The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-29
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 Coll
umbia through Washington Territory
and Oregon into California we find q
succession of magnificent volcanic
cones capped with snow. now cold and
silent, but giving evidence of fiery ac-
tlvity in comparative recent geological
time. Some of these mountains ara
said to even yet emit steam and sui
phurous fumes. To this line of ex-
tlnct volcanic vents the peak of Shasta,
the Marysville Buttes, and the many
lava fields of the Sierra Nevada of CAL
hornla may be said to belong. 1t is.
In fact one great line of yolcanicitv
from Lower California northward, and
Is part only OF the great circle of vol
canlc vents which may be traced on q
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 lying DOR
nant within the short period to which
human observation extends, they may
ut any time break forth anew. There
are, however, but 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 a 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 DIR. Trask and DR.. Hardness,
in communications to the California
Academy of Sciences, in which the out.
How OF lava and its effects were de-
scribed. Captain Dutton, of the Geo
logical Survey, has recently visited the
scene of this eruption, and describes iti
in a late number of Science. He fnds
the vent now covered by large cinderl
cone about 600 feet high, rising lust
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 1OOl
feet in thickness. The stream of lava
IS about three miles and a quarter in
length and mile in width. The coneI
is partly surrounded by this lava, but
Is perfect in form, and has a perfectlyl
formed crater at 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 a bush of ceanothus.
The finest trees for a distance of fourI
or five hundred yards from the conej
were all killed, and their charred andl
decaying trunks are still lying uponl
the ground. Captain Dutton thinks
that the date of 1850, which has .beenI
assigned to this eruption. is correct,
and that it is probably the latest erup-!
ton which has taken place in theI
United States. The impression of re-
cency is conveyed by every aspect oft
the cone, of the lava-fow and of thel
country round about. This modernl
outflow OF lava is situated about teni
miles east-nOrtheast of Larren Peak
IN a volcanic region covering probably'
1000 square miles, of which this peak
is the center and eliminating point.