The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-31
UNDERGROUND FIRES.
What Causes the Phenomena in West VIr~
ginia.

What Causes the Phenomena in West Vkr~
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 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 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; It is, with,
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 fsous
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, though 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
t about a volcano. During last Septem-
Der very extensive and fierce forest fires
! swept the mountains. They lasted for
f weeks and the ground was cleared OF
all moisture. In many places the flames
from below found vent through the
q gaping earth, and have continued to
, burn ever since, as they will do for I'M
told years to come. The people of the
, county grew more interested, and the
fame of the volcano spread People
,. from a distance came to see; the newt
! able newspaper Joe Mulhatton" found
: it out, and the volcano spraug into print
full-fedged Vesuvius, with lava trim
n mings, plaits of scorin, and all the
# latest attachments of a first-class, mod
q ern, fve-act volcano. 1t is a great at
Il traction, and will continue to be one in
= an increasing degree for years to come.
a There is no possibility of putting out the
a fire, and it will continue to gnaW at the
> heart of the mountains until it has con-
;. sumed its vitality and dies of famine.
y The visible affected area is about eight
+ square miles. In many places the crust
q breaks through with a slight pressure,
a exhibiting a mass of substance that has
e the appearance of leached ashes. 1t is
r, only where a coar-seam protrudes that
" a flame is seen. At intervals are ragged
II holes of various diamcters, ranging from
n an inch to a foot, from which the smoke
n starts at times as if expelled by force
+ Smoke coming from these craters is
II damp and strongly saturated with
\ steam.-COr. Baltimore An1crjcan.