The Elbert County tribune., 1912-10-18

earthquakes in the last three months. Twice
once in July and in August the shocks pc
came heavy that they practically depopulaeeu
the city for nearly week on each occasion
Seven scientists headed by Prof. Ramon Leon
of the seismographc branch OF the National Cd
servatory have just finished report on the
quakes and their causes. They declare Una.
Guadalajara, with its 100000 inhabitants, ls pult
in the crater of giant volcano which was active
about 1900 years ago. Below the city, they 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 caldron of molten
stone and burning coal and sulphur combined
with gases which from still further down
4 In the bowls of the earth. The report urges that
the city be moved that at least the Inhabitants
abandon 1t Immediately The center OF the crater
is located trife west of the main plaza and
practically under the state palace or capitol OF
the state of Jalisco.
Scientific measurements soundings with dia-
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 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
will burst forth.
They infer that the destruction will come with
In year. for they say that the volcano, whose
caldron is placed 300 feet below the surface of
the earth, is what is known ripe for the ex-
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 the crater of
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 no change between sum-
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 the capital OF the state. and the escape Of
large volumes of sulphur laden gases from these
hssures
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 haze been
transferred to Mexico City already. The state
= palace or capitol in Guadalajara is one of the
largest and most beautiful of all the buildings OF
its kind in Mexico and cost approximately 7OOO-
900 pesos 1t fronts on the main plaza or public
square and occupies entire end being nearly
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, Jasco and
Michoacan. and is commonly called the Pearl
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 will
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 cathedral
of Pueba, and has in addition the distinction of
having been completed in 1918 and of having
been almost destroyed by earthquake in 1850.
1t severely shaken in 1913, and cracked in
three places by the first series of the $40 quakes
Of the past three months in June, 1912. The
towers are 200 feet high, Byzantine In construc-
tion and the structure occupies OF the most
valuable pieces of land in Guadalajara.
The most precious art possession OF the entire
republic is contained in the sacristy of the cathe
dral 1t is Muro's painting of the Assumption
of, the Virgin" and it hangs directly above the
entrance In point of color and freshness this
painting is better than any Murillo now known
to tne art world OF Europe Americs while the