Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04
The Causes of the Earthquake.

The learned men are coming forward
with their explanations of what hap
pened in southern Italy and on the
beautiful island of Sicily These s>.icn-
tlic explanations do not restore ihT
demolished cities or bring back the
least of interest to all at this time.
Earthquakes have been noted ever
events, and ever since there have been
scientists worthy of the name they
have been investigating this phenom-
ena of nature. Yet, in spite of all the
records and observations which extend
over 90 centuries or more and cover all
parts Of the globe. the modern author
tiles are not ready to give definite and
absolute theories as to the cause Of
earthquakes.
Their frequent occurrence in the vi
cinty of volcanoes. either preceding or
following violent volcanic eruptiOnS
iloS leu many W D'li'N tiIctl
their origin was traceable to the diff
Guilty encountered by the internal fires
in finding vent through the cone OF the
Volcano. Others have held the theory
that they Were caused by a leakage in
the bottom Of the ocean which allowed
great masses of water to flood the in
ternal fires of the earth and thus gen.
Grated steam which caused the com
motion upon the surface. Other scien-
lists have held that they had their
origin in the slipping of the great
masses of earth in the oceans bed
In an interview since the Italian
earthquake Professor james F. Kcmpt
of Columbia University expresses the
opinion that The earthquake was caus-
ed by fold developing In the outer
crust of the Earths surface in order
to allow it to adjust Itself 20 altera-
tons in the shape of the globe. rs to
the causes which are bringing about
a change in the shape Of the globe,
Professor Kempt says:
There are several theories on this
point. Scientists have not entirely
abandoned the view held when | was
a student. 1t was accepted gene rally
that the Garth was steadily losing its
heat and was consequently. contract
ing. SO the outer SURFACE must ac-
| commodate Itself to new conditions
Eut lately there have been other Views
put forward. 1t has been suggested
that the earth is slowing up in its rate
of rotation. The tides and the atlnos-
phcre act as Il drag upon it, and there
j.; an appreciable slackening in speed
This results III the globe tending to
approach II more perfect sphere. The
ilattenng of the poles is decreased and
there must be some movement in the
surface to allow for this. Another idea
is that the quiet, ceaSelcss work of the
rivers in carrying down to the ocean
portions of the land is gradually alter
ing the centre OF gravity and the di-
roCtion of the axis. Then we know that
the axis of the earth is not steady
Naples and New York are in the same
latitude. We have conducted at Col
umba parallel observations of the
stars with those made in Naples. We
have been able to demonstrate that as
he earth spins there is a slight but
definite way ring of the axis. We call
il mutation, or noddinS."
Dr. Kempt described the marks of
the crack in the earth likely to be
found rs resembling a terrace running
across Il garden. The government in
its reports on the San Francisco earth
quake has published Photographs
showing plainly marked ridges, several
feet high. cutting across the open fields
and looking not unlike Il s,nll>n fence.
sometime the fault has developed
with Il horizontal action. The level of
the ground has remained the same, Dut
II rath which should have run in q
and twisted into q ZigZag. Asked to
| explain why it is that certain portions
| of the earth seem more prone to Scis-
mic disturbances than other parts, Dr.
| I>empt declared that no satisfactory
expiration of this phenomenon had
yet been given. I'VE know" he said,
that there seem to be lines Of weak
ness in the globe. We can't say why
| they occur Just as we cannot cN-
plain now 1t is that ranges of moan
| tains appeared on the land. and rspec-
| lilly deep dcprcssions beneath The
ocean, SO we cannot tell why what is
commonly called the outer crust Is
| weaker at one place than another All
we know is that it seems to be the
case
Another possible cause Of the dsas-
ter is suggested by DR.. Louis 2. Graf
acap. curator If the meteorological de-
partment of the American Museum OF
Natural History. He pointed out that
it was impossible to give a definite