The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-29
UNDERGROUND E
What Causes the Phenomena In West vir
ginia.

What Causes the Phenomena in West vir-
ginia.
The volcano" in Highland County,
Virginia, which is just now the subject
Of so much newspaper comment, is not
Of recent origin, o of a phenomenal
character. 1t has existed since the
earliest recollection of the Oldest inhabi-
tant. In Highland County the south
branch of the Potomac has its source.
1t is there, as it is along the greater
part of its way to the sea, a noisy, tur-
bulent stream. Straight Creek, as the
upper part of it is called, has its origin
in the foothills of the jackson River
Mountains, that rise near the center of
the county and trend almost due south,
dividing the county. In the northwest
corner is a short range of high, bluffy
hills called the Little Mountains" Be-
tween these two ranges Jour streams
have their sources. Two of the streams
run north, two south. This ridge, or
watershed, is known as the Oak Noun
tains-a series of narrow, precipitous
hills difficult of exploration. Every
thing indicates that centuries ago a lake
spread its waters in the then basin be-
tween the Little Mountains and the
Jackson River Mountains; that some
great %convulSion of nature dried up
the lake and raised the Oak Noun
tains. The rocks in these mountains
are neither large nor numerous,
but the soil is waXy. 1t is, with
out doubt, the accumulation of
the growth of decayed leaves, grasses
and shrubs of centuries, and is in some
places hardened into the seams of coal,
separated by stratas of peat-like earth.
Grass grows luXuriantly upon the moun
tain sides, and trees and shrubs are
abundant. In places the rain has washed
deep gullics into the ground, showing
distinct layers of soil. For ages forest
fires have ragged in the Oak mountains
during the autumnal season. In some
of these past fires a seam of coal that
was surfaced" in some exposed spot
has become ignited and burned ever
since. Gradually the heat has dispelled
the moisture FROM the peaty soil above
it, and the smoidering flames have
gnawed their way through their fisous
covering toward the surface, breaking
out here and there, to the temporary
interest of the occasional native who
happened to stray upon such a spot.
The surface soil, though a mass of half.
decayed leaves and roots of grass, is
never sufficiently dry to burn in any
other than a smoldering way. 1t is
porous, and holds the smoke, which &C
counts for the presence of SO much Of
it when the soil is turned up. The eX
tent of these underground fires is I'm
known. A gentleman who recently Wis
tied that section, and who investigated
the matter with considerable thorough
ness, said to-day that the fires were
coming to the surface over a large
extent of country, and it was thi!
that had occasioned the report.
about a volcano. During last Sepfem
Der very extensive and fierce forest fire.
swept the mountains. They lasted foI
weeks and the ground was cleared o
all moisture. In many places the flame.
from below found mi through tn
, gaping earth, and have continued tt
burn ever since, as they will do for I'm
told years to come. The people of tn
county grew more interested, and tn,
, fame OF the volcano spread. Peopl
, from a distance came to see; the newt
/ able newspaper Joe Mulhatton'' foun,
!, it out, and the volcano sprang into prin
a full-fedged Vesuvius, with lava trim
mings, plaits of scorie, and all tn
I latest attachments of a first-class, mod
ern. five-act volcano. 1t is a great at
| traction, and will continue to be one il
an increasing degree for years to come
There is no possibility of putting out tn
fire, and it will continue to gnaw at tn,
heart of the mountains until it has cor
sumed its vitality and dies of famine
y The visible affected area is about eirf
square miles. In many places the crus
G breaks through with a slight pressure
, exhibiting a mass of substance that hs
J the appearance OF leached ashes. 1t
only where a coal-seam protrudes ths
a flame is seen. At intervals are ragge
holes of various diameters, ranging frol
al inch to a foot, from which the smoR
n starts at times as if expelled by fore,
Smoke coming from these craters
, damp and strongly saturated wit
Steam-COr. B1HinOre American