The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-04-12
CORRESPONDENTS.

DEAR SIR-In the Advertiser Of the lSth ult a
vriter-who SAYS he has resided many years in vol
eaaie countries and given their phenomena = close
examination contributes Something about Earth
quskes," on which, With your permission would
make few REMARKS promising that honor all true
aud honest attempts to explain the secrets Of nature
to enrich mankind, even when such attempts result
in failure and only help to Ill the scientific waste
basket.
The writer gives as bis conclusion upon the cause
Of earthquakes that they are not brought about by
"a volcanic force bursting forth from the earth's heart
q flames, nor that they originate from the disin
teygrStou Of the internal mass Of the earths crust
| falling and producing shock on some other portion
Of the so-eallei crust but-EuTcka that they arc
ceeasioued by an electro gazette current explod-
ing and flashing through the earth like lightning from
I the storm-eioud."
I, must have been great relief to many nervous
people, en- reading the article in question. to learn
that G they chance to be blown up BY an earthquake
az swallowed up by tijS-wave. the disaster is caas.
Cd by an electromagnetic explosion, and not by
"yolcauic force" There is something reassuriug
IN the long rythmteal name Of the one agent Of de.
struStou that totally wanting in the other. and the
+
its tsrrcrs by being clothed with so grand name.
True, that there may be people SO ealcus minded OF
SO set upon their own Anticipated IDEAS as no, fully
to appreciate the subtle distraction bctweca twcedc-
dun and tvredle-dec, and the grand discovery that
earthquakes arc caused by the explosion Of electro.
magnetic currents and not by volcanic forces the
more So, the writer himself admits that ''yoeanc
fires generate the electric fluid, which, through an
excess e quantity, causes explosion. With such
,niuds this electric auid. which the writer speaks
would only be pbcaomenop attending upon volcanic
fires or forces and in following up the chain Of eausa
ton, they would inquire bow do those tires generate
that electric fluid vha, causes them do sos and is
that canse ultimate or itself only phenomenon Of
some stall more rceoudite, unauayrable cause.
Speaking under correction from the writer's long
residence in volcanic countries and close sxamina
ton Of phenomena fail to see that scicuce has ad
vauced one step tina, there is any ground for
ISOLATION at the moment Of an earthquake to know
that j; is caused by the explosion Of an electrO-mag
netie eurreu, and not by volcanic force.
Whether the writer has satisfactorily explained the
cause Of earthquakes or not his geographical asscr-
tans support Of his theory that the trend Of the
great mountain chains is from y. ". to 5. L., is
too sweeping and subject to too many exceptions to
be admissible. \ common School Atlas nigh, have
prevented su,h generalization. There is q small
portion Of the earth lying outside Of the northern
half Of South America aud the western side Of North
America, which evidently has escaped the writer's
notice and a knowledge Herewith might have seri-
ousy affected the complexion of the facts upon which
be has built bis conclusions.
Having disposed Of earthquakes, the writer dips in
to the vexed question Of Wood Stone and
there leave him. have interest in this matter,
and feel no anxisty-uow that know the cause Of
earthquakes-as the safety Of either wood stone
buildings. But in view Of the writer's theory, I
would suggest to the building committee Of the new
hotel, that they furnish the premises with lightning
rod descending few miles into the earth, rs well as
one pointing upward in the air, by Of which,
the " harmonious order Of nature " and the equilib-
rum Of the electromagnetic fud may not be disturb
ed by the volcanic fires on Hawaii OF elsewhere.
KUAkTyA.