Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-04
EARTHQUAKE WORKS CHANGES
Ameriea's Great Seismic Commissions
Lasted a Year.

| December 16 was the centenary OF
the New Madrid earthquakes In the
great Central Mississippi Valley, says
a writer In the New York Sun. Sho, Id
the region from Carlo to Memphis
again be shaken 1t would be definite
Ily prophesied recurrence OF the con-
yulsions which affected the same area
hoo years ago and 200 years ago
Scientists have said that succeeding
earthquakes should be expected 81
Intervals Of q century. The area COM
prises an unstable geologic formation
which has what may be called the
Earthquake disease.
| It seems a curious coincidence tha'
this very territory Is the same area
which has suffered most severely
from the recent great floods OF the
Mississippi river. This, however, Is
merely an instance Of cause and effect
for the last great earthquake which
visited the region resulted in the
formation of skunk Lands" and
thus rendered them the most sus-
ceptible to flooding.
| Now, what would the average per-
son designate as the greatest earth.
quake in the history Of the United
States?
"Why, unquestionably," nine out OF
ten people would say, "either the re-
cent San Francisco earthquake or the
charleston, s. c., quake in 1885,"
| No, neither of them. These earth
quakes are world famous because OF
the loss that they caused and the suf-
fering that followed in their wake;
but in severity and extent Of disturb
ance they are not to be compared
with what is known as the New Mad
rid earthquake Of the Mississippi val
LEY, which, during the year following
December 16, 1911, wrought grea,
changes in the surface of the land.
The Charleston and San Francisco
disturbances were national disasters
because they affected the congested
population and the structures in the
two important cities. The New Madrid
earthquake left no marked impression
on the history Of the country, because
although, far more severe and pro-
longed, it occurred in a sparcely set
tied and at that time unimportant re-
gion. The destructive period Of the
a few minutes; that in the lower
Mississippi valley persisted at inter
walls for more than a year.
But this Is somewhat ancient his
tory, it may be remarked. It Is that;
but history repeats itself, and the
significant phase Of the New Madrid
earthquake Is that 1t was not the f1rst
to affect the same area, that 1t oc-
CURED in what is known among men
Of science as an earthquake area, that
the indications are that what has &C.
Cured in the past will recur in the
future. The geographical evidence is
indisputable that the New Madrid
earthquake Of 1911 was only one OF
| 80 oh
| this region had been subjected.
| AS to the chance Of a recurrence OF
the New Madrid earthquake some
years ago the late Nathaniel s. Shaler
of the United States geological sur
vey, had this to say:
| "Analogies indicate the probability
| of the recurrence of the New Madrid
earthquake within a century, since In
all these countries which have been
visited by great convulsions, where OBJ
servation has extended over a great
length of time, 1t has been found that
their visits must be expected as often
as once in a hundred years.
This century referred to by Profes-
sor Shale completed itself on Monday
December 1G, 1912. The hundredth
year has gone by. but 1t Is to be hoped
that the New Madrid area will be an
exception to the general rule.
| Any earthquake originating at or
near the centre of the New Madrid
disturbance would, according to geo.
Ilogists of the United States geological
survey. be felt in such towns as
Hickman, KY; Charlottesville, New
Madrid. Campbell and others in Mis-
souri,, and Jonesboro. Marked Tree,
Osceola and others in Arkansas, Mem
phis Is within 35 miles Of some Of the
largest fisures in the whole region
Carlo Is also within the area that
might be affected. ST. Louis might
also feel the shock.