Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-07
An EARTHQUAKE THEORY.
Are the Allegheny Mountains too Heavy fo
the Earth'S Thin Crust?

Are the Allegheny Mountains too Heavy for
the Earth'S Thin Crust?
A correspondent of the New York Sun,
writing from Ashville, Ala, says;
As opinions are still IN order in regard
to the recent earthquake in South Caro-
lima, and inasmuch as the scientific mind
is still greatly puzzled over the cause of
the phenomenon, | will venture view of
my own on the subject. 1t is not so much
of a question as to the causes of earth
| quakes as it is problem of the catse
which led to the catastrophe at Charles
ton and other points where an upheaval
resulted.
1t would take an elaborate article to ex-
/ plain the mechGnigHe of operation This
would not do for my present purpose.
The repeated shocks, so continuous,
overthrow the electrical theory. The con
cussions or molecular vibrations are suf-
| fcient to explain the magnetic disturb
ances which follow, and the latter must
be regarded rs an effect only and not as
the true case or seismic force of disturb
ance.
1t will be observed that many of the
most noted earthquakes occur on the
water side of mountain slopes. 1t is a
fact, however, that they may happen in
other localities, and often have resulted
on the opposite sides of elevated ranges.
The peculiar features OF surface and for
nation beneath the surface govern this
action, which shall not stop to consider
now Everything else equal an earth
quake will happen on the coast side of a
mountain chain rather than at other
points, when such disturbance must re-
suit in such localities, especially if the
country intervening between the noun
tain and sea is eyel or is of that tenden-
cy. | will state here that if the range of
hills slopes, as it were, suddenly down in
to the water, and a quake should ever re-
suit in the locality, it Is more apt to take
place far out at sea, whereas when
the mountain rises inland the up
heaval win in all likelihood have its focal
point between the water bed and the base
of the elevation. This, of course, depends
upon the condition of the coast line for
nation. When such phenomenon oc-
ours the relative situations will very
plainly point out the real cause; ana for
this reason | regard the confusion which
exists among scientists who have ac-
duaiuted themselves with the subject of
such phenomena, and who have had an
opportunity to study the recent South
Carolina affair, as somewhat singular.
We hear of land slides and the separa-
ton of granite and sedimentary rocks,
and yet we can grant all such results as
having happened without finding in them
cause explanatory of the phenomenon.
Like electrical excitement they may be
the direct effects only of the movement
which took place, and so | consider
them.
The true or primary cause Of the As'
turbance, | suggest, Is 10 be found III the
pressure Of the mountains northwest of
the points where tho effects we're peculi-
arly marked While l cannot undertake
now 10 elaborate the suggestion, can
add that high elevations, like the Ale
ghauy ranges and others, as to their aitl-
tude, can never be preserved in statu quo.
Though in imperceptibly, they are con
tinually gradually settling, and the coun'
try beyond their bases Is rising as they
sink down. II therefore depends upon
the local situations which surround the
great sleeps as TO whether the former can
sustain the onward lateral pressure, and
thus save the country from an upheavM
sooner or later. Any one can see at
glance that the seaboard in the neighbor-
hood OF great mountain ranges affords
fine opportunity nj any time for one OF
those mysterious shake-ups when the
relative situations favor sucha and the