The Indianapolis journal., 1902-02-09
EARTHQUAKE COMING.
According to Eddy's SeismOgraph One
Is Overdue.
New York Mail and Express

New York Mail and Express.
William A Eddy, the kite expert and in
Ventor of the seismograph, believes that
severe earthquake will soon be felt in this
city.
"Once in every ten or fifteen years serl-
Gus seismic disturbance occurs in this part
of the globe" said Mr. Eddy to-day 1.-The
Eastern States were visited by a severe
earthquake in 1871 and in 1884. Another is
due, in fact is overdue, now.
THE recent shocks felt in Mexico, Sara
toga and the central West have drawn a
circle of contraction in the earth's surface
around us, and we may expect our turn at
any moment"
For seven days in his Bayonne home he
has had two seismographs in readiness to
take the record of any vibration whatever
caused by a disturbance in the earth's sur
face, and last night he installed third
BY these, he declared to-day, he hoDes
to prove that the earth actually breathes.
That is that it has definite respira tiOns at
stated intervals. when whole continents and
oceans rise and fall in obedience to a con-
stant law.
Eyes, the theory undoubtedly appears
startling" said he in speaking of his plans
but l am almost sure Of proving that my
belief has a basis in fact. During the last
week my seismograph has shown that it
is capable of recording a disturbance in the
earth's surface 1000 miles away. BY care
ful experiment 1 hope to have the instru-
ments attain such delicacy that they will
record the slightest vibration"
A fine piece of string, a three-ounce
weight and the point of a needle seem
rather humble instruments TO solve a Sc
cret that has been hidden from man for
thousands of years. But q single device
made of these familiar utilities constitutes
the most delicate of the seismographS of
the inventor.
Around a crossbeam placed on the second
floor OF Mr.. EddyS home is wound a fine
string, forming an eighteen-foot pendulum
one end OF this string is fastened TO a sash
nailed to the floor. From the oJher is sus-
pended a cast-iron plummet bob" shaped
Ike a boys top and weighing three ounces
Al the point Of the bob IS inserted
needle with a duh point. This just touches
sheet OF writing paper covered with
lampblack. The other two seismo ographs
have pendulums of steel fastened by
lever to a steel mast. one has a three-foot
bar, TO which is attached needle which
marks a vibration on plate glass covered
with lampblack. From the other which
mas a four-foot bar, pencil bangles which
marks on sheet of paper.
The slightest vibration In the earth's
surface will set these seismographs in mo-
ton, explained Mr.. Eddy. so delicate
are they that even the Park-avenue eXplo-
sion caused them 10 Oscillate. So far as
nave been able TO reckon a vibration of
the IS-lnch instrument 10 move three-eights
OF an inch.
Il am fully persuaded that many slight
earthquakes occur which pass entirely un-
noticed. l remember ten years ago l was
In Broad-street skyscTaper and distinctly
showed that the motion could not have
come from anything but a seismic dis
turbance. Yet, as L had then no instru-
ments such as / have now, j said nothing
ABOUT the matter. as / could not prove
that an earthquake had occurred. L am
fully satisfied, however. that had / then
perfected one of my seismographs the
shock would have been recorded