The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-23

Volcanic Forces Reared the Mountains,
Then Glaciers Pared Thorn Down.
II. Lopatecki in West American Scientist
If we study the past history-not poIiti-
cal, but geological-of the great island of
Vancouver, and in fact of all the territory
surrounding the Straits of Georgia, San
Juan de Fuca, and of Puget sound, We win
find, that in geological aspect. the country
mentioned is no less interesting than the
famous volcanic regions of the more
southern part of this continent If
q student dissatisfied with the Nep-
tunic world of British Columbia turns his
mind toward that of Pluto, he will have
his curiosity well satisfied; or, if tired with
investigation of prehistoric glaciers. pre-
sfers to fathom the mystery of the coal
bearing regions, he will also find himself
before an interesting problem. The geol-
osy of the country mentioned above is in
teresting like its fauna and fora: il con-
tains many epochs and many formations.
There was . time when Vancouver
island was . low country, probably
prairie land, and at the end
Of the tertiary period there was
no Fraser river, no Straits OF Georgia and
Fuca, no Puget sound At that time vol
canic forces began to work, here with terrible
fury, there slowly rents and assures were
made. and now instead of prairie we have
q mountainous country, traversed BY rapid
streams and cut by rayines and CANYONS,
The formation of the country shows plainly
this mighty working of the mysterious
forces of nature.
Again there was time when there were
stupendous glaciers between the island of
Vancouver and the main land. According
TO DR.. George NJ Dawson, the whole Queen
Charlotte sound was at one time occupied
BY great glacier. A second glacier of
equal magnitude occupied the whole Strait
of Georgia, having, in some places, width
of fifty miles, q minimum thickness of 500
feet in the northern part and of about 40
feet in its southeastern extremity.
And this extremity was near the doors of
the now beautiful city of Victoria. DR..
Dawson further states that evidence was
found in the vicinity of Victoria and Ma
naimo to prove that when the Strait of
Georgia glacier decreased and shrank back
the land was at q lower level than now,
and the deposits found in these localities
containing marine shells were formed at
or near the wasting edge of the glacier.
The curious reader will find the evidence
advanced by the bold savant in the Quar-
terly Journal of the Geographical Society,
volumes "a and 81.
The climate OF Vancouver and the neigh
boring country, as 1t is now, prevents the
formation of glaciers as they existed in the
ages gone by. Still il Is not improbable
that the country may again become sheet
of ice. Many scientists, especially Pro-
lessor Agassiz, demonstrated that at the
end OF the tertiary period the northern
hemisphere north of 40 degrees was COW
cred with ice, as Greenland is in our day.
The climate is mild and genial,
but should the average temper
AZURE of the Straits of Georgia
and Fuca be lowered some Is or 20 de-
grees, then the sun of summer would be
unable to melt the Ice and snow arcumu-
lated in winter. The consequence would
be that in few centuries Vancouver island
would become vast field of ice Forum
ately this probability is far remote.
There was Also time when the island
had q warmer climate. perhaps Is degrees
more than the present average of Georgia
strait The climate, although warmer.
was also more moist than it is now, and
the rainfalls were very heavy. In
such o climate the coal deposits were
formed. 1t could not have been
warmer or colder. IT warmer, then the
vegetable matter would have decayed and
become soil before II had time to become
Ignite: If colder, then the island could not
have produced rich enough vegetation.
The coal deposits OF Vancouver island
belong. not TO the carboniferous, but to the
cretsceous period. The cretaceous rocks
resi- unon the beds of older formation, and
consist of sandstones. conglomerstes and
shales. and contain many toeail plants and