Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-14
The Future of California.

course, there is no question that san
Francisco itself will promptly be re-
built and will continue to be the one
great port of the Pacific. This is as
sured, although it is inevitable tha'
the growth and prosperity of the city
gets a severe blow. But what VIII oe
the effect upon other cities, anu upon
the state at large, as reSarus 'iieh
tourist business and industrial develop
ment? That there is no niue APP
prehension upon this score is Indicated
NV tho statements which the Cali
fornian newspapers, local boards OF
trade railroad companies, etc. are
sending eastward. Sacramento. Los
| Angeles and other cities are endeavor-
ing to convince the world that they
neither felt the shock which destroyed
San Francisco nor have they the
sliphtest fear Of earthquakes in the
future A letter which the Journal has
received from the editor of the Sacra-
mento Rec, being the same doubtless as
was sent to newspapers all through the
county, has this to say:
"As n matter of fact, not a single
pane of glass was broken. not a brick
displaced not a machine thrown out of
adjustment. and not a person injured.
however slightly, in Sacramento City.
lr>l,o ;e, trrfn nf al hp r
cities and towns throughout the great
Sacramento Valley. There has been no
interruption of any kind to the bust
| ness of any Of these places. save that
which has been occasioned by their
efforts to aid in alternating distress.
| There are so many people throughout
the United States who have friends or
| relatives in this city or in some of the
many towns that are located in the
| valley and within fifty miles south. or
$50 miles north of this point. that it is
requested to relieve their anxiety.
fact in your columns"
| Statements of practically the same
purport have been sent broadcast for
Los Angeles and other cities which
feared that the San Francisco disaster
would prejudice the world against the
whole state of California as place to
live in. In San Francisco itself they
are trying to have the great disaster
spoken Of as ''the fire" rather than as
1.-The earthquake" a proceeding which
is somewhat suggestive of the attempt
of the ostrich to hide itself by buryins
it's head in the sand. The simple fact
is that, although the earthquake shocks
in San Francisco were quite severe
, wrecking to great or less degree
, numerous buildings and causing con
. siderable loss of life. the great catas
: trophe was due to the cOnflagra ton
whose destructive effects were wholly
owing to the fact that the water pipe.
had been broken up by the earth con
WILSON'S. and therefore the nSans o
1
abled. But for the wrecking of tn
, water pipes it is extremely unlikel!
that the fire would have acquired TIL
5 Roadway which caused the destruction
: of so much of the city.
: But the fact remains that not ever,
I part of the city was equally affectc
e by the quakes. In many sections tn
buildings were not damaged, and thi
is the history of every earthquake
D Only certain localities are serious
= shaken. while others entirely escape
1t is the generally accepted theor
planet make themselves most activel
manifest through the vibrations com
municated to the rocky strata, and tn
nearer these come to the surface
when they are shaken. the more violer
the effects upon whatever is upon til
surface above them.
In this connection the Sacrament
Bee makes statement to the effet
. that the Sacramento Valley is probabl
not exposed to any danger Of sever
earthquakes, The valley consists
alluvial deposits of earth, sand. gray
and other loose materially extending
an unknown depth. A boring mac
many years ago upon the Norris Graz
near that city, with the object of stril
ing artesian water. reached depth
over 1000 feet without passing throug
any solid rock formation.
20 According to the recent and accept
theories Of earthquakes. these convu
10 sions originate in solid rock of Il
ID earth's crust. many miles below Il
surface. Hence it seems reasonat
that the superficial covering
r. thousands of feet of loose materii
rn such as composes the floor of tt
he Valley. must act as a blanket