Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-02
feet
10000
west,

Of the west, 4uOOO Ieet
in the wahSateh range, and from
5000 to 10000 feet in the Appalachian
chain. but most of the slips that occur do
not extend to the surface and only produce
an earthquake shock.
But the theory generally advanced as
accounting for most earthquakes is the
formation and confinement of steam or
gas beneath the earth's crust. In volcanic
regions earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
are closely connected. When the vent OF an
actiyevolcano becomes closed an earthquake
generally follows. The great earthquake
that destroyed RhiObamba and 4o'-
600 people in 1871 occurred
inst after a neighbOring Vo.eano
ceased eruptina. The terrible earthquake
in Calabria in 1873 occurred Just as Strom-
boil ceased erupting. The people OfQuito
expect an earthquake whenever the smoke
disappears from CotOpoxi. Also where
regions have frequently been visited by
earthquake shocks, the disturbance gen.
orally ceases when the gases burst forth in
\ volcanic eruption. The shocks that de-
stroyed Caracas and nearly all its inhabit-
ants in 1912, ceased rs soon asst. vincent,
a volcano 500 miles distant, erupted.
Ii the theory of confinement Of gases IS
a true one, while earthquakes are most
likely to originate in volcanic regions, they
NAV also have their source in regions not
considered volcanic. From the reports re-
ceiyed 50 far, from South Carolina, the late
earthquake must have had its origin IRON
this cause. The focus, or center Of the dis
turbance must have been beneath the
crust somewhere near Charleston, rs the
vibrations of the earth seemed to extend in
every direction like waves from a pebble
thrown into lake. Also the mo
ton of the earth was more
nearly perpendicular in South Carolina
than in other regions. The motion
of the earth directly over the origin OF a
shock of this kind, is perpendicular. In
the great earthquake of RhiObamba, men
and objects on the ground were hurled sew
eral hundred feet into the air. But out
ward from the point where the surface Is
first reached, the waves become more and
more horizontal Us they emerge. This
seems to have been the case in the late
earthquake. These waves travel at the
rate of about twenty miles per minute, ce-
pending upon the density Of the medi-
um through which they pass. Their
velocity in the granite axes OF great
mountain RACES is greater than many other
medium. 1t is noticeable feature that
in most earthquakes in this country the
waves take the direction Ofgreat mountain
ranges. The wave phenomena from an
earthquake caused by slipping tissure
are in most respects identical with the last
mentioned.
While igneous agencies are the primary
cause of earthquakes, there are doubtless
other things that have some influence.
Earthquakes are more frequent when
the moon is in perigree
or nearest the earth, and more frequent in
new than full moon. More occur in July
than in any other month. They are more
frequent after long droughts. J. 4. Talta-
vail, of the ElectTic Age,a scientist Of note,
prophesied that this country would be Wis
tied by an earthquake this summer judy
ing from the ctnditiOn Of the atmosphere.
Also, earthquakes are more frequent after
there have been great electric disturbances
in the air. So many observations confirm
there statements, that there must be some
connection of these phenomena with earth
quakes.