New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-30
VIEWS OF SCIENTISTS.
NO GREAT CHANGES IN THE OCEAN. BED
AND NO DANGER TO CANAL ROUTE
FEARED FROM VOLCANIC
DISTURBANCES.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

y
Washington, May 29.-The naval photographic
experts and other scientific officials who are
closely studying the reports of the seismic dis
turbances in the West indies are pretty we'll
satisfied that no notable changes are occurring
in the ocean bed, and that practically no modi-
hcations will be necessary in the general charts
of the Eastern Caribbean outside of the shoaI
W tiers along the immediate coasts of the ISL
ands which have been centres of volcanic ac-
ton The effects of the eruptions of Pelee and
La Sounriere appear to have been peculiarly To-
Called, and the destructive results of their &C
tlV1ty concentrated within a relatively small
radius The absence of severe tidal waves and
widespread earthquakes alone would indicate
that no appreciate upheaval or subsistence of
the sea bed had taken place in the neighborhood
or Martinique or st. Vincent, and the great
depth of water adjacent to both slopes of the
Windward Island chain of peaks confirms the
belief that no menaces to navigation are at all
likely to appear Under the circumstances
neither the Naval photographic Office nor the
Coast Survey will send any sea sounding expe-
ditions to that part of the West Indies this sum-
mer, except on the request of the French or
British government which have Jurisdiction
of all the waters likely to have been affected
Portions of the immediate coast lines of both
Martinique and st. Vincent have undoubtedly
been altered in a radical degree by the deposits
or ashes and mud from Peee and La Souffriere
compelling resurvey of the shores and extern
sive corrections in local charts. and in the in
terest of purely local commerce these explora-
tions will in all likelihood be promptly under
taken by the two governments directly inter-
ested II France and Great Britain have not
the facilities for a rapid survey Of the local
tiles, they may request assistance from the
United States. which would furnish one or more
or the small naval vessels recently engaged in
accurately charting the Cuban coast. But in
any event, surveys of the shores of Martinique
or st. Vincent at the present time or until all
volcanic activity has ceased would be profit
less, as the alterations have not yet become
fixed. and surveys prosecuted now would have
TO be repeated after Pelee and La Souffriere be-
came extinct.
Consideration of the possible effects on free
commercial navigation from the Martinique and
st. Vincent disturbances brings 20 light some
interesting facts as demonstrating the limited
area affected by volcanic activity in modern
times, and indicates that fears of injury TO an
American isthmian canal from this cause are
altogether groundless, and may be wholly ig-
nored by Congress in legislating for a water
way, The careful study of volcanic action by
the government scientists in the last few weeks
has shown TO their satisfaction that no consd-
cradle area is ever affected. and no particular
region is prone to disastrous seismic disturb
ance. II is found that reports of the widespread
destruction caused by volcanic activity had been
greatly exaggerated, and that the popular i'm
pressions that prevail to the contrary are un-
founded In the famous of Krakatoa, in
the Straits of Sunda which blew off its head in
1888, it is found that the maps not ma
terally altered beyond a few miles from the
centres of disturbance. nor have recent erup-
tions of Vesuvius affected Naples Bay.
The cruising of the Cincinnati, the Dixie, the
Potomac the Suchet and other vessels around
Martinique and st. Vincent for the last ten
days. skirting the coast and landing supplies. as
we'll as taking off refugees at various points is
taken TO indicate that no new islands or shoals
have developed and the continuation of cable
communica ton except for brief periods, due TO
temporary abandonment of terminals or to cleo
trio phenomena accompanying volcanic out
breaks seems to show that no great submarine
chasms have opened The prevailing depth of
the Caribbean averages two thousand fathoms
and the 100 fathom curve beyond which sound
ings are rare runs close to the beach of all the
Windward Islands. whose shores are sharply
pitched 10 the ocean bed. The islands really
acute peaks arising abruptly seven thousand
eight thousand feet from the sea bottom, and
the possibility of new shoals appearing from this
great depth is regarded extremely remote.