New-York tribune., 1906-08-20
REPORTING EARTHQUAKES.

One OF the unfortunate consequences Of last
weeks earthquake the temporary interrupt
ton of telegraphic communication between the
afflicted region and the outside world. Either
because the cable which comes up the west
coast of South America was ruptured near Val
paraisO or because its land connections were
injured that channel of information was at first
unavailable. The wires leading from the coast
to the interior and over the Andes were likewise
useless, owing, 1t now appears, TO falls Of rock
in the railway tunnels through which the wires
passed
Despite these hindrances other countries inn
mediately received suggestive hints of what had
happened in Chilli. In Washington and at Mr.
Mines special observatory in England records
were automatically made of vibrations which
had come from a distance. The origin Of the
tremOrs could not, Of course, be determined by
that evidence alone although a hasty cOmputa-
ton showed that their source was nearer TO the
United States than to Europe. Another effect
of the disturbance was a tidal wave in the
Pacific, first reported from Hawaii, 5000 miles
from the Chilian coast; but the phenomenon did
not reveal much. No one could tell, without ad-
ditiOnal information, whether the impulse which
started the colossal bllow had been given to
the crust of the earth out under the ocean or
inside the boundaries OF a continent, However
these waves are caused either by a tropical
cyclone an earthquake, and no cyclone had
been observed recently on the Pacific there was
only one other inference to be drawn. Finally,
tremors sufficiently violent to create panic but
TO do no other harm were actually felt at Men
doza, on tho Argentine side OF the Andes not
more than two hundred miles from Valparaiso
This one fact, in combination with the paralysis
Of communication with Chill, was only too sig
nihcant. The only reasonable doubts which
could then be entertained related to the exact
position of the area that had suffered most and
the extent of the damage done.
In such emergencies wireless telegraphy
should eventually prove Of incalculable value
The only possible way in which the efficiency
of the system could be impaired by an earth
quake apparently, is through the prOstration of
the tower or other framework which sustainS
the vertical wires, or the collapse OF the build
ing in which the operators work The first Of
these contingencies is so improbable that It
needs no consideration. A suitable pole can be
so stayed with guys that no shock could throw
| it down. Unless the demolition of the station
proper were complete enough to kill or disable
| the OperatOr-an improbable contingency-his
apparatus would doubtless remain in working
ORDER and he could safely remain at his post
The essential features of an equipment. aside
| from the upright wire, are a small gasolene
engine, dynamo, a transformer, Hertz wave
| generator and a Morse key; and everything ex-
cept the last mentioned object could be con-
veniently installed in the basement of the sta
ton, where it would be thoroughly protected.
It is not unlikely that some of the war vessels
or merchant steamships which lay at anchor at
Valparaiso the other day were provided with
wireless telegraphic instruments. With such
facilities it might have been feasible to antici-
pate the tardy performance of the cable on the
west coast OF the continent had the proper
means for receiving wireless messages existed
at Mendoza That city remained in touch with
the rest of the world, for communication with
Buenos Ayres had not been Interrupted. Due
| consideration Of this tantalizing possibility may
lead to a more extensive utilization of Hertz
waves than has yet been witnessed.