The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-07-10
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Earthquake on Pacific Coast
Wrecks Business Section
of Santa Barbara.
BY EDWARD w. PlckARo

BY EDWARD w. PICkARD
MOT since the great San Francisco
l Y earthquake and fire has there
been, disaster on the Pacific coast
comparable to that which over
whelmed the pretty city of Santa Bar
bara on Monday. Two severe shocks
early In the morning sutticed to lay in
ruins most of the business section,
and these were followed by number
Of other temblors that added to the
destruction. Owing to the hour at
which the worst shocks occurred,
coupled with the fact that the resi-
dence sections practically escaped
damage, the loss of life was surpris-
ingly small. Eleven persons died,
most Of them under the falling walls
of hotels, and scores were injured.
The water and gas mains were broken
and the Sheffield reservoir, the main
source of the city's water supply, col
lapsed, but the walls of the Gibraltar
dam up In the hills held and water
famine was prevented by connections
made with an old series Of mains.
The property loss was estimated at
between $2O,OO0,OO0 and $4,000, 900.
Some Of the buildings wrecked, known
to many thousands of Americans who
have visited the California coast, were
the Arlington and Californian hotels,
the public library, county courthouse
and jail, hall of records, American Le-
gion, Knights of Columbus and Elks
buildings, Central bank, County Ma
tional bank, Morning Press building
and the Santa Barbara mission. An
expert survey shows that nearly all
the structures destroyed were built
on filled-in land.
While the earth was yet trembling
the people of Santa Barbara began to
lay plans, for the city's reconstruction
and within three days gangs of build
ers were following close on the heels
of the wrecking crews. Bankers ar
ranged for a revolving fund Of $2,5OO,-
600 Immediately and began negotia-
lions to borrow $20,0OO,UOO from tinan-
cial institutions throughout the United
States.
This coast quake was preceded by
several temblors in the mountain re-
gions of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho
and Washington. Great landslides oc-
Cured, forming new lakes and in a
number Of instances interrupting rail-
road communication. Several through
trains laden with tourists were stalled,
but there was no loss of life. Fur
Their avalanches are looked for, espe-
cially in the Teton National forest,
where one side of Chief mountain is
reported to be cracking.
DR.. Paul Goode of the department
Of geography in the University of Chi
cago holds that these earthquakes are
explained by q subsistence of the bed
Of the Pacific ocean and the settling
of the cordillera forming the axis Of
the continent Other scientists who
are experts in seismology have other
explanations. But all agree that more
quakes along the Pacific coast may be
expected. This, however, does not
dismay the Californians any more
than such predictions ever dismay the
people who live in earthquake regions.
TRANCE for the first time has for
L mally acknowledged her debt to the
United States and the cabinet has
voted to send mission to Washington
as soon as possible to arrange for
funding the debt. This is in accord
ance with the advice of Foreign Min
lister BRAND and Finance Minister
Caillaux. Nothing definite is known
as to what the French will propose,
but 1t is assumed they will ask a
moratorium and credits in America.
It is expected the French mission will
accompany the Belgian delegation
headed by former Premier Theunis.
There may be some delay in the
French cabinets program due to the
Socialist opposition to Caillaux's plans
for financial renovation, especially his
taxation plan for providing sinking
fund for debt payments. Negotiations
for funding Italy's debt are held up
for month or so while Mario Alberti.
technical expert, goes to Rome for ad-
ditional data on his country's capacity