Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-16
rnnr. An.lnr ON nAnrnQuAKss.
what ase says asa Confirming Major
Esosgall,s opinion.

F0AtcAFH VphukVhs
The Boston Herald says. Prof. N :.
Shaler, who has long been recognized us
an authority on geology by the Swans ut
Cambridge, referring 10 the opinion ex-
pressed by Major Powell, u Il. NJ, who |
is superintendent Of the geological sur,
vey, said Il see that the major says 1T |
would he interesting to discover the rela
ton of The point of origin of his earth
quake to a peculiar fracture OF displaee
ment in the earth's crust that extends
along tho entire Atlantic seaboard.
Now, this line of weakness in the earth's
surfnee commences south of Raleigh, N.
a., nnd extends along the tide-water line
pnt richmond, Washington, Baltimore
and Troy, N " This in marked by n
displacement, which in some cases il q
lar,nre in the rocks, while in others it III
4 vault. This displacement is the prin-
apal waterfalls of tho Atlantic slope"
Not having the latest details the pro-
'osaor WIS not able TO speak with any
,legrce of authority, but he felt he could
| ,gTee with Major Powell az to the origin
IT the earthquake. The indications, he
aid especially the overthrow OF tho
/ bridge uf the Charleston IL Columbia rail-
road, showed that the scene of the subter-
ranean trouble was near Charleston. II
it began under the floor of the Atlantic
there would be more or less of tidal
wave upon the south Atlantic coasts this
was almost certain TO follow shook hav-
ing its origin under sea bottom. Ii the
tidal wave was absent, the cause was on
the land, while violent doubtless, and
possibly more severe than has ever been
felt on the Atlantic coast OF North
America for. years, still it was no sign
that this part of the country WIS going e
develop into an earthquake. IL would
take only slight movement Of the earth's
crust to cause AN earthquake. A settling
or displacement of the lower strata one
tenth of nm inch would effect {
! trembling of the ground TINT would
lie felt over an area much largel
than that of the United States. Tuesday,
shocks were only so noticeable because o.
J their rarity in this country. In Centra
I America and southern Itaty they were
j however, frequent and not noticed, and
o The houses there are built 10 withstan,
them. The Immediate cause of the shocl
G the professor feels to be uncertain ut thi
u time. the more no because earthquake
o arise from innumernble cnuses, and NOR
than thousand oncnr daily throughou
. the world, although many arc never felt
l. liut the most disastrous were not neces
Ia sArily tho most violent. Those which d
n most harm are the shocks which com
/. continuously from one direction, impair
"a ing y swaying, vibrating motion, lik
70 that 10 pendulum, which cause
the building first to rock, the
10 to fall. This earthquake seemed to b
rs of the latter nature, and was due doub
a loss to slight settlement of the lowe
a rocks along tho line of displacemel
n alluded to by Major Powell, having il
d beginning and most violent shocks mel
no Charleston. This settling of the grour
was the result most likely OF a continuo'
=, irregular contraction and expansion
ny tho crust in winter and summer, final
nV' resulting in slight give way along Il
~ entire crack. Professor Shnlnr has l
~ ~ fear that the residents of the eastern pc
~ !, ton of the United States will be trouhl
:, by such shocks, and moro especially do
~ he think that New England will
~ excused from such upheayings, for HI
- tue country has long ceased to posse
= any grolt volcanic energy.