The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22
LAW OF EARTHQUAKE

of earthquake distribution, both in space
and in time, have been formulated. In
the United States there are three principal
earthquake regions, viz: the Pacific slone,
the lower Mississippi valley and the At
lantic slope lying between the Appalachian
mountains and the coast. Yet it is to be
remembered that while earthquakes are
especially characteristic of these regions,
they also occur with greater or less fire..
quency in other parts of the country: and,
moreover. that the great earthquakes. par
ticuiarly of the two regions last named,
extend far into adjacent territory-the
Charleston earthquake of 1856 affected
land area of 10000 square miles. stretch
ing from the Atlantic to the Mississippi,
and from the Gulf to the shores of the
Great Lakes, while the New Madrid earth
quake of 1911 unquestionably extended
over nearly half Of our present national
domain. The areas affected by these great
earthquakes, as well as those shaken by
the noteworthy Inyo earthquake of 1866,
and the recent Vacaville earthquake are
shown in the accompanying map.
Yet despite modern studies, earthquakes
can be predicted only in general terms,
lust as sunshine, storm and snow may be
predicted for the next century. Earth
duakes have visited again and again in the
past and will visit again ana again in the
future the whole of our fair land. Prof
lockwood, of Princeton, has for some
years past been recording from fifty to 100
American earthquakes each year. Prof.
Holden has published records of 254 earth
quakes observed in San Francisco alone
during the thirty-six years. 1S50-S6;
scarcely q week goes by without seismic
disturbances somewhere in our country:
and We can predict the occurrence of
earthquakes in the future IS surely
as We can foreieli the rise OF to-
morrow's sun. Yet the skill born
of science does not permit prediction
of the day, the year, the decade. the CEN
turv even the millennium in which the
great earthquake VIII come again. But
science has reached the stage in which the
limits OF prediction are known; and a
word may be said of the belated as.rologer
who predicts war, pestiience, flood, famine,
earthquakes. and points TO the comet or
conjunction OF the planets IN proof OF his
evil prophecy. There are no reliable
means OF predicting dates for the great
earthquake, and he who seeks TO make
definite prediction by means OF the signs
in the heavens is a char atan, the truth is
not IN him and his words are idle as the
passing breeze.
We cannot escape the earthquake but
We NAV and should make some Slight pro-
vision against IL. Cities are wrecked
usually because of inferior mortar and be-
cause of i.i-desIsn OF bu idlngs; and every
where the shoddy of architecture is liable
to exposure by the earthquake. Strong,
symmetric buildings, carefully designed
anu honestly built, Will, II no. too high.
endure toieraoiy severe earthquakes with
out injury either 10 themselves or their
occupants. and no house should ne erected
III any part OF the country without consid-
erIng the earthquake and fire as common
sources of danger. Another precaution
should be observed. ali people. Young and
old, should know of the earthquake; and
Just as the pupil at school ana the child at
home are taught that the danger follow
ing the cry OF tire IN the school house, lee
ture hail. church or theater is not from
the flames, but the pane. they should be
taught that when the earthquake comes
the safest place. il out of doors, IS as Tar as
possible from hlgn structures; but that if
in doors, the safest place is probably the
chair III which they sit or the bed in which
they lie. II the earthquake comes with
premonitory roar or lremor IL might be
well 10 seek safety in flight TO open places;
but generally. if its severity is such as 10
endanger life, the time for hight has
passed before the shock is fairly ielt
W. J. MCGEE,
Z. 5. Geological SURVEY