The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-21
NEXT GREAT QUAKE
MAY Be IN MEXICO
Shares With Ecuador and
Peru Danger of Big SeiS-
mic Disturbance.
DR.. HAYES MAKES PROPHECY
Mountains of Western Americas Have
Shifted at Extremities and Middle
Regions Likely to Suffer.

The backbone OF the American CONT /
nent has meningitis. according TO DR.. c. /
Willard Hayes, chief geolog.st Of the /
Geological Survey, and one Of the !
worlds experts in seismology. That
was the way DR.. Hayes put 1t, as ne
summarized an explanation Of scienuhc
phases and showed the relation Of the
late san Francisco TO the recent Chilean
earthquake horror.
DIT Hayes explanation Of what mas
happened in the last few months or re-
markable seismic activity is, by INFER
ence. also a prediction Of more troubles
In future Indeed. Or. Hayes went Iur-
Their than merely 20 show the posslblIty
Of further disturbances; he suggested
the probability of them, and where they
would be most likely 10 take place.
Mexico, Ecuador, Peru.
II DIT. Hayes reasoning is good, ex-
IRENE seismic activity may be regarded
as most likely 10 break out next in that
region of the American continental
backbone not vet affected, that is, along
that section OF the Pacific Coast noun
tains between Chile and California.
Peru. Ecuador, and Mexico would. by
this reasoning, be next in line for
trouble.
These mountains OF what is mis-
fakenIv called the backbone Of the
American continent are among the new
est in the world explained DIT, Hayes
THAT is why they are so high. Ihey
represent a much more recent geological
period than do the Appalachians. yet
II is probable the Appalachians were
once as high as the Rockies. They have
been worn down BIS erosion and wind
FraTr "a n
how long a process il would be There
are no volcanoes among them; volcanic
activity is always in the regions where
the newer mountains are
Causes Of Earthquakes.
EARTHQUAKES are caused In two very
different ways. One is by volcanic &C
tivity; the other is by the slipping Of
the earth's crust along fault line. re-
adjusting IL TO the new distribution or
pressurcs. The volcanic earthquake IS
caused by the operation Of forces lying
much nearer the surface, and therefore
IS more local iu its effects. II Is as II
you went down into the earth one foot
and there exploded a pound of dynamite
il would make a disturbance covering a
small area. Go to a depth Of ten feet
and explode 100 pounds, and you would
get a greater disturbance. covering a
wider area The earthquake OF most
widespread effect comes from deeper
seated causes than volcanic activity.
The California and Chilean Quakes are
not volcanic
THE earth crust is thinner along the
line of these newer mountain systems,
The pressure OF the immense weight OF
the mass is so great that the eaith Is
not solid inside At a depth probably Of
Tra- ara nj rsa mo ne
fl would flow like tar, because OF the
pressure Now in the processes OF cool
ing and adjustment OF the crust to con-
ditions within there come times when
great strains accumulate on the outer
crust; something has 10 give, and when
the crust at last. by sudden movement,
adjusts itself 10 the new conditions.
there Is a slipping along the line of a
follow the course of one of the newer
mountain ranges. That Is what hap
pened at San Francisco and in Gale"
Andes Reach Into Sea.
DIT Hayes then explained the error
of the common impression that the
Rockies and Andes together constitute
the backbone of this continent. He
said there is no real connection: the
Andes follow the Pacific coast of South
America mp 10 the northern part of the
continent, then turn eastward and run
out into the ocean the Windward
Islands. the Lesser Antilles, are In fact
the continuation of the Andes noun
tains, and the volcanoes of the West
Indies are part OF the volcanic system
Of South America. The so-called back
bone OF the continent doesn't continue
through the isfhmian region at all.
But while they are different systems
Of mountains. 1t is nevertheless true
that the Rockies Of North America and
the Andes Of South. are OF approximate
ly the same geologic age. They stand
over a great line of fault ir the crust.
That fault, being the line II least re-
sistance, has been recently taken ad-
vantage OF by great seismic forces in
forcing establishments Of the crust TO
internal conditions. Ii is fair to assume
that as the Teadjustment has been ef-
1ccted i'm California and Chile, and not
Yet effected between those regions, the
pressure must be severer than ever in
The intermediate region, therefore II is
reasonable 20 assume the danger OF
more troubles there