Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-09-11
EARTHQUAKES.
Scientific Theories-Red Hot and
Still Burning,

SC11 Burning.
The explanation of earthquakes usu.
ally accepted by biologists is something
like this: The earth is believed to be
inclosed by q solid crust of rock of va.
riable thickness in different regions.
This crust rests upon material in a more
or less fluid condition, so that it readily
yields to agencies Of reformation like
water or molten iron.
The reasons for believing that the
interior is in q somewhat fluid condi.
ton are various. The most important
are:
l. From very many observations
made in mines, artesian wells, etc., it
is discovered that there is an increase
of temperature from the surface down.
ward, and that this increase is so great
that a degree of heat sufficient to melt
all known rocks is soon reached.
2. By certain geologic agencies Ger.
tain rocks from from below are brought
to the surface in mountain building,
and these rocks show evidence of hav-
ing been greatly heated, and even hav-
ing been melted.
3. Molten matter in very large guam
titles comes up from the interior of the
earth through crevasses and volcanic
vents. Besides these lines of evidence
there are many accessory facts which
tell the same story.
The interior of the earth is constantly
losing heat in a variety Of ways. A
small amount is probably conducted to
the surface and radiated into space. A
large amount of heat is conveyed from
the interior through the agency of hot
springs. Such springs are found in
many portions Of the known earth, and
in a few districts are ve,y abundant,
and through them much heat is con-
veyed from the interior to the surface,
which is there radiated into space.
The lavas that are brought up yield
vast stores of heat, all of which is lost
to the earth through radiation. The
secular cooling which results from the
above causes must necessarily diminish
the magnitude Of the earth, and as il
shrinks the solid exterior crust must
in some n yield, so rs t con.
form to the lesser magnitude thus pro.
duced.
The stresses produced in the crust of
the earth by the shrinking of the inte-
rior are modified by another class Of
agencies. The land surface of the earth
is washed by rains and rivers, and in
the aggregate large bodies Of materials
are carried away and deposited in lake
bottoms, which are gradually filled up
and especially deposited along the
shores of the seas. The unloading o.
land areas and the overlooking of Ger
tain water areas to a large extent local
ICES it.
Again, the fluid or plastic material Of
the interior changes its position beneath
the crust Of the earth, and portions Oft
flow out as lavas; thus an additional set
of stresses is established.
These stresses are established through
the agency OF y contracting interior,
through loading and unloading at the
surface, and through the flow Of interior
matter to lava beds, where such matter
is poured out upon the surface.
The stresses produced by the variou!
agencies thus described gradually be-
come so great that at last the crust o
the earth must yield, and earthquake
are produced.
On the approach of an earthquake
period Mr.. Capen, a scientific expert o
Washington, D. G., has found, and ha:
repeatedly stated in his predictions, tina
the atmosphere, being free and elastic
is the first to feel and respond to tn,
play Of the earthquake forces. This ct
feet upon the atmosphere is confirmed
in the reports from Europe. and is full,
established, consisting especially of in
tense heat and dead calms. AS tn,
gathering volcanic and earthquak
forces, which are one and the same, be
come more and more concentrated, no
only the atmosphere but the entire mas
of the earth becomes more and more a
fected under the increasing strain {
these forces. But these only gradual,
and slowly increase, and violent resul,
seldom occur during the first stages, e,
cepting that volcanic action sets in, u.
ually making the first demonstrations
1t is usually not until the concentrate
of the earthquake forces begins to veal
en- and DISSOLVE that the earthquake
occur, so that earthquake action seem
to be aslumberlng or settling back
the fragmentary crust of the globe int
its previous and normal condition ate
haying been abnormally strained up
an unnatural degree by the increasin
energy Of the earthquake forces to the
maximum. This reaction is the nature
result of the dissolution Of the eartl
quake forces, which forces are simpl
an increased and concentrated actio
Of the combined solar and lunar attra
ton, which occurs at regular and crit
cal periods. The cooperative i%nluene
Of the centrifugal force of the earth