The record-union., 1897-05-10
WATCHING FOR EARTHQUAKES.
Prof. Milne is Organizing a Survey
system Governing the Earth.

Professor John Milne has set afOOt
project to establish earthquake stations
all over the world For years he has
been the greatest earthquake authority
in the world. He has devoted his life
to the study of seismic disturbances,
and wherever earthquakes are common
his name is known. Scientific results
Of great moment are expected of his
plan when it becomes operative. Com
mercialIy it is of the greatest import
ance 1t now seems probable that ac-
curate. reliable and valuable observa-
tions of seismic shocks, pulsatiOns and
earth fittings will be properly recorded.
Recognizing the value of hard facts
properly gathered, Professor Milne seeks
to have the civilized governments, COM
mercial interests and scientists, COM
bine in securing data which cannot
fail to prove of inestimable benefit. He
has especially studied seismOlogy in
japan. and more light in recent years
has probably been thrown upon earth
uuakes from that volcanic and pro-
gressive land of a new civilization than
from any one of several other sources.
The aggregate cost required for his en-
tire plan is so small compared with the
sum which is expended by private en-
terprise on astronomy alone that there
is small doubt that his hopes will speed
lily be fully realized.
How many earthquake observation
stations may be allotted to the North
American continent Professor Milne has
not specifically stated 1t is probable
that the United States will embrace
within their boundaries at least half a
dozen. Likely points are Washington,
D. c., New York City. ST. Louis, New
Orleans, Galveston, San Francisco and
Portland, Or. The City of Mexico and
Havana are also probable points. The
United States Signal Service headquar-
ters at Washington boasts a seismo-
graph, and there is one in the Lick OBJ
servatory at San Francisco, which is
not, however, officially in commission.
1t is not the intention of Professor
Milne and those working with him to
go to the expense of erecting new
structures for observations. This is
not regarded as necessary. At most or
all of the important points where OBJ
servatories are desirable, observatories
equipped and manned already exist,
and all that is requisite is to install
servers in their proper use.
Professor Mines first efforts to Sc
cure this worldwide survey of the earth
quake field were eyed askance because
of the hastily reached conclusion that
the expense to be entailed must GER
tainly be enormous. 1t was a matter
of surprise when it was stated by the
eminent seismologiSt that he had tWen-
ty observatories located throughout the
world which We're already pledged to
cooperate with him if they were only
supplied with the needed instruments
To supply this earthquake reporting
syndicate with improved seismographs
would cost but about $1,000
The seismometers, with their record
ing apparatus. to be used in the big
earthquake survey, will have all the
latest improvements. These instru-
ments will note all the other move
ments, beside great sudden displace-
ments which recent observations have
shown are characteristic of earth
quakes. The movements classed as
earthquakes resemble real earthquakes
in the rapidity with which they occur
but differ from earthquakes in being
imperceptible until detected by instru-
mental means.
In order to ascertain the elapsed time
of the passing of the earthquake, the