Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-07-27
Volcanic Activity and Radiurn,

Volcanic Activity and Radium.
Were it not for the fact that Major
I G E. Dutton is considered one of the
foremost authorities on earthquakes
and volcanic activity in this country,
his new theory of volcanic activity,
published in the pages of monthly
scientific review. would probably be
received with scant attention, although
his arguments are both ingenious and
plausible. Almost every natural phe-
nomenon which has been inadequately
explained by the theories at present
in vogue, has latterly been attributed
to some form of radio-activity.
Major Dutton starts with the funda-
mental proposition that our present
conception of a volcano, which is that
OF safety-vent, is inapplicable to the
conditions which We know exist. The
earth is no longer regarded as an i'm
mense sphere of liquid or semi-liquid
material surrounded by that solid
crust of indeterminate thickness which
constituted the interesting but uncon.
vincing teachings of our schools and
colleges some twenty years ago, but
as a fairly solid globe Furthermore,
the discharged masses of any single
volcano are hardly sufficient to bear
out the existing theory, which can be
proved simply enough. Draw d seq
ment of section of the EARTH and
plot upon it to scale section of a
volcanic lava reservoir. Severe as
many eruptions concededly are, it will
be found that the quantity of lava dis.
charged from the plotted volcano will
only in exceptional cases be more than
two or three cubic miles. To be sure
masses as high as six cubic miles have
been estimated, but such a discharge
is unusual. An investigation of this
character must show how small. in.
deed. is the amount of lava expelled
for the amount of activity manifested
II We conceive volcano to be moth
ing more or less than the geological
safety valve of our schooldays, why
is it that one eruption does not imme
Glately reduce the internal pressure
and render the volcano dormant? w,
find. on the other hand. that erup
tons constantly recur before and af
ter an outburst of maximum force.
II We may judge from a study of the
# ~ Il ;,t,
caused by eruptiOnS, We are more OF
less justified in holding as Major Dut
ton states. that a lava reservoir i;
very shallow, perhaps really more thar
three miles deep. When we consider
the fact that seismic disturbances as
a general rule, increase to a certain
point, and then subsde, we NAV as
sume that there is gradual develop
ment OF volcanic heat and a gradua
'ilminution. At the point of maximum
temperature the steam invariably con
tanned IN lava eNerts its greatest pres
sure, and forces out the lava in an
eruption of more or less violence.
Diminishing the old conception that
the material discharged was main.
tanned in a molten condition for ages
after the earth cooled down: dismiss
ing, too, the idea that the lava reser
voirs are but the projections of a cen
tral molten mass, because such pro
Jectlons would have solidified millions
OF years ago; and dismissing further
the doctrine that the cause of volcan
ic activity is steam generated at grea
= depths, because steam would be un
able to lift the thousands of tons O
rock above it, Major Dutton holds tina
-. the heat must be generated in or sur
y rounding molten lava.
O The next step is to ascertain wha
. may be the cause of this internal hea,
Major Dutton finds in raslium a sut
=, stance which has all the propertie
= that he seeks. 1t is admitted that III
,, earth contains either radium or radio
active minerals The calculation
!. which have been made. rough, to b
= sure, but still sufficiently accurate TO
!, the purpose in hand, tend to prov
! that the heat developed by subterrar
} can radium is far greater than can b.
= radlated into space under normal cor
!, ditlons. The only weak point in tn
:, theory is the amount of radioactive
material which must be contained il
G a volcanic reservoir to produce dis
J, turbances as violent as those which
nave been recorded in historic times
furthermore, there is difficulty of tn
q relatively short life of radium; bu
ths' 1t must be confessed, is over
9 come by granting its constant refol
,. nation from some material such a.
~ uranium, a supposition which the lat
>. est views of physicists justify.
=, Whether Or not We accept the the
y ores which Major Dutton has advanc
ed We must at least admit that the,
II are as plausible as the theories whic,
have dominated geological teachins
;, Tor the last half century.-Scienti6
, American.
s Nervous Prostitution,
Is1n Dy.,,