Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-21

TO such a catastrophe as that OF the
date mentioned have delayed the all
systematic investigation of natural
conditions and specifications OF the
earthquake itself l,urial OF the dead
and help for the survivors have been
Of first importance since the dread
occurrence At some later time de-
tails may be determined and important
facts ascertalned concerning the scien-
tifc aspects OF the occurrence.
THE EARTHQUAKE ITSELF.
As to earthquakes In general, how
ever, some facts are known--learned
in part by observation of past phenom-
ena, some OF which have been no less
disastrous than the calamity OF the
current week.
Excepting the insignlicantly thin
covering of soil and rock waste, the
outer and cool portion Of the earth,
commonly called the crust, is fairly
rigid mass, somewhat elastic yet prac-
tically a solid body OF rock, Putting
aside all theory and speculation as TO
earth origin. we know that the interior
OF our globe II much hotter than the
surface, and that, as q heated mass,
II Is slowly cooling. AZ cooling
body the interior IL necessarily con-
tracing Now, as the outer shell has
already cooled, and is therefore. no
longer shrinking through loss of heat,
this upper or outer crust cannot adapt
itself to tho still contracting interior
except by fracture and by down slip
OF the blocks so formed. But this
downward slipping OF parts OF the
crust necessltates an up-slip OF other
III Ia l,as a
than the contracting interior. The
result is a crumpling or folding Of the
upper crust, and In this way folded
mountain ranges are formed.
THE SLIPPING OF ROCKS.
The slipping Of one crust block up
on another--such movement taking
place along a plane Of fracture or
breakage--constitute q fault. The
slip-plane may be vertical or Inclined (;
commonly the plane is inclined be-
tween the horizontal and the vertical.
Whenever such a slide or slip OF crust
blocks occurs, an earthjar results, The
disturbance thus created Is propagate
ed outward through the elastic rock
masses as a wave % translation, Such
wavo may travel through a homo
geneous medium with but little In
the surface, with no elastic solid to
convey the oscillation farther, II dis
lodges and hurls all objects and bodies
not sufficiently stable to Withstand It's
force.
The surface arrival of an earth-jar,
however caused, constitutes an earth
quake.
II tho earth wave be weak the dis
turbance may manifest Itself as u faint
earth tremor only All gradations be-
tween feeble tremors and destructive
earthquakes are recognized, II Is
probably true that most earthquakes
OF great intensity are due TO faultlng
or slipping and readjustment OF crust
blocks as described above. Doubtless
other causes produce earthquakes,
such as volcanic eruptions, collapse OF
subterranean cavern roofs, and IN fact
any underground disturbance capable
OF starting an earth-Iar or wave,
RELATION TO OTHER NANTES.
TATIoNs,
As 10 the relation between earth
duakes and other manifestations OF
tgneous agency, many diverse opin-
ions have been expressed The claim
that earthquakes and volcanic out.
bursts are but modified exhibitions OF
one and the same phenomenon cam
not be conceded. Nevertheless fact,
or record show certain and significant
connection between the two. Thus
volcanic eruptions, particularly thos,
OF the explosive class--characterized
by violent ejection OF so-called vol.
canic ashes and c,nders with abund,
ance OF steam rather than by quis