The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-14
PHILIPPINE EARTHQUAKES.
Records Kept of Them for Three Cen.
turfes--Research of Manila
Observer.

Records Kept OF Them Tor Three Cens
turfes--Research OF a Manila
Observer.
The Philippine islands, like Japan.
are in a state of almost incessant tire.
NOR. Most of these vibrations of the
earth's surface are so slight that they
san be observed only by seismographs.
the instrument invented for automat.
ically recording movements of tho
earth's crust. Many others are slightly
perceived, but are not recorded as
earthquakes, for they do no damage
whatever, and they are so frequent in
earthquake countries that the general
public pays little or no attention to
them. Some time before the last in.
surrection against Spanish rule began
Mr.. M. Saderra, of Manila, collected all
the historical notices Of earthquakes
in the Philippines that could be found
in the archives of the capital. They ex.
tended over a period of nearly three
centuries, from 1899 to 1865, during
which time nearly 1000 earthquake
shocks were recorded. It is quite Ger.
tain that in the list he collected only q
small part of the earth's movements,
that might properly be called earth
quakes, were included. The reason foi
thinking so is that after the establish.
ment of the Manila observatory in 1868,
when more careful observations began
to be made, 457 earthquakes were re.
corded in the 10 years, 1S66-79. This did
not include any seismograph records,
for these instruments were not intro.
duced till long after the terrible earth.
quake of 1880 had convinced the di-
rector of the observatory that it was
highly desirable to improve the facili.
ties for earthquake observation.
1t was not, however, till 1887 that
seismographs were finally introduced
and they were in an almost constant
state of vibration till the observatory
was closed, on account of the war, in
1897. Now that better times are dawn.
ing for the Philippines, it is to be hoped
that the work of the observatory will
soon be resumed, for the islands are a
very important field for the study of
meteorology, terrestrial magnetism
and earthquakes.
Between 1889 and 1895 the seismo-
graphs made many thousands of rec.
ords of earth movements, including
minor earthquakes, and there were Al
shocks of considerable intensity which
disturbed quite large areas. Maps
were made showing the distribution Of
these disturbances and the extent of
country affected in each case. A great
deal of data with regard to earth move
nients in the Philippines were pub.
ished in the Monthly Bulletin of the
Manila observatory after 1890, but no
seismologist has yet undertaken the
task of collating this material and sum-
marizing the results. 1t may be said,
with regard to our present knowledge
of earthquake phenomena in these is
lands, that the observations thus far
are stiil insufficient in number and geo
graphical distribution for satisfactory
conclusions as to the seismic condition
of the archipelago as whole.
In the long series of volcanoes that
stretch from Kamtchatka through
Japan and the Malayan archipelago in
the form of the letter to New Zealand
the greater number of them are stu
ated on the western side of the islands.
1t is also the western side of the Phil
ippines and other islands that are most
severely affected by earthquakes. The
shores of Manila bay, the northwest
side of Luzon and the southern part
of the island suffer more frequently
than other parts of Luzon, the largest
island in the archipelago. The most
terrible earthquake in the history of
the islands was that of 1868, when near
ly all the public buildings and Euro
pean houses built of stone in the city
of Manila were leveled to the ground.
The shock of 1880 is believed to have
been equally severe, but its effects were
far less disastrous because the lesson
taught by the calamity of 1868 had been
utilized and the buildings in the rebuilt
city had been constructed on a plan
better adapted for resisting the effects
of these violent oscillations. The shock
Of 1880 originated in the central part
of Luzon, little east of Manila, and it
was felt for distance of about $50
miles north and south, more or less
damage being done all over the island,
except in the extreme northern and
southern part of it.
In Mindanao, the second largest is
land, there are three zones where
earthquakes are particularly severe.
They extend from north to south, one
running through the middle of the is
land and the Others along the east and
west sides. Generally speaking, the
severest effects are felt in the alluvial
plains or valleys not far from the noun
tains, where more or less volcanic phe-
nomena are displayed
Endurance of School Children.
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