New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-22
TIE EARTHQUAKE.

New-England and a part Of Eastern Canada
had q lively shaking I'D early on Monday morn
ing. The intensity Of the disturbance was not
uniform. Pulling differences in this respect
were often observed between places only few
miles distant from each other. Nowhere were
buildings destroyed or lives lost but dishes and
clocks were thrown from shelves IA many To-
calities, telephone receivers swung on their
hooks, and q good many people were reused
from their slumbcTs. These statements rrOha-
bly, represent The extreme degree OF the VIC
lence manifested. 1t IS safe TO take the declara-
ton that houses rocked like ships at sea"
with a large grain Of salt Even so. the vibra-
ton was more severe than any which has been
felt I'm that quarter Of the continent for at least
twenty years. Moreover though tho shock, or
succession Of shocks, lasted only n few seconds
and scarcely anywhere had even a feeble repe-
utOn, the occurrence was sufficient 10 excite
widespread, if mOmen,aTy, alarm.
The region affected was not 50 extensive ne
that IN which the earthquake OF 1856 was Oh
served. The worst consequences OF the latter
were reported from Charleston and Savannah.
but perceptible tremors were noticed rs far
north as New-York City and rs far west rs
the Mississippi in an east and west direc-
ton Mondays disturbance extended from the
vicinity q Lake Champlain into. II not be-
yOnd. New Brunswick-fully SIX or eight hun
dred miles-and three or four hundred miles
from the coast These proportions make the
event one Of the most important OF its kind
for this country during the present generation.
The contrast IN severity between the earth
quakes OF 1856 and 1904 IS more conspicuous
than that IN territorial range. Many buildings
were wrecked by tho former shock. the dam
age TO property was estimated AZ 100000.
and more than forty lives were lost. Practi-
cally no serious harm seems 20 have been done
on Monday.
At least two sets Of causes are cited by geol-
oglsts IN explanation Of earthquakes. When
the latter occur simultaneously with volcanic
eruptions IN the same neiChbornood, the connec-
ton between the phenomena Is clearly appar-
ent When. as was the case this week, there
was no indication OF volcanic activity within
thousands Of miles, Il IS customary 10 fan back
on the crUmplinE, or tendency 10 crumple,
which the earths crust exhibits as q result OF
shrinking within. AS rock strata are neither
! flexible nor elastic, in the ordinary sense the
strains which are set up therein when the IN
! terror Of the globe contracts are attended by
no immediate effect They go on accommodating
! until something gives way, and the relief comes
suddenly. While there are features Of an earth
| quake which are not fully accounted for on this
! hypothesis notably the upward blow which
is usually felt at the focus from which the
! earth waves proceed laterally-yet Il S. on the
/ whole. fairly satisfactory.
Another phenomenon which IS brought about
| by the same causes, but which IS sometimes
observed independently OF earthquakes, IS q
slow change IN the level Of a coast Though
subsistence and elevation do not take place
4 to-day on so great scale. perhaps, as Ihey did
| in TIE distant past they have not entirely
/ ceased There is some reason to think that
even yet the shores OF Long Island and New
| Jersey are sinking Only n few months ago
| an engineer In Boston expressed the opinion
4 that that city stood about nine inches lower
| than 81 did seventy FIVE years ago. some doubts
| are yet entertained as 10 the accuracy Of his
| observations. Fresh attention viii be drawn 10
the matter. however. by this weeks earthquake.
! II proper methods Of investigation are adopted.
! Il may be found that at other points on the
| New-England Coast. and even in the British
! Maritime Provinces. the same thing has &C
CURED. IL would be interesting 10 know, Il such
/ Is the case. whether the fact helps TO exnlain
! the recent qarrhola Ike or NOT