The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-10-01
California Volcanoes.

The phenomena of volcanoes and of
lava flows are exhibited on a grand
scale within the limits of The United
States. In the Cascade Mountains
stretching forward from British Col
umbia through Washington Territory
and Oregon into California we find a
succession of magnificent volcanic
cones capped with snow, now cold and
silent. but giving evidence of fiery ac-
tiyity III comparative recent geological
time. Some OF these mountains are
said to even yet emit steam and sui
phurous fumes. To this line of ex-
tinct volcanic vents the peak of Shasta,
the Marysville Buttes, and the many
lava fields of the Sierra Nevada of Cal
lfornia may be said to belong. 1t is.
in fact, one great line of volcanicitv
from Lower California northward, anu
is part only of tha great circle of vol
canic vents which may be traced on =
globe through the two Americas and
Asia, bordering the great Pacific
Ocean. The apparently extinct condi-
ton of many of these volcanoes within
our borders may, however, be more
apparent than real. While living DOR
mant within the short period to which
human observation extends, they may
at any time break forth anew. There
are, however, bat few evidences of
comparatively recent eruptions, most
of the lava flows being ancient and be-
fore the human period. There is, how
ever, one exception. At date so re-
cent as 1850 an eruption of ashes and
lava was reported 10 have occurred in
the northern part of California, at
Feather Lake, in Plumas county. 1t
was noted at the time, or soon after,
by both DR.. 1rask and Dr. Hardness,
in communications to the California
Academy OF Sciences, in which the out
flow of lava and It's effects were de-
scribed. Captain Button, of the Geo
logical Survey, has recently visited the
scene of this eruption, and describes it
in late number of >cience. He finds
the vent now covered by large cinder
cone about GOO feet high, rising Just
above the western shore of the lake.
The lake basin was about four. or five
miles long before the eruption, but the
lava stream which flowed from the
cone has nearly filled it up. This lava
is hard and basaltic, and is over 100
feet in thickness. The stream Of lava
is about three miles and a quarter in
length and Il mile in width. The cone
is partly surrounded by this lava, but
is perfect in form, and has perfectly
formed crater ut the top. 1t is built
up of scoria and volcanic ashes, the
outer layers being like coarse sand.
Great quantities of fine lapilli are
spread out over the adjoining country
to distance of two miles. The cone
is not weatherworn, and is without
vegetation except bush of ceanothus.
The finest trees for Il distance of four
or five hundred yards from the cone
were all killed, and their charred and
decaying trunks are still lying upon
the ground. Captain Dutton thinks
that the date OF 1850, which has been
assigned TO this eruption, is correct,
and that it is probably the latest erup-
ton which has taken place in the
United States. The impression OF re-
cency is conveyed by every aspect of
the cone, of the lava-how and of the
country round abotit This modern
outflow of lava is situated about ten
miles eaSt-northeast of Larren Peak,
in a volcanic region covering probably
II, 600 square miles, of which this peak
is the center and eliminating point.