OREGON EMERALD PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A WEEK . UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, EUGENE, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1915. Volume XVI, No. 43 ROCK IE CAUSE OF EARTHQUAKE IR ITALY PROF. W. D. SMITH GIVES THEO RY OF GEOLOGISTS AS TO TREMORS WEAK SPOTS IN EARTH’S CRUST German Scientists Ascertain Measur able Effect of Heavenly Bodies Upon Interior of Planet The earthquake that caused the deaths of more than 30,000 persons in Italy was perhaps due to a shift ing or dropping a(ong some fault rock, according to Professor W. D. Smith, head of the Geology Depart ment. Dr. Smith' makes the reserva tion, however, that complete and ex act details are not yet at hand. “Geologists have found throughout Italy weak points in the earth’s crust. A line drawn through these weak spots follows certain rock formation contacts or structural lines, such as joints, etc. The greatest disturbanc es have occurred at the intersections of some of these linns,” says Dr. Smith. “It has recently been demonstrated that there is a measurable rock tide, ascertained by scientists at Potsdam, Germany, caused by the same attrac tive forces which produce the ocean tides, and the reason this tide is not detected by the naked eye is that the rockB of the earth are incomparably more rigid than the surface of the ocean. The accumulation of stresses in the rocks finally result in a giv ing way at some points, these points naturally being the weak ones in the crust. They lie along the borders of the ocean and usually in the portions of the earth geologically newest, though not always restricted to these regions. “Italy is situated in one of these newer portions of the earth, as are also California, the Philippines, the west coast of South America, and other countries. “In the development of the rock tide theory, the geologist Perret assumes that at certain times when some of the heavenly bodies get into a straight line, and thus are pulling together, the attraction becomes so great on the weak spots of the earth’s sur face that movement results along the faults. This theory is now upheld by many geologists. “The people of a certain part of Italy have been warned to move some of the cities. This was the case with Messina, where in 1906 an earthquake and subsequent tidal wave caused great loss of life and property. The houses in Italy are built of loosely cemented brick, and when a strong quake makes itself felt these bricks act like so many bullets, and cause great loss of life. If these people would take more precautions, such great destruction would not occur. I had the opportunity of being in Mes sina two weeks after the earthquake of 1908, and saw the damage as a re sult of poorly constructed buildings. All round the Roman arches remained intact. The best type of construction for an earthquake district, it seems to me, is sandlime brick tied together with rods running through the bricks. “There are three principal causes of earthquakes, vulcanism, rockfall, and by far the most important, dis placement along structural lines. Many people think volcanoes are the cause of earthquakes. Such is not always the case; in the Philippines, in the j areas of the greatest seismic activity,; there is no evidence of recent vulcan ism. “I would not be surprised if a severe earthquake occurred at the junction of the Plains of Lombardy in northern Italy, and the Alps. This is a line of weakness, because it is a junction of plains and mountains. Indeed, earth (Continued on page 4.) TOE-SNAKE JIM” EXPECTS TO MEET KINDRED SPIRITS Itinerant Student Works Way North ward to University of Oregon— Last Seen in Douglas County Barefoot, wearing a cadet suit he picked up at the University of Cali fornia, "Rattlesnake Jim’' is count ing the ties longingly as he works northward to the University of Ore gon. He was last „ seen Friday by a' University Extension lecturer at Wil bur, in Douglas County. “The Snake” claims to be half 3wiss-German and half Sioux Indi an. He says that he started from his birthplace in Switzerland ten years ago, barefoot, in search of per fect health and a liberal education. “I am getting both,” averred the long haired and hungry looking lad, as he scratched a match on the sole of his bare foot. “At all the Univer sities I stop and study with the boys. I learn much in this way, but much more from fii-st hand contact with people.” Jim asserts that he walked bare foot through the snows of the Siski yous. He carries a book in which hej has collected the official seals and sig natures of the Registrars of such col leges as Stanford and the University of California, as well as the seals of many city officers. Jim supports himself by giving In dian dancea and making trinkets. He says he feels that he will find many kindred spirits in the Oregon Student Body. COMMITTEE CHOOSES FOUR STUDENT GUIDES ONE ALTERNATE IS SELECTED. 16 OR TO BE PICKED FROM 60 APPLICANTS Examinations on General Information About Oregon Must be Passed by Candidates James Donald, Bryant DeBar, Er nest Vosper and Charles Collier have received appointments as guides in the Oregon Btuilding at the San Fran cisco Exposition. They will leave about the first of February. Donald Onthank, alternate, will take the place of any appointee in case one should be unable to go. “These particular men were select ed,” said President Campbell, “be cause they are Juniors and Seniors and the six weeks of absence will not so seriously interfere with their Uni versity work. Sixty students have ap plied for jobs, of whom 20