New-York tribune., 1906-04-29
AFTER-sHocKS oy THE PAcIFic COAST.

AFTER-SHOCKS ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Since the occurrence of the destructive earth
quake of April rs in California several minor
shocks have been reported from that state and
also from Oregon. These should occasion neither
surprise nor anxiety. Such phenomena almost
invariably follow severe seismic disturbances.
They were observed after the great earthquakes
in Northern India and Calabria last year.
Though they did no damage worth mentioning.
they naturally excited apprehension in localities
where previous injury prediSpoSed the popula-
tiOn 10 panic. More of them will probably he
reported from the Pacific Coast hut there is not
the slightest reason for worrying over them.
Major Dutton. a leading American authority.
says that aftershOcbs less violent than the first
follow an earthquake during period Of weeks.
and even months, but time passes. he adds.
they become less and less frequent, we'll as
less forcihle'
biologists appear 10 he agreed in their inter
pretation Of these subordinate disturbances. 1t
is generally believed that the stresses which give
rise 10 the principal shock may not he fully and
instantly relieved. Portions of the mass of rock
involved i'm "disOcation" earthquake would. on
that hypothesis still stay under strain. and con
sequPntly n series of subsidiary readiustments
would he requisite. Professor OmOri, Japan
eSe expert who has studied the earthquakes Of
his country with rare thorOuglness and
intelligence. makes n suggestion which Califor-
mia may we'll keep i'm mind. ANY failure of the
after-shOckS To appear might. in his opinion,
indicate that the disturbed tract is prevented
from reaching n state of equilibrium and is
preparing for second strong shock. This doc
trine is extremely reassuring. The developments
Of the last ten days not only furnish no cause
for uneasiness. but are positively encouraging.
They practically guarantee 10 the Pacific Coast
that the worst is over. Any delay in the work
OF reconstruction based on timidity concerning
the future would find sanction i'm the teach
ings of GeOogists of repute.
There is another phase of the matter which
perhaps demands word of comment. 1t be-
comes more and more evident daily that only a
small amount of harm done in san Fran
cisco by the earthquake alone. In intensity the
principal shock not comparable with dozens
which have occurred in Russian Turkestan, Ar
menia. British India Japan Italy and else
where. There has been n vastly greater loss of
life in places having much smaller population.
A few people were undoubtedly killed In san
Francisco by the collapse OF their dwellings but
against that fact II is worth while to set the
perence of Emma Eames. She was badly fright
ened for a moment. but rose after the shock
ended dressed, went on foot from her own hotel
to another. climbed six flights of stairs in search
of some of her professional friends descended
and eventually left town uninjured. Here is
striking testimony TO the manner in which most
Of the structures in the business part of the city
withstOod the ordeal
Several other circumstances deserve brief men
tion because Of their suggestiveness. No tidal
wave transmitted from shore TO sea or from
sea to shore. has been reported on the Pacific
Coast in the last fortnight. The cable from the
continent to Honolulu was not ruptured. rs was
feared. The service merely interrupted by
the dlsarrangement of land wires within few
miles of San Francisco. Finally, the municipal
engineers report that there was no subsistence of
rock strata within the city limits. 1t was only
made land which sank. After the Japanese
earthquake of 1891 vertical dsplacements rang
ing from ten TO twenty feet were noticed. \
disturbance in Assam few years later altered
the height of hills by from twelve 10 twenty
four feet The mechanical force manifested on
these and many other occasions which could be
cited was greatly i'll excess of that recently dis
played in California.