The Van Buren press., 1902-05-31

the surface. Following this theory
come Others, in which the earth is sup
posed to have solid core and an outer
crust, between which is a layer OF liquid
material. Any displacement OF the
crust covering this liquid layer whether
resulting from contraction OF the eartn
or other cause, would force the lava 10
the surface through the weakest spot.
In refutation of this argument the con-
ditions at Hawaii might be considered.
The crater Of Mauna Loa Is ID, $50 feet
above the sea level, and that of Kilaues
Ia a. O4O feet. These mountains are not
over 80 miles apart and yet both are
filled with lava. How could such vary
ing levels be maintained, If both craters
were fed from the same sourcel ms
query has forced many to believe that
the LIQUID matter was contained in local,
vascular spaces beneath the crust,
Both of these theories were brought
forth to reconcile the requirements OF
physics with those of geology, which
called for the existence of fluid matter at
a small depth from the surface OF the
earth. At present biologists have pretty
generally discarded these theories as
unnecessary for it is claimed that the
powerful pressure due TO the earth s
contraction would prevent material
from attaining liquid form. lmme-
diately on release of this powerful pres
sure, however, the matter would be-
come fluid and pour out Of the mountain
In the form Of lava. As stated above,
the power which causes the upheaval Is
attributed to the expansion OF imprls-
oned vapor. From the fact that volca-
noes are usually found near the sea, 1t
was at first argued that the water oozed
down into the heated regions, either OF
its own weight or by capillary attrac-
ton. Many scientists think this theory
to be absurd, for they argue that 1t
would be impossible for the water to en-
ter a region under such compression,
also that long before reaching sufti-
Gent depth it would be turned into
steam and forced back through the very
channels by which 1t entered. The most
plausible theory, and one now pretty
generally accepted, accounts for the
presence of water in heated rocks as
having occurred during their crystaliza-
ton period. These rocks, in the course
of time, were deposited in the sea by
the action of rivers. After many ages,
the r-bearing rocks are covered to
great depth under layers or blank
cts" of deposited matter, and the heat
there encountered finally brings the
water to a sufficient tension to cause an
explosion.
For months after the eruption of Kra-
katoa red sunsets were seen all over the
world, and were attributed to the vol
canic dust thrown into the air. This
fine dust, commonly called ashes, is
merely the rock which is shattered and
pulverized by the force Of the explosion.
In all probability the same phenomenon
will follow the West Indian eruptions
and in the course Of = month red sunsets
should be seen in New York. AS in the
case of the Krakatoa eruption, the dust
will probably travel toward the east,
following the upper currents OF the air
which flow in a direction opposite TO
that Of the trade winds.
A marked series Of seismic and vol
canic disturbances are now occurring
over wide region, but whether they
are in any way connected with the erup-
ton Of Mont Pelee Is mere matter of
conjecture. We have already show that
the volcanoes in Hawaii are not CON
nected, though they are very close to-
gether, and we may look upon this
series of disturbances merely as coin
cidence for one would suppose that the
other volcanoes In the West Indies
would be active before the more distant
volcanoes of Central America. Accord
ing to precedent, Mont Pelee should
continue In activity for a long period,
her eruptions growing weaker and
weaker as years pass by, What future
changes will result from this distur'
bance 1t Is hard to tell. Considerable
light will shortly be thrown on the sit.
nation by the large body Of scientists
who are already Aocking to the scene Of
disaster. A short description Of the un'
fortunate island might be OF interest.
Martinique has an area Of 1881 square
miles and a population Of apout 100, 900,
of which number about 8, 900 are labor
ers brought from India and over 5, DOC
laborers from Africa; also about SOC
Chinese immigrants. The remainder
Of the population Is largely native ne.
groes, the white population numbering
in all about 10, 900. A large share Of
the interior Of the island has never beer
brought under cultivation, although II
has been occupied by the French almost
constantly since 1855, a period Of go,
years, the only interruption In French