New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
PERIL TO ISTHuLAN CANAL.
PROPOSED ROUTES ALL WITHIN TERRI
TORY LIABLE TO EARTHQUAKES.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. ]

tBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIRUNEl
Washington. May Psychologists in Washing
ton consider in all seriousness the published re-
ports that the routes proposed for an isthmian
canal lie within the line of territory known to
be liable to earthquakes from volcanic eruptions
and subterranean disturbances. 1t is agreed
that in case a canal was constructed repairs
would be made necessary from time TO time by
damages wrought by seismic upheavals of the
earth. The most serious damage likely TO re-
suit. scientists conjecture. would be the destruc
tiOn of lock two and the obstruction of
the canal channel for short distances within the
radius subjected to the effect of the earthquake.
In the opinion of these men the effect of earth
quakes, which are never uncommon in the
region Of the proposed canals would work two
ways Where in. one case by the geological
change IT would become necessary to repair or
construct a lock- in another lock would be
rendered unnecessary These points are re-
garded as worthy of consideration for practical
benefit in the building of an interoceanic canal
Lessons will be learned. IT is believed. by in
vestigations to be made pertaining to the course
followed by the streams of lava flowing from
the Martinique volcano which hereafter could
be used in determining which Of the isthmian
routes Is the least liable to destruction by
seismic outbursts. Like the majority of things
influential in seismic disturbances the reason
why region five miles from volcano is often
inch
that ten miles away may be overloaded with
twenty to thirty feet of the same stuff and the
intervening country entirely clear. is a matter
of mystery 10 all geolOgists. With observations
made 10 work out these points it is thought pos
sible that a through Central America
might be found practicable which would be in
large measure safe against being overwhelmed
with lava. It. is possible that scientists be-
leve that with more definite knowledge on this
YNOEv1% -Nrf-,
which would not be subject destruction by
earthquakes because the disturbance would oc-
side Of II or the other of it. not af-
fecting the route itself
VIEWS OF WASHINGTON BIOLOGISTS.
In addition to this practical point in connec-
ton with the building OF canal all Washing
ton geologists draw the moral that II is time
exploring parties set TO work to find out
something about earthquakes 1t is admitted
by all that the causes for seismic disturbances
are the most mysterious problems in science
Among the scientific men Of the government the
popular theory undoubtedly is that the cause for
earthquakes is the overloading process Professor
McGee whose views have already been quoted
in The Tribune. believes that II was a subter-
ranean explosion that caused the upturnng OF
the earth In the windward Islands
Professor Becker. Of the Geological Survey
said to-day that undoubtedly there was a close
connection between the subterra -ean. deposits
OF silt and volcanic eruptions the two princi-
pal causes Of seismic disturbances He said
that the majority Of scientists in their investga
tions were unable to separate the two causes
He compared the earth's crust 10 a steel needle
n thousand miles long. Ry placing on the nee
die another piece of steel the same length bur
many times the thickness diameter. II would
become weighted down from n horizontal posI-
ton to semi-crcular shape. So II Is. said he
with the earth's crust when the ocean beds are
laden with millions OF tons Of silt and sediment
The pressure works downward obliouelv The
force OF lava works upward oblidueIv
With this hypothesis II is figured that in the |
natural course Of things the depression caused |
by silt deposits Is converted into force 10 unIift
the lava in another part Of the earth which lies
inactive in a region thirty miles and more from,
the surface on which there is the downward /
pressure Of billions of tons Of rock LAYERS Of /
lava in this region. which Is warm enough 70 /
melt any known substance. contain 216 per cent !
Of water. Moved by the pressure caused bv the /
depression Of the silt beds. the underbert earth /
crust forces the lava beds upward Steadily /
overcoming the powerful resistance Of thirty !
miles of earth. the lava ascends To the surface 1
Then the 2l2 per cent OF water changes to steam /
Like the steam engine boiler. the downward [
force OF the earth controls the force of land !
steam TO n certain degree. But a thin boiler
Will burst and explode II Overtaxed And so
the force of the natural steam attained from
the evaporation OF water out Of the other ole
n"ntS or lava ny the time the heated substance
reaches the surface top is unable longer 10
control the destructive substance and through
the apexes OF peaked mountains blocks ~ nature
are hurled with terrifying force. and for miles
the surrounding territory Is ruptured. Asked
to explain the reason why deposits Of silt in
the huge basin Of the Caribbean Sea which Is
the dumping place for the Mississippi River
through the agency Of the Gulf Stream the
OrinoCo rhe Carthagena and others. should
affect the imn'"di7te lend in the Windward ISL
andS, instead Of some other place Professor !
Becker said that the question could not be def
nitelv answered But IL one drew a line across
the globe from the Philippines across to Japan !
around by Alaska. down the west coast Of North
America 10 the cost of Peru and then 10 the I
Lesser Antilles. that one had defined n strip i
liable and susceptible "a seismic disturbance.
along which continuous chain Of vol /
canoes which are subject to outbreaks. The
crater underlying this region is subject to de-
pressions made hv the extensive deposits OF silt
L. s. SHOULD SEND EXPEDITION.