Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-10
BRATTLEBORO, VT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1886.

of land slides under the sea, while the for
mer believes that they are the result OF a re-
adjustment Of the earths crust to the basin
Of the earth or a conforming Of the exteri-
or to the interior Of the earth, and points to
geysers an evidence that the earth il settling
and the surface lowering. Prof Mendenhsll
thinks the weight Of the water along the
shore line of Charleston, which IL over Ave
miles in length, il the immediate determin.
ing power or cause Of the earthquakes.
The Landslide Theory.
According TO this theory there is nothing
volcanic about the origin Of this tremendous
CONFUSION which has shaken the whole coun-
try east Of the Mississippi. Prof McGee, OF
the government geological survey, ia the pro.
FOUNDER Of this theory. 1t is that Of a land
slide, starting 100 miles out in the sea, and
displacng more or less the whole area dis
turbed Mr.. Grady, of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton, thus states the particulars Of the theory
Fest Of the Appalachian mountains are
two great formations, the granite and the
tragmental. The first extends from the
mountains to about Columbia, and the latter
from Columbia to the sea. The first is the
Piedmont esoarpment and the other the coastal
plain. The escarpment is granite, the plain
IL made up OF composite rocks aud Fragments
resting on a granite bed about 1000 feet be.
low. The granite bed that holds this mass Of
earth il inclined toward the sea, and about
100 miles from the shore it dips suddenly.
The tendency Of the fragmentsl plain il to
slide down the granite plain on which it
rests. This tendency il increased by the de-
posts Of sand and gravel constantly brought
iuto the fragmental mass by the rivers that
flow down from the mountain. Prof. McGee
holds that seward slip OF this coastal plain
has taken place, and that the disturbance re-
suits from sudden dslocation OF an area thou
sands Of miles broad and 5000 feet thick"
The resemblances of effect Of such a land
slide az Prof MCGEE supposes are not diff.
cult to understand. In Summorville and the
immediate vicinity these are more striking
than elsewhere This village is situated on a
bill, some POO feet higher than Charleston and
20 miles from that city, aud it il surrounded
by marshy country The earth in this
gion il nowhere firm, and the displacements
manifested themselves with great ease through
the yielding material. curious story is that
the village itself seems to have been lifted
up 1t ia stated that buildings in Charleston
that could not be seen from Summervile be-
fore the earthquake are now visible for in
stance, from one piazza the roof line Of the
orphan asylum was formerly all that was seen,
whereas now tue two upper stories are in full
view. The great violence OF the shock in
Summeryille leads to the supposition that
il was thrust up 10 a mass. That should
be easily verified or otherwise. OF course all
this discussion il mere guesswork.
There has never been an instance OF effects
80 widespread from any of the great earth
quakes, that OF Lisbon one Of the most ex-
tensve, only reaching territory six times as
large as France