Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-24
NO CONNECTION WITH vEsUviUs.
San Francisco Earthquake Caused by
Contraction of Forces.

Contraction Of Forces.
Charles D. walcott. director Of the
geological survey, holds that there is
no possibility of connection between
the earthquake at San Francisco and
the recent eruption Of Mount Vesuvius,
and, further, that there are entirely
different scientific phenomena respon-
sible for such earthquakes as the
present one and volcanic disturbances.
Great earthquakes, says the direc-
tor. are never caused by volcanoes,
but the faulting plains. This Is par
ticularly true of both seaboards Of the
United States. Mr.. Walcott and other
scientists of the geological and geo.
detic surveys agree that scientifically
the present disturbance is caused by
tanning during the earthquake which
demolished Charleston in 1885. This
disturbance was one that was most
thoroughly studied, and the causes
are agreed on by most scientists.
Volcanoes occasionally cause shak-
ings Of the earth's crust, but the dis
turbance occasioned by pent-up gases
seeking to escape are felt only To-
cally. The volcanic eruption may pre-
cipitate slipping along the line Of
cleavage Of rock, just as a jarring
Of an insecure body may cause its
breaking loose. To the cleavage,
however, is due the unusual disturb
ance.
1t Is a geologically 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 1t was a hundred years ago.
There was time when the Appalach-
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 occa-
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 a molten
mass inside. When any object cools
It contracts, and so will the earth as
1t grows colder. This contraction
would unavoidably cause disturb
ance in the already hardened shell,
that surrounds the inner mass. That
shell must give way at some point. 1t
Is argued that the great mountain
ranges have been pushed up In this
way and that at known points breaks
or cleavages have been formed I'm the
shell. The contraction is gradual. and
no tremor would be felt IL 1t were not
for the faulting plains, but as the
stress becomes great at the point Of
cleavage the slipping may not be reg
ular, and this irregularity will shake
all the country affected by the chang
ing Of levels.
earth's surface, another cause is given
that might affect the changing Of the
surface Of given part Of the world.
This cause Is the accumulation OF a
vast weight of sedimentary deposit
brought down by rivers. For exam
pie, the Mississippi Valley Is entirely
made up of deposits Of the streams
washing down from higher lands
The weight of that deposit would be
difficult to calculate, and resting upon
portion Of the earth's shell, might
occasion its sinking.
This theory is held by some scien-
lists in connection with the present
disaster, for the Sacramento river Is
the depositor Of vast weights Of sed-
iment in the Pacific waters near San
Francisco.
According to Mr.. Walcott, there
has been much evidence in the San
Francisco district In the past few
years to substantiate the faulting-
plain theory. All along the Pacific
coast earthquakes have been felt to
greater or less extent ever since
the government has begun to observe
such phenomena They are proba-
bly, due to the same geologic condi-
tions and the irregular slipping OF the
opposing walls of rock.