The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-01
RALEIGH, n G, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1875

nomena, visit was made IL see what
the matter really is.
The most elementary knowledge
of the local geology would show that
the condition for a successful volcano,
with its usual phenomena, of lava,
smoke, ashes. &c, are utterly wanting
and always have been; and this is
true Of the whole Appalachian sys-
tenn. On the west side of the conti-
nent 1t is different That is the
natural habitat of the volcano.
1t needs not TO 90 into the theory of
the matter: and the fact is patent
enough.
But if not volcanic, Of what origin
are these, Bald Mountain disturban
ces: In the first place, great abate-
violence Of the perturbations. In the
second place, the late occurring phe-
nomena, (the rents and dislocations,)
have no immediate, or necessary rela-
ton to the agitations Of four years
| ago. They are geographically dis
tinct. And neither of them belong
| to Bald Mountain
This now notorious eminence better
known as the Pinnacle, whose eleva-
ton is 1886 feet, is opposite the Hicko
| ry Nut Falls, in Hickorynut Gap and
| about | mile north Of the Gaps, and is
| the highest point of an old, ruined
and dislocated Blue Ridge, lying some
or 8 miles east of the present one,
| from which it is separated by the
gorge, or deep valley, of Broad River.
| The point to which the common con
seat referred the disturbances of four
years ago, is on the northward pro-
| longatiOn of this range and several
miles distant from the Bald Mountain
proper, or pinnacle and called locally
Stone Mountain. The late phenomena
are located about miles east of the pin
acle, on long and pretty regular spaur,
of about 1000 to $500 feet elevation
which breaks down precipitously on
its southern front, forming success
sion of nearly vertical walls of rock ;
to 500 feet high, which faces Chimney
| Rock and forms part of the grand
gateway of the Hickory Nut Gap, 50
that the two localities, which are
identified in common and confused
accounts are OF miles apart.
The phenomena therefore are to be
considered and accounted for indepen-
IDENTIFY Of each other, most probably.
l am still disposed to refer the noises
and tremblings which first drew atten-
ton to the region to class Of noun
tain phenomena which are related to
the original causes of mountain for
mat ION. 1t must be realized that the
mountains and the continents are not
finished. They are still in process of
construction, and under the same
conditions as always. The great
American Biologists Rogers and Dana
have shown that the Appalachians
were upheaved and folded range after
range by a force action from the direc-
ton of the Atlantic. By this land
ward thrust, (resulting from the
gradual shrinking of the earth's mass),
the rocks have been crowded back
upon each other, and folded into great
waves, and broken and overturned
and set on their edges, as may be seen
everywhere in our mountain region.
This action is still going on, and the
rocks are still subjected to an immense
lateral pressure, the effects of which
will be very gradual and for the most
part insensible but occasionally GER
tain refractory and unbending strata
subjected to immense tension Will Civ
way with crash, or with a succession
of jolts and fractures and slidings
which, give rise to all the ordinary
earthquake phenomena. To sucl
causes | refer these original Bald
Mountain disturbances and other sim
liar phenomena of 90 wears ago. anC
the earthquake in Mitchell county il
1861, as well as numerous other loca
diSlocatiOnS of mountain masses anC
tremulations of the surface that occur
in this region. And to the same cause
the existence of the Warm Springs i.
probably due. OF course in such
movements and sGdings among the
rocks, there is an en- normous amount
of friction. which of course gives rise
I to heat.