Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-29

Gilbert has ascrihed the origin of
the numerous secondary scarps along
the Wasatch base largely to earthquake
dtsplacements. and he points to a
seemingly close analogy between these
faults and those which formed, prac-
tlcally under observation ia owens
valley, California as incident to the
earthquake OF 1872. Referring to these
latter, he says: AS | saw them, II
years after their formation. they ap-
peared little fresher than some of the
Wasatch scarps, Other instances OF
recent earthquakes and resultant fault
scarps are cited, and the application
or these observations to the Wasatch
faults is thus expressed: TT is legit-
Innate to infer that the belt of fertile
valleys that follows the western base
of the great mountain range of Utah
is an earthquake district. and this
despite the fact that since its first set
tlement IN 1850, no important tremors
have been recorded.
wAsATCH RANGE RISING.
1T is matter OF geological history
that the Wasatch range is gradually
rising, and that this rise is not uni
form IN time and place but Is accom-
plshed by small and sudden displaca-
ments more or less localized with Inter-
walls of rest. OF the lengths OF these
Intervals we have no means of judg
Ing. and no one can predict the date
OF the next movement; but it Is beyond
question that such movement will take
place and that when II occurs, the
adjacent valley will experience an
earthquake. Neither Is 1t possible to
predict with great confidence what
portion Of the district will be next af-
fected, but II the orogeuic force is
approximately constant and the rhythm
IN its visible work is due to the neccs-
sity for accumulated energy to over
come friction, then the localities with
fresh fault scarps may reasonably be
assumed to be exempt from faultIng
for longer period than those in which
only ancient fault scarps are seen.
Reasoning thus was led to sound
u note of earning In Salt Lake city,
which stands close by an exceptional
section OF the range, where the fault
scarps are so ancient as to be largely
obliterated.' ('L-ake Bonneville, pp.
361, 1922
EARTHQUAKES IN UTAH.
THE eminent authority on Lake
bonneville has not failed to repeat this
note OF warming as occasion has per-
mitted. a letter from his pen APP
peared in a Salt Lake City daily in
1883; and 10 insure its preservation it
WIS reprinted IN Sclentinc Journal or
note (American Journal of Science,
January, $3.50.
with regard TO the occurrences Of
earthquakes in the populated parts Of
Utah, the facts are that during the
period of civilized occupancy no
seismic disturbances OF alarming mag
nitude have occurred, though slight
tremors are very frequent within the
bonneville basin, and particularly
along the WasatCh base.
rs 1t not probable that the exist
ence of fracture planes is ra-
Their safeguard than dan
ger with respect to earth
quake disturbance? The existence
of such planes In great numbers Is evil
dent from the surface scarps and
from the slickensides disclosed by ar
tihcial excavations 1t would appear as
probable that such planes may be
really planes of easement, comparable
In effect perhaps 10 the sutures In the
animal skull, whereby movements and
even fractures may be confined to very
narrow limits. The resistance 10 crust
movements In such a broken region
would be lessened, and there would be
less opportunity for the 'orogenio .orce'
to accumulate destructive energy before
relief would be found"
LOCAL INDICATIONS.
As am addendum TO the foregoing quo