Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-15
THE TVO WONDERLANDs.
Thoughts Prompted by the Recent Nolcani,
Eruptions In New zealand.

Thoughts Prompted by the Recent Volcanic
Eruptions In New zealand.
From the New York Tribune.
The Southern Wonderland is situated i'll New
Zealand where the late tremendous convul-
sons have occurred. The Northern Wonder
land is our own Yellowstone National park.
The likenesses between these far separated re.
gions consist chiefly in the survival, at both
places of volcanic and geyserite activities of
a variety and extent to be found now here
else on the globe. 1t has been believed by
most modern geologists that the remark k able
phenomena referred to are only, So to speak,
the dy ing efforts of natural forces which in
geologically recent times produced the most
prodig ious physical changes. The recent cat
sclysmal outbreak in New Zealand seems to
indicate that the decline of POWER in these
natural forces may be prematureiy assumed
or that there still remains enough deep-seat-
ed heat to create profound disturbances If
sudden chemical proc Sses are set up, as by
the irruptiOn of a great body of cold water.
The re 1emblancs in the phenomena of the
Southern and Northern Wonderlands natur-
ally suggests the inquiry whether any such
conyulsion as New Zealand has just expert
enced is liable TO occur i'll the Yellowstone
park.
The presumption is against such a coutin-
gency. Although the National park abounds
with palpable evidences of the activity of vol
canic forces the general formation of the
region does not support the view that they
are very formidable or extensive. Time was
when the highest peaks of the Yellowstone
valley were under water. Later enormous
lcebergs fiosted in the deep basin, carrying
their deposits to trace them by subsequently.
Glaciers eroded the hills and scooped out the
gorges. During the high water period
subaqueous volcanoes formed assures Ia the
bottom masses of igneous rocks. Upon them
sedimentary deposits were superposed.
When the waters drained oil the volcanic and
geyserite activity continued, and perhaps for
time increased. In the Yellowstone .
park there are hills many hundreds
of feet in height which have been
formed entirely by geyserite deposits These
may indicate the age of the hot springs, or
they may show that their activity was for
merly much greater than now. There il,
however, abundant evidence Of the presence
OF numerous thickness of trachytic and
granite rocks in the immediate vicinity OF
the greatest volcanic activity, and the pre-
sumption must be that tor the most part the
origin OF the latter is deep-seated. No doubt
If any considerable body of water could
make its way 10 the central seat of the fires, a
great disturbance of the surface would be
liable to result, but there is no larger bod Y
of water in the neghborhoOd yellowstone
Lake not answering to that descriptiOn), }, the
probability of such an occurrence NAV be
thought small.
The fact that the National park embraces
the greatest water-diyide on the continent,
including the sources of the Missouri on the
one hand and those OF the Columbia on the
other, lends additional interest to speculations
OF tn Is kind. We may amuse ourselves by
wondering what effect, if any, upon these
great rivers or their tributaries, such q
shaking up of the Yellowstone basin as the
North Island OF New Zealand has lust sus.
tained, would, could or might produce. OF
course, the probability is that nothing of
the kind will take place In New Zealand,
though the same theory of declining forces
was applied 10 the evidence of volcanic
activity, the proximity of the sea on either
hand furnished an element of danger
which does not exist in the National park.
sun the obvious connection between gey-
serlte action and surface water, whether
streams or lakes, is so direct that, considering
how much surface water there is in the Vel
lowstone park, 1t may be thought that the
materials for very pretty disturbance exist
there. Judging from the past, however, the
prevailing geological conclusion may be
trusted, and the traveller may visit the North.
ern Wonderland, and see there ten thousand
geysers and hot and mud springs, and the
most exquisitely beautiful calcareous and
silicious deposits, and the most inconceiyable
yagaries Of nature in the line of geological
formations, without troubling himself about
the bare chance that the subterranean forces
at work may develop fresh energy Oh a sud
den, and emulate New Zealand by another
emission OF igneOus rocks and other crude
globe matter.