The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-09-17
MAKES REPORT
cF ON ERUPTION
GeoIooist suggests a Connection BE,
tween the Volcanic Disturbance
and the Worlds Exposition in
San Francisco In 1915.

"S 1HPSS'ktSt 't
San Francisco In 1915.
Washington.-In q report just for.
warded to Washington from the field,
Geologist j. 8. Diller suggests a con
nection between the Lassen peak erup-
ton and the San Francisco 1915 OK.
position.
Mr.. Diiler was ordered, to visit the
scene of volcanic eruption and his de-
tailed statement was made public by
the United States geological survey.
The gsologist points out. that old Vul.
al may be preparing an American
Nesuvius for the Panama-Pacific ex.
position. The racifc ocean is girdled
by volcanoes, aud live ones are com.
mon in the Central American. coun.
tries to which Panama belongs. Mr..
Dtller 8 thus; so IL is up to
Vulcan to prepare a nearby exhibit
for the OCCASION. and he evidently sees
his duty and is r~ejuvenating the en-.
ersy Of Lassen peak as a kind of vol.
canic moving picture.
Mount Rainier and Mount Shasta,
the beautiful cones so much in evil
dence to the traveller on the Pacific
coast north OF San Francisco, are now
finding an upto-date rival In Lassen
peak, which is plainly in view from
the railroad for many miles in the
Sacramento valley between Reddinz
and Red Bluff. Lassen peak is tie
southern end Of the Cascade range,
and 1t stands between the Sierra Ne.
vada OF the southeast and the Kla-
math mountains on the northwest. It's
lavas erupted in past ages reach the
Sacramento valley on the one side
and on the other form a part OF the
vast volcanic field, one of the greatest
in the world, that stretches far across
California, Oregon, Washington and
Idaho to the Yellowstone National
park.
"Of all portions Of the Cascade
range Lassen peak still retains the
largest remnant of Its once vigorous
volcanic energy. Morgan and Suppan
hot springs and Bumpass hell on the
south az we'll as Hot Spring valley and
the boiling mud lake Tartarus on the
southeast have long attracted the at
tention not only Of Californians, but to
some extent the tourists, to whom the
region is growing more accessible
every year. II to these already es-
tablished attractions be added q fire.
quent occurrence OF the recent vol
canic plays of Lassen peak the region
will take high rank among natures
wonderlands. s,r
But what is the nature of this new
activity of Lassen? Is it really vol
canic? VIII it soon dwindle and be-
come wholly quiescent or on the other
hand ia 1t the precursor OF a more pro-
found eruption like that Of Krakatoa?,
The excellent photographs that have
been taken of the %outburst, especially
those of G. F. Milford and the series
by B. F. Looniis of Viola. taken from
a point six miles northwest OF Lassen
peak, leaves little doubt in the mind
Of any one familiar with volcanic phe-
nomena that the outburst is essential
ly volcanic. These photographs are
strikingly similar to those taken by
Johnston-Lavis showing the progress
of an eruption in the Pfpari islands.
whose volcanic character Is we'll
known.
THE eruptions of Lassen peak be
gan May 80 at $50 p. m, with an out.
burst Of steam which, according to
Forest Supervisor w. ]. Rushing, con
tinued about ten minutes. 1t formed
q crater in the snow-covered summit
of Lassen about rs by 40 feet in extent
and covered the encircling snow for a
distance Of 300 feet with a mantle of
dark we dust. Harvey Abbey, a forest
range visited the scene and reported
the facts.
"On the following day at S a. M, an
other eruption occurred and on June 8.
a week later, the third and much
larger outbreak took place. 1t lasted
30 minutes and the rolling column Of
dense black smoke rose to the height
$500 feet. Stones were hurled from
the crater and the forest service out.
look house, a quarter of a mile away
on the tip-top Of Lassen peak, was
broken by some Of them. Blocks and
smaller fragments accumulated about
the crater to a depth Of several feet.
The dust and sulphurous gases carried
southwark by the wind were observed
Mineral, the forestry station, and
the dust "a noted Ave miles beyond. |
Forest rangers who were in the neigh
borhood OF the summit during the erup- |
ton heard the rushing steam and the
rocks. but report no rumbling |
or subterranean noises, earth shocks, |
phenomena or great heat be-
You'd that OF steam. The dust was
practically cold when It fell. Consid-
cradle volumes Of water were elected, |
probably wholly in the form Of steam.
The water condensing from this steam
a gully in the snow to the
adjacent lakelet, which occupies what
prior to- this latest eruption had long
been regarded as the youngest crater
the Lassen volcano. The new, era
Ter lie not quite over the throat Of the
,ld, but Is a few hundred feet to the
.ttt
--L .at L u