The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-11-14
BENEFIT OF EARTHQUAKES.

BENEFIT OF EARTHQUAKES.
what Would Happen to the World II
They Did Not Occur-The Constant and
Persistent Attacks of Ocean-Some Facts
Concerning Seismic Phenomena.
At the present time the community
e considerably interested in the cause
of earthquakes, and scientific men are
appealed to for opinions as to the rea-
sons of their occurrence, which opin-
ions are generally given with erudi-
ton and in terms of greater or less lu-
cidity. 1t is very interesting to learn
that Prof. Simon Newcomb attributes
the occurrence of earthquakes to the
cooling of the liquid mass hundreds OF
miles below the surface of the earth.
the consequent contra ton of the mass
caus NO q vacuum into which the arch
above must fall = for mature abb
hors q vacuum " as much in the
bowels Of the earth as upon its sur
face. However unpleasant this theory
may be to the parties living directly
over the vacuum, there seems no rea-
son to doubt tin fact there is no
tangible way to refute it.
Other authorities, or theorists, have
alleged some underlined and unexplain-
able connection between earth luakes
and the spots on the sun, but they
do not meet with favor generally.
because, as rule, people want to
know something of the s.why and
wherefore"
Without in any degree losing our in
terest in the cause, might we not find
it profitable and satisfactory to give
some consideration to the results of
earthquakes? 1t may sound strangely
to refer to the earthquake as benefac-
tor 10 the face of the earth, but accord
ing to the ideas of some eminent scis-
mologists it fills that amiable role
rather more fully than people give it
credit for, 1t is the restoring agent,
the comp ensating back action. so to
speak. of some very powerful encroach-
ments on earth's domain. Individuals,
towns. countries may suffer. cities may
be swept out of existence and seaports
destroyed by it, but the world at large
is the gamer. geographically at least.
D. every earthquake. And geooraph-
ieal gain is the gain of the worlds in
habitants rs whole. Nature seeks
the greatest good Of the greatest num-
Der. Had there never been an earth
quake in the past, mankind would not
now be in existence on the face of the
earth; should there be no earthquakes
in the future. the race would be doomed
to extinction in much less time than
now. in the ordinary course of events.
seems probable.
Why?
If the earth was created, or begun its
gyrascopicAi existence as . perfect
sphere las those geoliogsts who under
take to delve back into anti-geologic
times assert that it was or did,, it is
palapably evident that its surface was
entirely covered with water, present
ing the appearance-hada any body been
there to see it of liquid ball. At
that period it was not 1.-THE waters un-
der the earth.r but the earth under the
taters. Wha. other agency than a
subterranean force could have elevated
portions of the earthly bed Of this
great globular sea above its sur
face and made it dry land.
And for every such elevation there must
obviously have been. il accordance with
the compromising lawsof nature. . cor
responding depression somewhere.
That the depression occurred first we
are bound to believe, If We accept Prof.
Newsomb's theory Of the cooling of the
gubtcrrauean liquid mass. The earth g
interior being practically filled al
ready with this mas, rise correspond
ing il amount to the value of the de-
preston must necessarily occur at some
point.
Water Is lands greatest enemy, and
when c0ntinonts and islands became
1orued by s1his process (which NAV
haxo been. and probably was, gradually,
thero began contest for supremacy
between the two elements, . contest
which hes continued ever since and viii
continue to the end of time.
Howl
The "a i constantly struggling K
destroy the land by beating upon snt
washing away its shores. The process.
= slow one. 1t Is true, and many
might be reasonably inclined to doubi
3nrxiew Of the fact that the change.
"a coast lnoeAr1 practically impercepti
blo il long intervala There are com
porotively few localities whose present
geographical lines do not antedate his
toty. hat the elements are relentless
sd - them ceaturies are less thar
minutes are 10 men-iu fact. they know
20 time And Ne arc prevented from
VERIFYING he destructive action Of tn
- q account 81 tho restorative aren.
60 - which Allus;on has been mss3e.
and N6}ek IN cnnafanflv - Vvn,.E ~