The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

working in the earths crust. In the case
of Martinique very little tremor was i'm
parted to the ground by the volcanic &C
ton, and seismographs in the United
States made no record of the disturbance.
The explosion seems to have spent its force
upward. The results were disastrous sim
ply by reason of the city's proximity to the
mountain.
1t is noticeable that the present West
Indian disturbances are all in proximity to
old craters which, long seemingly ex-
tinct as to volcanic action, suddenly re-
sumed activity with disastrous results. The
fact suggests that, as there is often
sympathetic disturbance in regions of other
dormant craters. those insular movements
may be repeated in the earthquake regions
of Central and South America, where there
has been, in times past, intense volcanic
and seismic activity. Concurrently, indeed,
with the Martinique disaster, there is
notable and fatal activity in Guatemala.
and 1t may be expected that all the dormant
craters in Central America and the north
ern part of South America may become,
without warning. active volcanoes. with
concurrent shocks of earthquake. In con-
nection with the close relations subsisting
between volcanoes and earthquakes. it may
be said that volcanoes, where showing con-
tinuous slight activity. are usually consid-
cred in the light of safety-valves, and the
dangers from earthquake shocks are, there
fore, at minimum.
These terrestrial disturbances will have a
distinct and powerful bearing on the con-
struction of the isthmian canal. While there
have been considerable number Of earth
quakes in various parts of Panama, they
have been comparatively light, and there
are no volcanoes. active or extinct, in that
vicinity. NJ. Varilla, former engineer-in-
chief of the Panama canal, has declared
that there are even no volcanic rocks with
in $50 miles of the proposed Panama route,
as the isthmus was formed in a geological
era that precluded earthquakes and vol
canoes. On the other hand Nicaragua has
suffered severely from earthquakes, and
has a number of active volcanoes of its
own.
Can eruptions be foreseen? This is one of
the many interesting and important ques-
tons aroused by the recurrent disaster.
Many of the questions so excited are the
product of mere curiosity. but few are of
residents and property owners of that par
ticular region but also those Of other parts
of the world. Among these is the query:
How is il possible TO tell whether a vol
cano believed to be extinct is really so or
not? Pelee had been undemonstrative for
half a century La Souffriere had been ST.
lent still longer. Mexican volcanoes pre-
sent many parallels Of similar and even
| longer dormant periods. Vesuvius had
been cold and covered with vegetation for
hundreds of years prior 10 the partial erup-
| ton of the year 63. That the prelude
to the destruction Of Herculaneum and
Pompeii. sixteen years later. From \. d.
6S5 TO 993 Vesuvius again showed no sign of
| life. If there were experts in those DAYS
they undoubtedly said Vesuvius was ex-
tinct, yet the mountain that overlooxs the
Bay of Naples is very much alive to-day
This uncertainty about the future. en-
bodied in the two questions contained in
this paragraph. possesses peculiar interest
for the inhabitants OF Oregon and Wash
| ington, for both those States have within
their borders a number of craters that are
classified as dormant or extinct"
AS a little aside. it might be noted in
this connection. that an astrologer in New
/ York. at the beginning of the year. de-
clared there would be serious seismic dis
! turbances in the western hemisphere be-
i tween April % and May 9. If by seismic
disturbances he meant earthquakes only
| he was five days out OF the exact measure
for the elimination OF the Guatemalar
earthquakes came on April %. II he in
cluded volcanic action in his forecast. ii:
exactitude leaves nothing 10 be desired
for the Martinique disaster was on May S
And this brings mp another question: Are
seismic and volcanic disturbances in any
way due TO planetary influences? He prob