Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-04-19

and in the other case, the disturbance
is confined and manifests itself in
vibrations of the earth's crust, due to
some intense internal shock. The
destruction following earthquakes is
naturally greatest in that region
directly over the subterranean point
at which the shock is delivered,
known as the seismic center, although
the vibratory waves extend for hun
dreds and even thousands of miles
through and along the surface of the
earth, which is shown by the fact that
at the time of the destruction Of San
Francisco, seismograps, delicate in
struments for registering the force
and direction of earthquakes vibra-
tons, were so violently agitated at
Washington, D. c., that they passed
| the limit of their ability to register,
so furious and frequent were the
shocks.
San Francisco and in fact that part
of California along the coast line has
long been known to be region liable
to earthquake shocks. These have
been of frequent occurrence, lasting
only a few seconds and doing little
actual damage. For this reason it
has not been until of recent years
that buildings of great height have
been erected in San Francisco. There
have been earthquake shocks, in fact,
at various points along the Pacific
coast from the extreme north bound
airy of the United States as far south
as Chilli in South America, where
there have been violent and destruc-
| tive disturbances. But in no case has
there been a disaster approaching
this one at San Francisco. Probably
there have been earthquake shocks
as violent, but the area of disturb
ance did not chance to be the site of
a modern city, largely inhabited.
The recent activity of Mount
VesuVius has indicated a period of
subterranean disturbance and its
general distribution is evident from
the disaster at San Francisco, thous-
| ands of miles distant. Exactly what
forces are working to produce these
recent effects it is not possible to
| say but that they are related is not
likely to be denied. In the case of
Vesuvius, however, there has been a
vent for the explosive forces.
Unfortunately, there is no lesson to
be drawn from sudden and viol eut
earthquake shocks, looking to the
preventing of similar disasters in the
future. Their only advantage, if they
may be said to have any advantage,
is in the opportunity they give 10
science to make further studies and
deductions, and the practical value Of
| these is only to increase the sum Of
human knowledge. The particula cig
distressing feature of property losses
| is that they are not. remedied by any
Insurance, as in the case of great
| AlCS. luz 1oSSI muSL SuAGT All GuElC3
11ss and receive no assistance from
the result of any prudent forethought
or protection. Doubtless there will be
great suffering, bic the sympathy and
assistance Of the country and of tia
world will remedy that as rapidly lis
! it is possible to dc 81. The city will
be rebuilded, for where there are the
natural conditions chat produce great
cities, great cities will always exist.
For even on the slope of Mount
Vesuvius there are cities that have
been destroyed and rebuilded as many
as sixteen times. But the immediate
effect of the disaster will be distress
ing and depressing and will retard the
rapid advance of the Pacific coast
country through the many channels OF
business that will be disturbed and
| the sympathetic misfortunes that at
tend on SO great calamity.
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