Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-10-18

earthquakes in the last three months. WISE
once in July and once in August, the shocks DC.
came heavy that they practically depopuiateu
the city for nearly week on each occasion.
Seven scientists headed by Prof. Ramon Leon
of the seismographic branch of the National Op-
servatory have just finished report on tne
quakes and their They declare that
Guadaajara with its 10000 inhabitants, is pulit
In the crater of a giant volcano which was actlVe
about 1900 years ago. Below the city, hey add
is the center OF this crater in which new crater
has formed likely to break out at any time.
They warn the residents of Guadalajara that be-
meath them Is an enormous caldron OF molten
stone and burning coal and sulphur combined
with gases which come from still further down
in the bowls of the earth. The report urges that
the city be moved that at least the inhabitants
abandon it Immediately The center of the crater
is located trtfe west of the main plaza and
practically under the state palace or capitol of
the state OF JaIisco
Scientific measurements soundings with dla-
mond drill and experiments with the gases which
have been pouring through cracks in the earth
in the city given, with detailed results OF the
study Professor Leon and his associates deduce
that surely science can forecast the city
will be destroyed by this buried crater, which
they say is enormous, though they admit that
they cannot with accuracy foretell when the vol
cano will burst forth.
They infer that the destruction will come with
in year, for they say that the volcano, whose
caldron is placed 800 feet below the surface OF
the EARTH is what is known as ripe for the
plosion. The report goes on to say that this is
the first instance in the history of the world In
which city has been located over the crater of
a volcano and that the heat from the buried bowl
of fire accounts for the warm climate of Guada-
lajara which, while 5000 feet above the sea, has
the temperature all the year round of coastal
resort with practically change between sum
mer and winter.
Increasing heat noticed in this part of Jalisco
for the past year and recorded by the local branch
of the government weather bureau first gave Pro-
fessor Leon the idea that subterranean fires were
responsible for the climate. Then came the earth
quakes the opening of assures in the main streets
of tho capital of the state and the escape of
large volumes of sulphur laden gases from these
assures
Fullest publicity is being given to the report
here. and government officials seriously con-
sidering the removal OF the capital to Juanacat-
Ian the Santiago river
/ The removal will follow the taking away of
/ all the government papers. which have been
transferred to Mexico City already. The state
i palace or capitol in Guadalajara is one of the
/ its kind IN Mexico and cost approximately 7.00O-
/ 900 pesos. 1t fronts on the main plaza or public
square and Occupies one entire end being nearly
j three hundred yards in length
Guaralajara is the second city in the republic
ranking next to Mexico City in population and
above 1t in wealth. being second only to Merida
| Yucatan, in this respect 1t is the market place
of two OF the richest states in Mexico Jalisco and
| Michoacan. and is commonly called "the Pear
of the Occident" while the surrounding territory
is known the granary of Mexico.
For these reasons the people who live here are
loath to leave the city. The Catholic church viii
be especially hard hit II the removal idea is car
ried out The cathedral which is one of the fin
est In Mexico, contains more gold and silver orna
ments than any other church save the cathedra
of Puebla, and has in addition the distinction o.
having been completed in 1918 and of having
! been almost destroyed by an earthquake In 1850
1t was severely shaken In 1918, and cracked il
three places by the first series of the $40 quakes
: OF the past three months In June 1912. The
towers are zoo feet high, Byzantine in construc
ton and the structure occupies one of the mos
: valuable pieces of land in Guadalajara
The most precious art possession of the entir,
republic is contained in the sacristy of the cathe
oral. II is Murilo's painting of the Assumption
: OF the Virgin" and It hangs directly above TIL,
: entrance In point of color and freshness thi
. painting is better than any Murillo now know
70 the art world Of Europe or America while RI,