The San Francisco call., 1897-02-07

EPROFESsOR JOHN MILNE, the
{A eminent seismologist, has set afoot
1S*S a project to establish earthquake
stations all over the world. Here is the
first news OF this important movement.
Professor Milne has for years been the
greatest earthquake authority in the
world. He has devoted his life TO the
study of them, and wherever earthquakes
are common his name is known. lie can
tell you when the earth is quaking in
Peru and predicts the occurrences of them
in the Orient sometimes days ahead. He
has invented machines which show just
how the earth moves at such times and
the effect on every variety of structures
Scientific results of great moment are
expected OF Professor Mines plan when
it becomes operative. Commercially it is
of the greatest Importance For the first
time, it now seems proba bic, will accurate,
reliable and valuable observations OF
seismic shocks, pulsations and earth
fittings be properly recorded. They will
also be preserved and so promptly trans
mitted from the scenes of the seismic
manifestations that the news may serve
elsewhere as a warning OF possible i'm
pending danger. Such news thus
promtly furnished will also greatly en-
hance the value of relief measures for
earthquake sufferers,
Professor Milne is the most distin-
guished of modern scientists who have de-
voted much time to the study OF earth
quakes and their apparent causes. His
book, "Earthquakes,' is accepted as an
authority. While much literature is ex-
tant, extending back to the ancients,
which contains a vast amount of Incl
dental earthquake lore, Professor Milne
has lightly waved aside some of the fanci-
ful theories of the spectators. Recognz-
ing the value of hard facts properly gath
cred, he seeks to have the civilized Gov
ernments, commercial interests and scien-
fists combine in securing data which
cannot fail to prove of inestimable benefit.
Professor Milne has especially studied
seismology IN Japan, and more light in
recent years has probably been thrown
upon earthquakes from tnat volcanic and
progressive land of a new civilization
than from any one or several other sources.
The maritime interests are naturally as
much concerned and interested in this
scientific project of the scientist as any
other. The merchant marine and even the
navies OF the world have suffered from the
tidal waves which have been sequences of
earthquakes or at least connected with
their causes in the minds of thinking
men. Civilized Governments expend enor-
nous sums charting the currents, reefs
and obstruction to clear navigation in
their ocean and inland waters, and eener-
ously provide for astronom cal and met
geological observations and records. The
aggregate cost required for Professor
Mines entire plan is so infinitely small
compared with that sum which is ex-
pended by private enterprises on astron-
omy alone that there is small doubt that
his hopes will speedily be fully realized.
The modern necromancer of science,
electricity, will play strong secondary
part in this scheme TO keep a constant
survey of the earth's surface for signs of
approaching shocks. In his argum ent for
the adoption of his plan Professor Milne
includes the interesting element OF en-
abling newspapers to be assured of the
veracity of news of earthquakes as far
away perhaps as in the altipodes.
On July and September s, 1885, ac-
counts of earthquakes in Kobe were pub
hshed in the London newspapers. These
eaItnquoASS Vi SAnoIoo AZ Japan, put were
recorded sixteen minutes later in the Isle
OF Wight. Twas proved in one of these
Re cords that there had been an error in
telegraphic transmission to the new s.
papers of two days. Another record gaze
an accurate account Of the catastrophe.
the details of which were not known until
the arrival of correspondence in the mails
three weeks later.
The seismographs in the observatory