Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-25
TIE QUAKsRs.
THE SCIENCE OF FORETELLING
THEIR COMING.
May Earthquakes be Prevented as
well as ForetoId-HumOrous
Suggestions.

problems which, if they can be solved, are
of extreme interest to the world at large"
While it appears TO be extremely improb-
able that earthquakes can be prevented
although it appears also that many ardent
students are pursuing that very important
inquiry and are already pressing their
affirmative views upon the Geological De-
partment at Washington-still there is
much less reason to doubt, that even if
scientists cannot invariably predict earth
quakes now, that it certainly will not be
long before science will reveal suck pre-
dictions to persistent intelligent research.
This position may be safely assumed upon
the basis of the simple fact that there is
no effect without a cause" and as the
causes of earthquakes become better under
stood, and are more or less constantly oper-
alive in various parts OF the earth, 50 science
will doubtless reveal what amount of forces
are operating in such various parts of the
earth and the crust OF the earth present
ing such and such ascertained features or
geological conditions, so conclusions may
be based with approximate accuracy re-
RaTulnS eApeCttu ieouitS dt oOAiiC gwen
time and place.
What is there in the nature of seismo-
graphical science to render it alone mex
plicable? On the contrary all nature is sub
servient to the mind of man, and the re-
vealed word " declares it is so; not that
individually any one can master all crea-
ton, but as each receive diverse gifts, ac-
cording to the skill with which we set our
minds to unravel them.
The march Of intellect in seism ography,
or the true inwardness of earthquakes, has
been comparatively slow, but SO it has with
astronomy for many centuries, and when
philosophers began to take more rapid
strides two or three centuries ago, they
were ridiculed rs cranks and made to re-
cant what were still to them self evident
truths, and were soon acknowledged to be
such by the whole enlightened world
These weil-known experiences of the strug-
giles of science in all ages should make
US, without being credulous, still, like
good jurymen or impartial judges, ready
to give a fair show to reasonable evidence
irrespective of school, or literary or finan-
cial position. And we may well consider
also that as great as skepticism always eX-
lists towards new truths and no man with
out very strong faith will voluntarily sub
ltCl ulUlStll W 81 L tllllh Ne
should deal rather tenderly with those who
have the courage to state their convictions
however startling they may appear to US
Now, however Virgins predictions in
the future may turn out, he has evidently
given his mind to the subjects he speaks
upon for a long period, and as you re-
mark on Saturday that the earthquake in
South Carolina all came out as he claims
that he prophesied," it is surely easy to
ascertain whether, as matter of fact, he
did make such prophesy year and q halt
ago or thereabouts; and if that is admit
ted, how then can well-known scientists
affirm that there is not shadow of demon.
stration upon which Virgins can base his
theories? The resultant fact at Charleston
seems to be positive evidence of the cor.
rectness of his theory eighteen months ago
Scientists cannot afford to ignore facts
however incredulous they may hav,
been about Virgins theory. until they
were verified. They are simply
away behind him in the inquiry
if they failed to see the force of his argu
ment or that the question admits of demon
stration. The probabilities are rather thai
they failed to pay any attention to his
theory, and have so allowed the event tC
overtake them and so far as they are con.
Now, if eighteen months ago the matter
had been taken fully into consideration
scientists might have adopted precisely the
saI"e conclusions that Wiggins did, and
not a dav then would have been lost fol
taking all such reasonable precautions to
secure buildings as has been customary for
years in San Francisco, and probably other
civilized cities which have experienced
earthquakes. 1t was stated some days ago
that most earthquake proof buildings in
San Francisco would probably have with
stood snclI shock as Charleston suffered
SO much from. 1t seems matter of seri us
regret, therefore, that such precautions
were neglected at Charleston.
And now again, if Virgins theory that
California south of the latitude of Wash
ington, as well as the southern continent OF
America, will probably experience an earth
quake in few weeks has any basis in science
the sooner precautions to secure build
ings are taken in hand the better. And it
may be most unfortunate that an incred-
ulous public ignored Virgins eighteen
months ago, so that he was discouraged
from making the announcement which
the events at Charleston, in accordance with
his theory, have almost impelled him now
to make, at the eleventh hour, of the SINH
lar conditions that will be attached to
southern California, and all the south
western States of America, in his iudg-
ment, in the course of a few weeks
Surely the subject of earthquakes demands
the fullest possible inquiry of scientists,
and almost any incidental help from
Virgins and others should be collated and
carefully studied.
It would seem as if the Government had
been far too remiss in times past in not or
dering such a full inquiry to be made. The
researches of Professor Milne, of Japan,
excellent as they are do not seem to 90 far
enough; but, amongst other valuable
points, he shows that the chain of mount
aims in Japan invariably, or almost invari-
ably, proved the limit of earthquake area );
therefore, that earthquakes east OF west of
the range of mountains did not extend be-
yond the range, although each district was
subject to its own earthquakes
If that theory or observation was applied
to Charleston, it would follow that no
earthquake in the Eastern States could
Gloss the Rocky mountains; and, on the
other hand, that no earthquake on the Pa
cific coast could cross the mountains and
reach the Eastern States, and yet Professor
Powell is reported to have stated that
the Charleston earthquake was con-
HtCleN Win ulsluIDdilCtS III ASIA,
which crossed the Pacific, and were felt in
the Yellowstone region, and at least as far
south as Charleston. Surely that assertion
must be an error in fact, as well as theory,
for if the source of the earthquake at
Charleston was north and northwest of it
in America, the shock would have been
greater in the North than the South,
whereas we know that it was less, and
there was no part of the Pacific States that
experienced it at all, which also accords
with Professor Mines theory. and observa-
ton, that a range of mountains intervening
is an effectual barrier. The Charleston
earthquake, as Frank Lestie's and some
other papers have shown, was doubtless
connected with the disturbance in Greece,
and crossed the Atlantic ocean. But the
source may have been in midocean, and the
track, especially near the Azore Islands,
should be examined by navigators to note
any changes that charts may require.
/ shall not enter upon the subject of the
prevention of earthquakes, although it
seems to have been pressed at Washington,
and has been presented here, by a Mr..
Cahill through the columns of the Alta. 1t
seems too inconceivable that any con-
denser," or other method that man NAV
adopt, can prevent a necessary effort that
our vast globe may make for its own relief.
On the other hand, to attempt to make
vast channel equal to what nature de-
mands, would be alike puerile and in
potent. Such experimenters had better sink
a Golfer dam at the bottom of the deepest
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