Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-03-03

III scientists could only sink a test
tube down into the center Of the earth
they might be able to ascertain more
accurately just what is going on with
IN the far interior and might more
nearly tell what is going to happen on
the earth's crust The appalling dis
aster in Italy has forced home again
the TACT that the earth is really a
high-pressure boiler, with intermittent
eruptions and earthquakes which carry
destruction to man and the works Of
man. What with volcanic eruptions.
earthquakes and tidal waves occurring
in some places. what is to prevent sim
liar unexpected outbreaks in others L?
Nothing at all, under similar geo
graphical conditions.
These and many other questions and
answers have probably arisen in the
mind OF every speculative man and
woman since the dawn OF the new
year, when the full extent and horror
OF the Italian disaster began to be
FULLY realized. And 1t is scarcely to be
expected that very much consolation
will be derived therefrom, or even
from the statements OF some scientists
regarding this earths internal trou-
bles. their alarming causes and prob
able disastrous results.
IL Ii not very comforting, for In
stance. to be solemnly informed that
We are living today ON the outer shell
OF a high pressure boiler, which leaks
badly In certain weak spots and
blows out" with alarming frequency,
along a certain weak plate which Is
geographically known as the earth
quake belt"
IL you take a map OF the world and
draw a broad line straight across the
Pacific ocean, from the Philippine
islands to Panama. thence across the
Atlantic ocean through the British
West Indies to Spain and Italy, thence
continuing across Europe and Asia to
Japan. and on TO the starting point In
the Philippines. you will see exactly
where the earthquake belt lies.
There are other minor belts one of
which passes southwark along the
coast of California and Mexico and the
west coast OF South America. There
are evidences observable to-day in
practically all parts OF the world OF
other earthquake belts in which ire
mendous geological changes and up
heavals were wrought In prehistoric
times.
Even New York city is in an earth.
quake belt. At some time, probably
thousands and thousands OF years ago
mighty earthquake split asunder the
rock that united what is now the
Island OF Manhattan to the Palisades
of the New Jersey coast. That earth
quake formed the Hudson river.
Earthquake belts are admittedly
weak spots IN the outer crust OF the
earth-the high pressure boiler OIL
which we hve-and there 10 no evi
denee that any OF them were ever per
manently repaired
Prof Edward Suess. the eminent
Vienna geologist, predicted a few DAYS
ago that eruptions would follow the
earthquake and tidal wave in southern
Italy. He attf buted the earthuuake 70
the sinking q. the earth's crust. other
wise buckl ne OF the boiler plates in
the zone Of which the Lipari islands
are the certer He declared that as
the process OF sinking went on the
Calabrian and slcilian highlands on
either side OF the Straits OF Meesira
would be submerged. only the highest
peaks remaining above the sea. The
strait. he said, would thereby be great
ly widened.
Pro-. Suess Is OF the opinion that
the Carths crust Is gradually shrink
ing everywhere There is consolation
TO be found. however. In his further
remark that the life Of the human
species will be too short to make this
phenomenon important TO mankind
The average thickness of the eartb'e
crust. the boiler plates, is generally as
sJmed TO be 80 miles and It's average
density 10 be about Eve times that OF
water Scientists have estimated that
the downward press re at a depth OF
90 miles below tho surface OF the
earth Is somewhat IN excess of half q
million pounds to tho square inch. II