The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25
THE MYSTERY OF cULEBRA.
Mr.. Emerson McMillln Examines Ex.
Senator Kearns's Theory.

Senator kearns's Theory.
To THE EDITOR OF THE srN-Sir: The
article by former United States Senator
Thomas Kearns published in THE Sun
of June IS. In which he very clearly
states his opinion as to the source of
trouble at the 0aillard cut in the Pan
lima Canal. makes interesting reading,
coming as II does from a man OF such
large experience and from one who is
evidently q close observer. Tho article
will doubtless carry conviction to the
minds OF many laymen who read 1t. The
Senator Ia an able reasoner. From his
varied experience and from his close ob-
servation he produces abundant proofs.
But he Is also an adept at drawing
wrong conclusions.
That subterranean gas has anything
to do with the slides from the elevations
At the sides. or with the upheavals of
the bottom Of the canal In the Gaillard
cut, as suggested by Mr.. Kearns. Is IN
opinion unwarranted by any Of the
known facts.
Tho removal Of the earth at Zach side
Of the cut to ar angle OF repose for that
class OF material should end the trouble
from slides. 1t possibly will not end
the trouble due to bulging or uplifting
OF the bottom, though II should reduce
II. Tho enormous weight OF material
at each side OF the canal pressing on
soft earth below will tend to elevate the
bottom OF the canal. from which all
weight except the water In the canal
has been removed; but subterranean
gas has had. and will have. not the
slightest influence in producing such
unsatisfactory results.
II s~ubterranean gas was breaking
through crev!ces M carrying ur erup-
tive material. as suggested by the Sem
ator. there would doubtless be geysers
occasionally in the canal. and the sur
face OF the water would sometimes have
the appearance that would be made by
drops Of rain In an April shower. The
Senator says hat there is a great break
In the formation. almost at right an
giles to the canal. A break In tina for
nation is not the place where you Would
expect to sind accumulated gas.
The Senator Is evidently not very H-
m!liar with natural gas geology. He
appears to think that the gas is being
constantly generated and that It Is
stored In caverns or subterranean recep-
tacles. The great Trenton limestone gas
reservoir Of the middle West is found
TO be almost exclusively in'the first or
upper fifteen feet of hat limestone or
more frequently "A dolomite where the
gas is found. There are but few rec
ords OF gas being found fifty feet below
the upper surface of that great rock. ia
some places three thousand feet thick.
That dense stone was the storchouse
for the billions of cubic feet Of gas taken
out and the storchouse for the billions
Of cubic feet still there. probably but
little OF which gas has been generated
In the last million years. Subterranean
cavities are not necessary for storage OF
gas. and the gas liz no; now being formed
In more than infnitesimal quantities. In
..HhAN q. AV..- " ~
the Huron shale natural gas horizon the
gas is, or was before being exhausted.
stored In a sandstone known as the
Berea gr!t-a stone so fine grained that
IL has been largely used for whetstoncs.
The cause of the trouble at the Gait
lard cut IL that which the Senator SAYS
the engineers In charge OF the work
claim Is the cause. n substratum OF soft
earth beneath the hills and beneath the
canal, which Is made to move by the
superintendent weight on either side.
with practically all weight removed from
the canal itself.
The Senator says the gas escaping ~
Culehra cut brought ahou a cessation Of
trouble at other places. When did the
gas escape at Culebra In such qusnti-
ne. and under such pressure az roust
have existed there in order to disturb
mountains Of material?
The conditions IN the shaft at Park
city. Utah. 10 which he refers. are
doubtless similar to conditions at Gu
Zebra but there is not the slightest
ground In either case to suppose that
gas pressure influences them.
The rising OF the bottom OF the bod or
track in a horizontal mine entry. to
which he also refers, is not the exccp-
ton hut the rule tho world over. hut
no one. 20 my knowledge. has ever be-
fore suggested that gas pressure was
the cause. II !s probable that the Sem
ator and tho great geologist he con-
suited did not clearly understand each
other respecting the swelling ~ the
plastic material in one Of his mines
The instance the Senator mentions
where the rock in the breast of the mine
entry was continually popping and snap
ping. which disturbance ne assumes
was caused by "A tremendous pressure
behind the rock. Is another Instance Of
wrong conclusion. The pressure was
not behind tho rock. but practically in
front of IL. That rock was then having
to carry additional weight due to his
men having removed the supporting ma
terial in front. when the drills pcnc-
tratcd ten or twelve feet from the face
they struck a soft place. and thcn a
terrific pressure Of gas escaped" Had
there been gas stored there IN sufficient
quantity ana pressure To- cause the chip
ping OF the stone. the men would have
been blown out OF the mine as quickly
as a feather would be picked up by a
cyclone.
! think I may safely assert that every
well Informed r"olog.St and every VOL
informed mine engineer WI. not only
differ from the senator but viii also
agree that each and every experience
and observation cited by the Senator in
support Of his expressed opinion tends
to prove his opinion respecting the Gu
!. bra cut trouble to be- wrong. and to be
wholly unwarrarted either by scientific
knowledge or by the observation and
experience Of engineers and biologists.
EMERSON MCMlILLlS.
New YORK. Jun "A.
fnn.pience Stri.Len s.nsh f.s,tt.t..