The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-04-18
UNDERGROUND FIRES.
What Causes the Phenomena in West vir-
ginia.

WHAT CauseS the fhenomena In West Vtr-
ginia.
The volcano" in Highland County,
Virginia, which is just now the subject
of so much newspaper comment, is not
OF recent origin, nor 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, noisy, tur-
bulent stream. Straight Greek, 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 short range of high, bluffy
hills called the Little Mountains" Be-
tween these two ranges four 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 lake
spread its waters in the then basin be-
tween the Little Mountains and the
Jackson River Mountains; that some
great CONFUSION 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 noun
tain sides, and trees and shrubs are
abundant. In places the rain has washed
deep gullies 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 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 smoldering 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 spot.
The surface soil, thong Oh mass of half
decayed leaves and roots of grass, is
never sufficiently dry to burn in any
other than smoldering way. 1t is
porous, and holds the smoke, which ac-
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 this
that had occasioned the reports
about volcano. During last Septem-
Der very extensive and fierce forest fires
swept the mountains. They lasted for
weeks and the ground was cleared OF
all moisture. In many places the flames
from below found vent through the
gaping earth, and have continued to
burn ever since, as they will do for un-
told years to come. The people of the
SVNhty XIV" hAOAO ihtCiVotCus anu tuO
fame of the volcano spread. People
from a distance came to see; the newt
able newspaper Joe Mulhatton" found
1t out, and the volcano sprang into print
fuil-fedged Vesuvius, with lava trim
mings, plaits of -scoria. and all the
latest attachments of first-class, mod
ern, five-act volcano. 1t is a great at.
traction, and will continue to be one in
an increasing degree for years to come.
There is no possibility ofputting out the
fire, and it will continue to gnaw at the
heart of the mountains until it has con-
sumed its vitality and dies of famine.
The visible affected area is about eight
square miles. In many places the crust
breaks through with slight pressure,
exhibiting mass of substance that has
the appearance of leached ashes. 1t is
only where coal-seam protrudes that
a flame is seen. At intervals are ragged
holes of various diameters, ranging from
an inch to foot, from which the smoke
afarfs af times aS IL ayne1led Inv force