The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-01-05
EARTHQUAKES.
CaGse of the Disturbances one of the
Worlds Mysteries.

4
Worlds Mysteries.
The rarely delicate instruments with
which the seismoiogists-the scientific
investigators of earthquake phenomena
now record and measure the move
ments within the earth's structure have
revealed the fact that the firm foun-
dations" Of Mother Earth are not firm
at all; that tremors Of some sort are of
daily and hourly occurrence and that
it is only when the disturbance reaches
some degree Of violence that it can be
dignifed with serious attention AS
the vibrations In the earths structure
are Transmitted through the earth In
stead Of around its circumference and
as they traverse great distances, the
center Of disturbance may be many
miles away, deep in the rocky frame
work Of our planet.
Accurate observations, such as those
made with the seismograph and other
instruments, Of the time, direction and
amplitude Of the vibrations enable the
Investigators to tx with considerable
degree Of accuracy the point Of the dis
tnrbance. The general run Of earth
quakes may be classed as either vol
canic In their origin or as due to slips
or fractures in the earth's crust. the
result of stress. By far the greater
number belong to the latter class, those
due to volcanic upheavals being, as a
rule, somewhat limited in their inten-
| sity and area. On the other hand, the
earthquakes due to the breaking Of
earth strata in regions of the earth
where there is great diversity in the
surface, as in the vast ocean deeps or
in those places on the land where the
crust is turned up to form great noun
tain ranges, are far more numerous
and destructive.
The causes of earthquakes are bound
up to large extent with the unsolved
mysteries opthis globe upon which we
dwell, and until we shall be able to ex-
plore deeper into the interior than we
have yet penetrated we must be con-
tent with the inductive reasoning Of
the scientists. The volcanic causes are
obvious enough; just as the railroads
and iron mills set up so great tremor
in the earth as to disturb the delicate
observing and recording instruments
Of the astronomer and physicist whose
station happens to be near them, so
the vast steam explosions which occa-
sionaliy occur in volcanic phenomena
create greater tremors, which are dig
niled by the name of earthquakes. The
larger cause is found, however. in the
Establishments in the earth's crust
which are constantly going on as a re-
suit Of changing conditions Of pres
sure. Such pressure changes may be
accounted for by contraction as the
cooling process goes on, by the gradu-
Al denudation Of the continents, By the
natural processes Of nature or by the
shifting Of the atmospheric envelope.
The stresses and strains in the convo-
iuted and twisted strata Of rocks WHICH
make up the earth's crust must be
times vast beyond the power Of Il
human mind TO imagine. When the
evitable slips and breaks occur ne
the surface. whether on the land or
the oceanic deeps, the effect cannot but
be stupendous. The alterations in the
surface are often attended by appaIl.
ing consequences to mankind-the out.
right destruction of their habitations
either by the mere violence Of the vi
brations or by the engulfng power Of
the waves set in motion If the break
happen to be beneath the sea.
Happily for US, the vast majority Of
the changes are deep in the crust and
possess but slight significance fer the
dwellers on the surface Philadelphia
Ledger