New-York tribune., 1906-05-02
VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES.

Hecla's outbreak, mild though IL is, adds a
fresh item to a suggestively long list OF dis
turbances which have occurred within the last
thirteen months and which are in a certain
sense related Early in April, 1905, Northern
India experienced an earthquake Of appalling
violence Italy was badly shaken in Septem-
ber Colombia at the close Of January, FOrmOsa
in March and California fortnight ago. Slight
volcanic activity was observed in the Wind
ward Islands shortly before the middle Of Feb
ruary, and a few weeks later an eruption OF
Vesuvius, which had continued for nearly a
year, suddenly increased in energy until 1t ex-
ceeded in destructive effects that Of 1872. AL
most simultaneously Iceland gave signs of sub
terranean agitation
Intelligent persons naturally wonder how
close the relationship may be among all these
phenomena On this point the geOlOgists are
not vet ready to throw much light If a stress
develops in the rock strata near one particular
fault in the earths crust, they tell us. the re-
suit will be an earthquake. If it so operates
in another place as to let water come suddenly
in contact with intensely heated rock, and IL
there is a suitable channel for escape steam,
dust broken rock and perhaps lava will be
discharged. There does not seem to be any
excuse for thinking that an outbreak in one
locality gives rise to another at considerable
distance, but there is at least similarity in
the causes at work. A transfer Of material off
the coast of California might produce an earth
quake there. A transfer of material elsewhere
might revive an old volcano. In both instances,
obviously, changes in local pressure would give
rise to the stresses responsible for the observed
effects. But is it possible to go any further2
Can any additional force be discovered which
might influence the whole globe at Once2
AS The Tribune pointed out a few days ago,
the old notion that the moon raised a tide In
the fluid interior of the earth is now in dis
favor. The newer conception, that there is
correspondence between sunspOt abundance on
the one hand and volcanic and seismic disturb
ances on the other, appeals to the Imagination,
but thus far has little to sustain it If the
polar regions were colder than usual at the
maximum stage as has been asserted, IL an
abnormal accumulation Of ice there resulted.
and If the wabbling of the earth's axis were duo
to that influence, 1t would still be necessary to
connect the wabbng with the development Of
extra stresses in the earth's crust This would
be q hard task. A reformation of the she'll
might be caused by an excessive load Of ice
at one point, but the effects should be felt in
close proximity to the pole, not thousands of
miles away. Much more proof must be ad-
duced before the theory that fluctuations In
the thermal output of the sun are related TO
earthquakes can be accepted.
It is permissible, however, To look inside the
earth as well as outside for an agency that
might affect separate localities simultaneously,
but more strongly at one time than another.
II the globe was ever as hot as the sun is now
It may have experienced the kind of upheav-
ais which produce spots on that body. Posi-
bly, there was an alienation between calm and
activity on the planet, as there Is now on the
central orb. Astronomers have not vet been
able TO explain the eruptions OF which the
sunspots are a product. One hypothesis which
is entitled TO respect is that chemical action
underlies the phenomena. If the earth were
ever subject 10 the same disturbances. when
did they cease? AS soon as an opa0ue film
formed on its surface2 Is there any posslhIlt1,
that, with greatly diminished force and Fro.
quency. they still occur? The chance may be
| too small TO deserve much consideration hn4
the suggestion Is at least as credible as some
others which have been offered With further
study, IL may be assumed more light win ha
thrown on the causes OF earthquakes and vol.
4 canic eruptiona but at present II IA wise nor