHOWS any difference when in shade and when
IN sun. The electric influence Of the solar rays
accumulates in far greater extent in the earth
than IN the tenuous atmosphere, and the sur.
face of the earth is the main seat OF those cleo
trical variations which produce the storms in
the atmosphere. The atmosphere plays a sec
Ondary role compared with the solid earth in
cyclones and thunder storms which convulse
the atmosphere. Every discharge Of cleo
tricity between air and earth implies that the
earth is as much out of equilibrium as the air
ls, otherwise no such discharge could take
place. Electric action is ceaselessly going on
between the earth and air. Every electric
hash conveying message by telegraph along
the wires returns to it's starting point through
the earths crust or on it's surface. El:'a
Country people know that there are spots of
the ear IA frequently struck by lightning. On
such spots the lightning descends, ar Sssues
fsom as soh points are rocks hioh
ton and probably impregnated with iron. Ger
tain kinds Of rock are favorite media Of mag
netic currents, and the author thinks that the
VEINS IN the rocky crust OF the earth owe their
origin to the long continued action OF euch
magnetic currents-metals and also gems be-
ing sublimations of rocks--rock which has had
lts atoms reorganizsd, its molecular structure
net1c currents ALI metalliferous and mine-
rents. - p
The writer assumes that it is the electric
currents existing in the zone Immediately be-
meath the surface Of the Garth which produce
the heat found in artesian wells, miues. &c
Ihls accounts. also, for the variations in heat
some some t; roeks evolving more heat from the mag
NOW, earthquakes are caused by the move
ment OF electricity through the earth. Ordi-
narlly the currents flow smoothly; for the rocks
but occasionally, from unusual solar and plan,
etary action, electricity is developed to an ex-
cessive degree in the crust Of the earth. the
conductive power OF the rocks becoming made
ldlty to maintain the electric equilibrium. The
overcharged clouds discharge themselves by
electric flashes. The same thing takes place
iI IN the earth. The pent up electricity forces
moro terrible far than II the whole artillery OF
the world were discharged. in concentrated
volley. "What Is the RESULT "A vast heat is
germnatsd @ ieiectricity fuses everythin9--it is
the grandest heat developer in nature, y the
rocks are expended. rent, in some cases actu-
ally fused; the subterranean lakes and rivers. /
the reservoirs OF water which exist everywhere
called the fountains Of the deep, are vaporized
ana instantaneously converted into steam; and
the result OF this great expansion or expio.,
sion in the ground beneath us is co0cussion
effects Of which reach the surface. producinn !
the various phenomena Of the ,earthouake.n
These convulsions manifest themselves some
times by oises-generally by duh. rnmbling
der peals. In other cases the earth shakes 10
harmless vibrations. In severe shocks the
earth swelIs into waves OF commotioa. shaking
down cities; the earth cracks and opens into.
chasms. whici generally close at once. swal-
lowing up nen and buildings. Again, It is ex.
plosive, such as that which destroyed the town
Of Riohambra in 1877. which threw the bodies
oa men ssverai hundred feet into The air This
crust more than one foot, the shock being so
sudden and intense that the elastic ernst i'm
medlately responded, throwing loose bodies
on the surface to an incredible height, as il
dischar9ed from catapult. or like an arrow
from bow. i-N
The writer describes at length the variety of
effect and manifestations Of this powerful
agent through earthquAkes-l such as the form- 4
ations Of lakes, the elevation Of islands in the
sea and their subsidence. the 1orming OF de-
preseaons on the surface by shaking the crust
80 as TO fill up open places previously existing
on the earth. &c., &c.
He thinks IL probable that in all vo,caroea
the seat Of subterranean convulsion lies near
the surface certainly OF all permanent vol
canoes. as vesuvius, E1na, Siromooli. &c. In
g1eh cases tha subjacent zone Of electric &C.
open the vent, which otherwise would be closed
agaln. ~ ~ E'.'SaI
Generally the earthquakes produce depres-
sions rather than uphcavals, The trenors or