The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-05-02

Charles D. Walcott, director Of the
geological survey. helds that there is
no possibility of q connection be.
tween tho earthquake ct San francisco
and the recent eruption of Mount Ve-
suvius, and, further, that there are
entirely different scientific phenomena
responsible for suoh earthquakes as
the present one saa volcanic distur-
Dances.
Great earthquakes, says the direc.
tor. ere never caused by VOLCANOES,
but the fsulting plains. This is par.
tioulasly true Of both ssaboards Of the
United Statos. Mr.. Walcott aud other
scientists Of the geological aud geo.
detic surveys agree chat scientifically
the present disturbance is caused oy
conditicss identical With shose pee-
tanning during the earthquake which
demolished Charleston ia 1886. This
disturbance was one that was most
thoroughly studied, aud che causes
are agreed on by most soientists.
Volcanoes occasionally cause shsk.
iuga Of the earth's crust, but the dis.
eurbauee oeoasioned by pent.up gases
saeking 90 escape arc felt only 10.
eally. The volcanic eruption may pss-
oipisase q; slipping along the line Of
olesvage Of rock, just as jsrring
OF an insecure body may cause its
breaking loose. To tho cleavage,
however, lie due the uaususl disturb.
anee.
1t 10 geologioslly recognized fact
that the position Of the earth's sur.
face is changing In many places. The
coast OF New Jersey is' foot lower
than it was hundred years ago.
There was time when the Appslaoh-
ian Mountains were submerged, as is
proven by quantities Of seashell and
such matter found now at great al
titudes. The same may be said Of the
Rocky Mountains, and the cutting Of
the Grand Canyon has been ooca-
stoned by the uplifting of the plateau
through which it runs and which is
still rising.
The cause is attributed generally
to the gradual cooling Of the earth,
which is known TO still be molten
mass inside. When any object ooole
it contracts, and SO will the earth as
it grows colder. This contraction
would unavoidably cause disturb.
aEce in the already hardened she'll
that surrounds the inner mass. That
shell must give way at some point. It
is argued that the great mountain
ranges have been pushed up in this
way and that at known points breaks
and eleavages have been formed in the
she'll. The contraction is gradual,
aud no tremor would be felt if it were
not esr the faulting plains, but aa the
stress becomes great at the point Of
cleavage the slipping may not bereg.
alas, and this irregularity will shake
ssi ia mo mo Spuutty aafeotsd by the chang
ing Of levals.S @ 4 z 4 4
Aside froE the contraction Of the
earthEe esss::==7777, taosus aaotsask osusy ~ given
Shat mighk affect 2ths changing Of the
surface Of . given easso7 .aka world.
This cause js the accumulation Of q
vsst weight, Of eedinasntary deposit
brought, down BY nvers. For exam.
|, ,pls, the Mississippi v alley 10 entirely
made mp, o. deposits Of the streama
Washing down from higher lands. The
weighto Of that deposit would be diff
80. sS=!. - sai;5uiate, anu resting upon q
portion Of the earsh's she'll, might 90.
casionsit sinking. >.. t.;s..: ,.:
This theory 10 held by. some scien.
.tists in connection with the present
disaster, for the Sacramento: river Ii
the deposition, ,of vast weights Of sed.
imsnt in the Pacific waters naar San
Francisco. l. .. =. " :, :.
# 3 According to Slt. Walcott, there
has been much evidence in the sar
Francisco idistrict io the pass &c few
years %. substantiase the faultiug
plain theory! AL along the Paeias
coast earthquakes have :besn felt. ,tt
IS greater or less extent over sincs
,she gDy yernmens hss begun 10 observe
Iigpeh aphenoshep q. ETesy SaEsS probs
bly, due 70 she same geologic : condl.
sions and the irregular slipping OF the
opposing walls OF rock. '.,:; i*:.. 81. {.
81 ~ = &, ma.