The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-15
THE EARTHQUAKES.
Theories as to Their Cause Discussed
bv a Close Observer.

y
The numerous earthquake shocks &C.
curing in the vicinity of t.gden, Brig
ham City. Plain City and Corinne have
given rise to much speculation as to
their cause, and some uneasiness as
to the consequences. a close observer
well versed in geology. contributes the
following views on the phenomena TO
The Herald:
Several shocks, more or less precept-
ible, have occurred since August OF
last year, the writer having eXpe-
rienced three, one Of them quite Sc
we're. To some minds their frequency
has become q serious matter, though
perhaps without good reasons. How
ever, the one just reported was more
so than either of the several that &C.
Cured last year. Having undergone
the effect we are unable as yet 10 90
anything more than speculate on the
cause.
The rumbling sound as of railroad
train in the distance, the waving or
undulating motion of the eartn Goes
cause a sensation in all respects SIM
liar 10 seasickness to come upon you,
but perhaps more sudden in its effect.
Shall we attempt to explain TINS pne-
uomenon by saying there are disturb
ances in the gas pockets or IN the
stratum containing those extensive gas
reservoirs under the bed OF Sait Lake,
or does it come from disturbance Oh
the molten mass said to exist IN the
central norton of the earth2 We know
that gas exists under or near salt
Lake. but have never learned that any
thing unusual has been noticed IN OF
about the wells near Salt Lake CIV
during the time or Immediately fol-
lowing these disturbances The 1act
remains that whatever force or FORCES
are acting they, in seeking 10 make
their escape, would necessarily act IN
the direction of or along the line Of
least resistance, namely. at or near
some of these wells. Also in making
its escape (for we understand that the
gas or fluid tries to 90 from its place
of confinement when dlsturhed) II
would no doubt be noticeable IN the
vicinity of these disturbances or at
least must undergo a change before
equilibrium would obtain.
a PLAUSIBLE THEORY.
So far as We have any knowledge,
onenings or fisures do not exist IN or
about the Salt Lake basin. The follow
ing suggests itself in favor OF a theory
founded on this one fact, that the
whole of this intermountain country
upheavals, such perhaps that man, hau
he lived at that time, could not nave
survived. We see the mountains with
canyons intervening, the breaks ana
faults in the geological formations;
the soil or earthly matter made up
more or less of volcanic ash and cinder
seems to be evidence that all these
phenomena are the results OF the once
active volcanoes in this immediate VI
ciniiy. It would hardly be possible 20
conceive the countless ages that nave
passed since these violent changes took
place During the years that the waves
of Lake Bonneville washed the shores
the lines of which are so plainly
marked upon the mountain side. there
must have been a reign of quiet.
Shocks the same as we have eSSe1-
fenced no doubt have come and gone
NOTHING TO FEAR
No signs are visible that either the
rocky shores CT the ancient lake-bed
upon which we walk and live was
ever in the least disturbed.
We conclude then that from all APP
pearances the older our world grows
the less frequent and violent these
shocks will be, and the danger TO man
kind from them grows less and less
each year.