Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-11-28
Growing Pains in
Mountains Cause
Helena Quakes
Shock Recorders Placed
in Federal Building


pains of the comparatively young
mountains around Helena, Mont,
are responsible for the scores of
earthquakes that have shaken and
damaged the region in central
Montana where the Missouri river
begins to gather water.
Earthquakes are the price paid by
the crust Of the earth for its evolu-
ton and progress. And in that sense
the Rocky mountain region and the
Pacific coast, because they are young
er geologically, are more progressive
and likely to give man and his build
ings jolts from time to time.
Scientists have put their scientific
finger upon the spot where the major
shock occurred. 1t is 70 miles north
of Helena in the Little Belt noun
tains, the range northeast Of that city.
Not particularly unusual are the scores
Of minor shocks that are reminding
inhabitants unpleasantly Of the big
shake. More unusual was the fore
shock, the physical premonition Of the
major tremor to come, for earth
quakes do not always call their shots
in this way.
Scientists on Scene.
Scientific shock troops were on the
scene Of the disaster and took up
position in the basement Of Helena's
federal building. Rushing from Cali
fornia by fast motor truck, Franklin
p. Ulrich, United States coast and
geodetic survey seismologist, brought
two instruments and set them up to
catch the dying tremors Of the quake.
An accelerograph and vibration me-
ter began writing their wavy records
in order that the scientists may learn
more about how the tremors occur.
Passing through snowstorm in the
dash to Helena from the coast, u
rich's truck had minor skidding &C.
cident and United States forest service
officials gave aid in getting the seis-
biological instruments to Helena.
Many permanent seismographs miles
away from Montana wrote with
their pen and Photographic fingers the
story of the quake as telegraphed by
vibrations Of the earth itself. At Pas
adena, st. Louis, Washington, Chicago,
Tucson, Ukiah and elsewhere, as well
as at Bozeman, Mont, closest seis-
mograph to the quake, scientists read
the records, turned them into code
and then telegraphed them to Science
Service, where the information was re-
layed to the United States coast and
geodvtic survey, Uncle Sans agency
for watching and reporting earth
quakes. In this way the exact loca-
ton Of the center Of the quake was
more accurately determined in Wash
ington than 1t could be in Montana.
The fault or rock cleavage in the
mountains that slipped and thus set
up the vibration may not be found.
The actual slippage Of the rocks prob
ably occurred deep in the earth, and
in this quake probably did not come to
the surface Of the ground as 1t some
times does.
Montana's Earlier ouakes.
Montana's other important quake Of
recent years occurred In 1925 and was
conferred in the region of Lombard,
south Of Helena and more near the
head of the same valley. At that time
geological investigations caused the
issuance In government reports of
warnings that other fractures in the
mountains were probably carrying I'M
relieved strains that would probably
cause future earthquakes.
Earliest record Of an earthquake
in the region was brought back by the
famous Lewis and Clark expedition,
one Of the white mans first penetra-
lions into Montana. One day in 1905
an earthquake was felt and sounds like
distant artillery fire or thunder were
heard. In 1888 the Gallatin valley
region had strong shocks, but no dam
age was done because there were few
inhabitants.
United States coast and geodetic
survey seismologists sent 500 ques-
tionnaires to postmasters and leading
citizens In a wide area around Helena,
asking them to give the government
the benefit Of their earthquake expert
ences. This is expected to supplement
the record Of instruments. The gov
eminent seismologists guess that the
major shock was not really as strong
as the 1925 Montana quake, but that
1t was more localized.
Builders and architects of the re-
QiOn ah0u1d take laeeon from. tho
earthquake, seismologlsts warn. Build
tnes for a very few dollars extra con-
struction cost can be made to with
stand severe earthquakes.