Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-29
Secret
OF the
Volcano
nr GARREr =. snRvIss.

Nature is the great maker and user of
explosives. But its dynamite is steam.
With IL she can wreck world. In the
face OF the moon we see the aspect OF
q little planet which has been wrecked
IN that manner. Natures exploding boil
ers are volcanoes.
The gaunt frames of dead volcanoes
OF gigantic size cover the face OF the
moon. but their motive force is gone
because the moon no longer has either
free water OF sufficient internal heat
to turn the water into steam. She looKs
like q nonstrous verdun that, ages ago
was subjected to q storm OF shells
billion times miEhtier than any that
Krupp's biggest guns can hurl
The earth has both. and consequently
Il has active volcanoes. This Is the
earliest and, upon the whole. the most
consistent and probable explanation OF
volcanic action. All the active volos-
noes are sufficiently near the sea to be
within the probably range OF percolat-
ing subterTanean water But some of
the weter no doubt comes from the
rocks themselves. stin. there are no ac-
tive volcanoes at great distances from the
ocean.
Those found in the far interior Of con-
tinents are nero dead shells telling OF
time when they were animated by the
gtgantio force Of steam. supplied from
water sources now lacking.
Whenever Vesuvius or Btna explodes
with q furious eruption there are pre-
lininsry shAkings. spurtings and subter-
ranean groanings, which indicate the
gathering OF the forces in the choked
vents OF the volcano II a steam en-
ginser neglects his boiler and allows its
safety valve to become clogged II will
blow up
II the fragments could fall back into
place after every biow~up and form
new obstruction 60 the gathering steam,
there would be an endless series OF ex-
plosions as long a. the water lasted
and the fires burned. So with a vol
cano; an eruption relieves the internal
pressure and clears the volcanic pipes.
but e. soon a. the outgush ceases the
vents are reoiosed, obstructive material
presses in from All sides and the impris-
oned forces set TO work 20 collect energy
for another outburst
OF course. there are other gases and
vapors besides steam In the emanatiops
OF volcano, but they are subsidiary
to the steam which furnishes the princ,-
pal motive power. In addition to The
flying fragments. the bombs. and the
vast clouds of dust and vapor shot out
of volcano. are the floods of molten
rock and hot mud that flow down the
rent SIDES Of the crater or force their
way, through the flanks OF the rno,n-
tain. but the uplifting force behind the.e
Is mainly that of Imprisoned steam.
When the earth In practically dr,eA nm
and has no more oceans II VIII hava
no more volcanic eruptions. The planet
Mars has nearly. II not quite, reached
mat condition. and no astronomer has
ever seen volcanic eruption on Mars
although with modern telescopes the a.
1ects OF one as great az some we have
had within the last thirty or forty years
on the earth would be easily visible.
The black clouds filling thousands Of
square miles Of the atmosphere would h |
seen forming and spreading, for the per- |
nanent surface Of Mars 10 plainly viua-
BILE. II repeats the story OF the moon.
A. to Venus, we cannot tell with GER |
tainty because its solid surface, for soma |
reason, Is not clearly visible. jupiter |
seems to be In q constant state OF ebuir-
ton. like a boiling globe where nothing
retains permanent shape. except, per- |
hSps. the strange region called 'The great |
red gpot~
There IL on tho earth beautiful ex-
ample Of a kind Of model volcano. from
whose study the most interesting infor- |
nation Is obtained. 1t Is the island of
Stromboli IN the Mediterranean sea a
sort Of free school Of volcanology. There.
from time tmmemorial. frequent, and |
moro or les regular. explosions have |
been going on These eruptions are not |
severe enough to prevent observers from |
placing themselves on slope Of the |
mountain above the crater. which lies |
half down one side. and watching the |
working Of the forces beneath.
Between eruptions the bottom Of the |
crater. with its fiery spiracles, can be |
clearly inspected. Sometimes only steam |
Is blown off; sometimes fragments OF
rocks are shot up with the sitting Eases |
ana vapors. Occasionally the molten
matter In the crater is forced UP 10 the |
lin.