The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
TO RECORD EARTH'S CHANGES.
ISLANDS ARE BORN AND DIS.AP-
PEAR EVERY YEAR.

BhiftlnB OF inc SURFACE OF inc Globe
Coast Lines Are Constantly Being
Made Over-Man's Part in Rebuilding.
When the Ninth International Geo.
graphical Congress meets in Geneva It
will be asked TO approve the idea Of Or
ganizinR a scientific movement for the re-
oording Of the changes that are constantly
occurring on the land surface Of the earth.
The suggestion, originating with Prof,
Richard Tronnier, has been taken up among
others by P~eter1ndnn's Mite,Eungen, which
says that while the organization OF this
work presents difficulties, 1t is a mattar OF
much Importance and the next Congress
should take steps to place it on a scientific
basis.
For years great attention has been given
to the study Of the movements Of the at
mosphere and Of water surfaces, but such
q thing as systematic record Of the changes
on the land surface. excepting those caused
by earthquakes or the growth Of the deltas
or a few phenomena along shore lines,
has never been attempted. Prof. Tronnier
illustrates his idea by many occurrences
In 1905. II such records as he proposes
had been kept for centuries past they would
have been a very valuable contribution to
the history Of our planet. Here are soms
Of his notes relating to islands in 1905
The steamship City Of Panama. on Janu-
ary q, while OF the coast Of southern Cali
fornia and many miles at sea, passed
through a belt Of water miles In width that
was covered with trees, plants and the
bodies Of animals. The mass Of drift was
30 thick that the vessel made her way only
with the greatest care. Many trees were
from Ave to six feet in diameter and the
dead animals were Of many kinds. The
only theory concerning this find Ia that ono
or more OF tho four islands forming the
Revillo GiRedo group, uninhabited by
man, but with fauna and fora Of tropical
richness, may have been destroyed by
some natural calamity.
THE Sun reported early last year the ap-
pearance above the sea on November IL,
1904, Of an island, suddenly produced by vol.
canio action and named Nushima by the ma
tives Of the BONN group. The island reached
q height Of $50 feet. The latest reports
received last fall say that the island had
wasted away until It's highest point was only
ten feet above sea level and its circumfer-
ence has been reduced about one half,
It was thou ght that In a few weeks moro
It would be lost to sight beneath the sea.
In midyear the Mill island, In the Pacific,
was almost completely washed away by
great storm waves, 179 persons losing their
lives. Most Of the island is now twelve feet
under water. -
Among the examples Of destruction
along coasts, Prof. Tronnier mentions the
Portuguese fishing town and watering
place Espinho. which In the last months Of
1904 was almost daily assaulted by sea
waves that gradually destroyed the beach
and invaded street after street. The e.
forts to protect the town failed and at the
end Of January eighty-one houses had been
washed away. The ocean now occupies
the places where they stood, and as 1t pene-
trates further into the land with every
storm 1t is likely that the entire town will be
destroyed.
EARLY In January a wide piece Of the coast
near Dover, England, estimated to weigh
1000, 900 tons, fell into the sea- This Is
the greatest destruction Of coast In British
waters In the past half century.
On July 20 a dry dock in the Bay Of Naples
was suddenly moved about 600 feet to the
right In consequence, 1t 10 supposed, Of q
sharp movement Of the sea floor.
Early in thu year there was an
landslide on the slope of a mountain border
ing Lake Lone In Norway. An immense
quantity Of rock fell into the lake, causing
high waves that poured upon the opposite
shore, destroying q whole village. Fifty
eight persons lost their lives, n q little
steamer was torn from its moorings n
carried about 1000 feet inland. Among the
many landslides in the Alps were five Of
special Importance in which human life
and a considerable quantity Of property
were destroyed.
On November s a hndslip Of unusual
magnitude carried about fifteen acres Of
land from Moen Island into the Baltic. All
Of it was either titled land or fine forest
and the loss of property was considerable.
Among the changes caused by flowing
water Tronnisr mentions the new channel
which the Rio Grande on our southern Dor
der made for itself in June last for a distance
Of eighty miles. About 100 persons lost
their lives by this catastrophe and tho
American town Of La Mesa now lies half a
mile south Of the Mexican shore Of the
river.
OF course human influence is very potent
In producing changes on the land surface.
Among the instances which the professor
cites is the complete removal OF the little
mountain, Spitzberg, in Prussia. which
has been entirely dug away by a railroad
company that had use for the earth and
rock 1t contained. The top Of this littls
eminence wal often sought by tourists
to enjoy q particularly fine view OF the
Aavel valley.
The village Of Upleatham in Yorkshire
has been undermined by coal mines and
is steadily sinking. During the last twenty
years its population has declined from
800 to seventy. Since 1900 the church
school, three barns and twenty-five houses
have been destroyed by the frequent earth
movements.
Most Of such occurrences pass out OF mind
In @ few years, and there Is no doubt that
our knowledge Of the earth would be con
siderably enriched il accurate records
of such events had been kept for centuries
past. Only those reports are worth pre-
serving which are true. The mixture OF
fact and error usually found In the frs
reports has no place In the permanent
record. 1t Is now proposed to undertake