The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-23
From the New York Sun.

@.HE study of earthquakes is
fortunately the seismologists of
mite and valuable facts oncerning the
San Francisco shocks that could not have
been ascertalned thirty years ago. only
half a century has elapsed since Mr.. Per-
rev of France and Mr.. Robert Mallet OF
England began to collect and coliate the
records of earthquakes in various parts
OF the world, but the long lists thus op-
tanned after infinite pains we're little more
than catalogues of the woes endured by
the inhabitants of few earthquake coun-
tries, and they led TO no solid results tnat
could help to make such phenomena, their
origin and modes OF action, better known
to us.
1t is only since 1887 that seismology has
taken its place as science to be STUDIED
by long and careful observations like any
other exact science. Its birthplace was
japan. which is not surprising when we
consider the circumstances. In many
countries earthquakes occur at such long
intervals and are as ruie so local IN
effect that no continuous observation Is
possible. In other large regions learth-
quake shocks when they come are SO yio-
lently disastrous as to render any work
except fight to a place of safety impossi-
BILE.
In Japan, however, the situation is dif-
ferent. Japan has It's terrible earthquakes
marking their paths by ruin and deafh,
but they are few compared with the num-
Der of harmless earthquakes. There are
many hundreds OF slight shocks every year
doing little or no damage, and here the
student has ample and safe opportunity
to collect facts.
This opportunity was seen by Prof. John
Milne, who occupied the chair OF geology
in the University of Toxic. He formed a
society of natives and Europeans which
in a few years collected a mass of facts
with regard to earthquakes that surpassed
in value all that the previous four GEN.
turtles had placed at the service of science.
Among the results was the perfecting
of instruments for recording earth motion,
and there is no doubt that seismographs
all over the world have recorded the San
Francisco shocks. Science may now de-
termine IL the required data are obtain
ed, the eplcentrum, or. In other words, the
particular surface beneath which the sub
terranean jar that caused the earthquake
occurs. It may also determine approx
mately the depth beneath the surface at
which the trouble begins. Thus the place
OF origin or the epicentral tract of the
Charleston earthquake was in the region
Just west and southwest of the city, about
twelve miles beneath the surface.
II is probable that the place of origin of
our last disastrous earthquake will be as
certained Unless the shocks were fol-
lowed by heavy earthquake sea waves
along the coast it is perhaps more pro-
bable that the epicentrum was under the
land surface than under the sea floor.
According to the Washington report,
the earth waves produced by the shocks
reached the seismographs there in less
than four and one-half minutes after the
original occurance at San Francisco. If
this report is accurate, the rate of trans
mission was more than eleven miles in n
second, a remarkably rapid rate OF move
ment, through earthquake waves travel
Charleston earthquake the rate was about
1900 feet. or little more than three
miles, in n second.
We know nothing as yet to indicate that
the disturbance radiating from this earth
quake began to compare with those from
the Charleston shocks. Seismogra phs
were few In number and very imperfect in
1856. OF we should have heard OF that
earthquake from stations all over the
world. But the shock was slightly felt
In this city and was appreciabie to our
senses to the west of the Mississippi river
and in the southern part of Ontario. The
effects OF the San Francisco earthquake
of sufficient intensity to be recognized
without the aid OF sesmographs appear
to have been confined to the region ex-
tending a few hundred miles around the
city
One or two scientific men seem to take
a gloomy view of the future safety of San
Francisco and the Pacific coast. Such ex-
pressions are both untimely and unwar-
ranted. biologists agree that there is
nothing cataclysmal about the upheaval
or subsistence of parts OF the earth's rock
crust The movements are very slow,
occurring through thousands OF years. and
when as a result of these movements the
rocks In small area are displaced by
faulting tand this seems to be the cause
of the present earthquake experience is
against the idea that a similar calamity
of equal intensity will again affect the
same. area for a very long period of time,
and perhops for many ages. Caracas. TO
be sure. has suffered severely since the
earthquake that overthrow her in 1872 but
that city stands in an area of unusually
rapid mountain formation. and her case is
exceptional
We cannot discover or reckon with the