The Sunday Oregonian., June 01, 1902, PART FOUR, Page 27, Image 27

THE SUNDAY OBEGOyiAN, PORTLAND, JUNE 1, 1902.
2?
FiE-Rg FO-ReES THAT eAUSE VOLeANie E-RUPTIONS
THE recent volcanic outbreaks In
the West Indies have aroused great
interest In this particular form
through which the Interior heat and en
ergy of the earth manifest themselves,
and have raised questions of a scientific
nature In the minds of a great many
"who had not previously given them much
attention. These questions are not only
attractive but direct Investigation of them
Involves some elements .of dangor, and
they are, withal, a bit uncanny.
AH that we know in a general way
about volcanoes and their attendant earthquakes-
has been accumulated by patient
observation of both active and extinct
cones and by interpretation of the obser
vations in accordance with sound princi
ples. Geology In this particular does us
all great service because it brings to our
aid in connection with the outbreaks in
the Lesser Antilles the results of much
careful work In all quarters of the globe.
lasting through centuries and performed
by many observers. If then, -we briefly
state the order of ecnts in the "West
Indies we may afterwards see how well
they conform to a few general principles,
which have been established in this man
ner. Mount Pelee, in Martinique, and Xa.
Souffiere, in St- Vincent, have been rec
ognized as old craters since thoir dis
covery, but it is a long time, 80 years In
fact, since the latter was active. A lake
even accumulated in one of the craters.
Gradually in the early part of May there
"were symptoms of reviving activity.
Earthquake shocks were felt in their
neighborhood; clouds of steam and other
gases started up from the old vents and
showers of dust and stone wore blown
into the air, because the vapors burst
forth w Ith explosive violence. As the da s
passed the -violence Increased, and eoon
an explosion pf special efficiency in Mount
Pelce tapped off a flood of molten rock
which coursed In a destructive tide down
the mountain. A day or two afterward a
furious outburst cast the hot dust and
clouds of lava over St. Pierre and utterly
destroyed it.
On St. Vincent, at this writing dust and
larger fragments and gases have been
the main emissions and have caused the
principal loss of life and damage. It is
reported that the bottom of the sea has
sunk several fathoms near Georgetown,
and that thus a considerable dislocation
of the crust Is Indicated.
Islands Raised From Sea's Depths.
All the Lesser Antilles, from Saba
through the Grenadines and Grenada, aro
of volcanic region, and they hal) from
the depths of the sea. "We have no means
of knowing their exact structure, but from
our fuller knowledge of Vesuvius, as
shown in the accompanying diagram we
can draw a pretty close inference.
Vesuvius rests upon the following de
scribed foundation, as has been shown by
deep borings in Naples, and by the moun
tain ridge of St. Angelo farther southeast
The lowest stratum Is limestone of un
determined thickness. The volcano occa
6lonal'y casts out clocks of It borne aloft
from below.
Next above this is 150 feet of sandstone;
then 700 fet of calcareous sandstone.
On the top of the last-named (first as a
submarine vent and apparently In -about C
feet of water) the young olcano built up
a great layer of dust and fragments .600
feet thick., Throughout this material are
found marine shells. "When the COO feet I
JAMES F. KEMP," PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY
AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE, WRITES ON
A DISPUTED SUBJECT1
""" ' THE ClND&RCOHfc AHDlWA F)ELD NEAR USSEMS PEAK.CAL. f
Pumice Tula. Vol f n I tt Eject-am nta ivitK " Mttt-tneSiCVt J ffjfc1"' '' " ' """ '" "'" "" "" " " '"""""' """""T " AV.-l?.:.?r-- " vVl-N A ..-.; .-V.A..?.isr.:VJ:.--Vtt -
Pittstotenc t1tn Volcanic Ca.Uarctis J? """- ang McT- -t'rTX 5 , . , , ,
' i ' t-Hr'rT7 " ' i ' if' ' ...Z, 1 "H. fl Baiolr 'Vratcttnleuitt Older Lava.
-i n i . i 1 i l - 8
I wamBmKmBmBmmmmmmmmmmmmmmKimmmmBamaBmB
a i t fm,mr. trk m TEdSSZZ? j. l leU-jmI ! 'vTpj i c 5?caw. M
I i'JfeSSgrgssSfaag
Silver Peak. Neb. i ;,
, it ii
Naples fro Vesuvius a Miles. VSsuyius to ftonte St.Anelo ii Miles
Diagram Showinq Comstructioh
and Underlying Strata op mt. Vesuvius.
had been accumulated the vent had risen
above the water and was able to construct
the old crater known to the ancients. But
before human recorder hpirfn. thi nrtlvitv
ceaPMl, and at 00 B. C. the cone was j as shown in the accompanying table:
I" V u Z;": !i S1 y5 1 o ?f feet Total j
-j'n.. it,iia vi Htuuij, uiiu iu lor l depth
years after the usual warnings it broke degree, F. measured.
ujjirai copper jninc, .ai:en-
swer to this question. We know in the
ilrst place that the earth grows hotter
as we descend, and at rates that have been
measured in deep Iain's and bore holes
Utuiarial ctV Htl Lava.
- "
5e-ctiom through 5mae Cinder Cohe and lava Field-
L
Volcanic Cone hear
out explosively, in 79 A. D., and burled up
x-ompeu witn its tnousands of inhabitants.
From that time to the present It has been
quiet only for comparatively short period".
In much the same way the cones and
.islands of the Lesser Antilles must have
been reared. During periods of activity
beds of fine and coarse fragments of vol
canic rock have gathered In great quan
tity. Floods of lava and large masses
Intruded into fissures have bound them
Into a solid aggregate; islands and island
cones have- been raised above the sea until
the present conditions have been reachct.
Now, why do volcanoes break out' A
number of points are Involved In an an-
Ijran mi iwn
A .'heeling. AV. V., boring,
80 to 00 1350
Wheeling. AV. Va., boring. GO 4482
Schladabach. Sax (5 5740
Yakutsk, Siberia CO 65G
Geneva, Switzerland 53 ....
If we select an average rate of about
CO feet of descent for an Increase of
one degree Fahrenheit and carry it out
for 25 milts, we reach a temperature of
2200 degree!, which is Jurt about that of
ordinary molten lava Coupling this with
the facts known about volcanoes, it was
natural for early observers to conclude
that the interior of the earth was molten,
on
crust 25 I
and that mankind lived
miles thick or more.
But the astronomers and mathematicians
roon reminded tho Jpn1ne1t thru- h
earth is a rapidly rotating body which Is
suDject to tne deforming efrects of centri
fugal force, and to the attractions of the
moon and other heavenly bodies which are
believed to cause the oceanic tides. They
made the point that the earth behaves like
a body as rigid as steel. They therefore
rejected the conception of a fluid core as
impossible.
Next mathematicians attacked the prob
lem on another side by reminding the
geologists that the interior portions of
the globe must support the outer portions.
and that therefore the interior Is sub
ject to great pressure, as the following
table by Professor R. S. Woodward shows:
Pressure, lbs., per
square men,
Depth in
miles.
0
2
3
4
(Due to the atmosphere)
10
15
15
12.000
1S.150
24.300
30,7.00
63.003
95.S50
20 129.000
CO 330,000
100 679.500
1000 10.0S0.000
3950 45,000.000
Iron work and metal and other sub
stances melt at well-known temperatures,
under the ordinary conditions of daily life,
but If we subject them to- great pressure
the melting points rise. Hence with he
gard to the rock of the interior when It
Is under great pressure It does not melt at
2203 degrees. "We cannot say Just at what
temperature It fuses, but It Is quite likely
that the Increase of temperature may
never overcome the increase of pressure.
It follows that the earth Is solid clear
through.
Lacnl Reservoirs of Molten Hock.
But volcanoes must derive their lava
from some source, and so we have, come to
believe In the existence of local reser
voirs of molten Tock underneath the vol
canic districts.
The distribution of volcanoes Is evidently
along great lines of upheaval In the earth,
and they and earthquakes are connected
with fractures which penetrate the crust.
Some force Is, however, necessary to
bring the lava to the surface. If the part
of the earth which is one side of a great
fracture sinks. It may force the lava In
the underlying reservolra to rise through
the Assures, and we are reminded of the
reports which state that the sea bottom
has sunk off St. Vincent. Gravity Is
thus the propulsive force.
Others, however, lay emphasis on tne
vast amount of vapor held In thu lava
at such high pressure and temperature
that it bursts with Inconceivable violence
and ascends In columns miles high In the
air, when once It reaches the surface.
They therefore trace the expulsion of the
lava to Its accumulation and final break
for the upper air, bringing the lava with
it In an irresistible, tumultuous rush.
There are serious objections to the old
belief that this vapor is sea water or any
other form of surface water which per
colates downward, but It Is regarded by
our most reliable observers as having
been in tho rock3 from the time In which
they first became constituents of the
earth.
Volcanoes are shifted from time to time.
As the geologists reckon time our "West
ern States have not long been free from
them. Mr. J. S. Dlller. of the U. S. Geo
logical Survey, has found one near Las
sen's Peak, in California, with the trunks
of trees still projecting through the beds
of volcanic dust which killed them. Oth
ers have been described from Southern
Utah in a remarkably fresh state of pres
ervation, a result aided by the dry cli
mate. Steam still Issues from the crater
of Mount Rainier, but outside of the
Alaskan Islands we have no hlstorio
record of eruptions in the United States
proper. JAMES F. KEMP.
(Copyright, 1S02.)
PIERRE Marie Waldeck-Rousseau.
Prime Minister of France, whose
administration was indorsed by
B.O00.000 votes against 3,000.000, and who
has Just sent in his resignation, is easily
the most remarkable Frenchman since
Garbetta, and has become a world figure
of power and significance.
Frenchmen, as a rule, do not understand
him and a good third of them hate him
Intensely. Possessing pre-eminently the
Instincts that make for good order and
diligent housekeeping, he has put the
household of France to rights with a ruth
lessness and thoroughness almost Napo
leonic Hence his enemies, and hence also
his support from the business men and
all conservative citizens of France. A
dozen Prime Ministers have had the same
opportunity, as the system o centralized
administration exists today Just as It was
left by the first Napoleon. "Yes. the
sword of Napoleon Is there," said an offi
cial in explaining it to me, "but it took
a swordsman to use it "Waldeck-Rousseau
is a swordsman. That is the whole
etory."
For the past dozen years or so Gen
eral Boulanger has represented to the
world the typical Frenchman, picturesque,
theatrical and voluble. Waldeck-Rousseau
is none of these, and so he ruled
nearly two years before his countrymen
realized how great and how strong a man
he was. Instead of another man on a
black horse to lead France to new con
quests here was a quiet gentleman In a
black coat, who abhorred conquests and
had a strong penchant for discovering
talkative army officers. More than this,
he does not look the typical Frenchman,
being unusually tall, even by the English
or American standard, stiff and angular
in appearance, rather diffident in his man
ner; shunning notoriety and attention.
Once Had Artistic Ambitions.
"Waldeck-Rousseau received his de
mocracy from his father, who was one of
the founders of the short-lived Second
Republic, and his quiet determination
from the people of Vendee, among whom
he was born at Nantes, December 2, 1S4C
At one time he thought of being an ar
tist and became quite proficient in water
color painting, but soon abandoned this
except as a pastime, and studied law. Af
ter being admitted to the bar ho became
secretary to M. Dufret, then described as
the first of French forensic orators. Then
came the Franco-Prussian War. When
Gambetta escaped from Paris in a bal
loon and called for his "levee en masse,"
Waldeck-Rousseau volunteered and re
ceived a Captain's commission, but never
saw service.
Like Renan and many another great
Frenchman, Waldeck-Rousseau began his
real career at Rennes, the ancient capital
of Brittany. He labored inconspicuously
before the Court of Appeals, until a
lucky chance, which he had the ability to
grasp, made his fortune. A leading mer
chant, M. Dreyfus Gonzales, had beforo
all the courts of Franco the same case,
concerning maritime rights. In which the
greater part of his large fortune was In
volved. His lawer at Rennes retired, and
with some misgiving the merchant sent
the particulars of his oa n -r-iv
Rousseau. The merchant kept stenograph
ic reports of all his lawyer's speeches In
the different courts. When he examined
the pleas of his Rennes advocate he ws
amazed to find in tnem the clearest and
most eloquent exposition of his case that
had been made during the years of liti
gation. Shortly afterward, Waldeck
Rousseau, having interested himself in
local politics, was chosen to represent
Itcnnes in the Paris Chamber tof Deputies
and Dreyfus Gonzales, to the amazement
oi tne .raris ar, intrusted the legal man
agement of all his affairs to the unknown i
MOST P-ROMIN ENT FREJHeiHvwN , S
in
eE
GAMBETTA
WALDECK-ROUSSEAU, PRIME MINISTER, KNOWS HOW TO USE NAPOLEON'S SWORD.
HIS FRIENDSHIP FOR ORGANIZED LABOR
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COUNTRY H oust AT X
CoRa&iu
r i -
Si Ministry or the iNTra.n
l WAt.OtCM-ROUEAU APAPlMIflTi
ttniCN BriHt FIRST FLOOA.J
Breton Deputy. He succeeded no less a
man than M. Orevy, who had relinquished
his law pachce upon his election to the
Presidency. The appointment made some
stir in tho legal and political world and
immediate
gave Waldeck-Rousseau
standing lb. the chamber.
Gambetta was then President pf the
Chamber and tho undisputed leader of
French Republicanism. He saw and ad
mired qualities in Waldeck-Rousseau
which he himself lacked, and with his
usual Impulsiveness almost at once ad
mitted the young Deputy to his friend
ship and confidence. When, in 16S0, Gam
betta formed his "Grand Ministry," he
gavo Waldeck-Rousseau the Department
of the Interior, the most desirable port
folio In the Cabinet, from the point of
view of patronage and political Influence.
But the "Grand Ministry" came to an
end in two months and its failure closed
Gambetta's political carepr. Only Waldeck-Rousseau
wrung from him a per
sonal success. The reputation he gained
as an administrator and civil reformer
secured him the portfolio In Jules Ferry's
Cabinet of 18S2.
Earned $50,000 a. Year at Law.
When the Ferry Cabinet fell, the long
est in office except Waldcck-Rousseau's
own, Waldeck retired from political life
and devoted himself to law. He became
leader of tho Paris bar, with a profession
al Income of about $50,000 a year. It re
mained for tho political events growing
out of the Dreyfus trial to bring him
back Into public life.
At this political period the Premiership
of France was going begging. Cabinet
after Cabinet had been overthrown and
the country seemed ripe for revolution.
Even, Inconsequential persons like Count
BonI Castellanc were for the moment ex
alted Into prominence by their comical
attempt to upset the government by
smashlng President Loubet's hat at a
racecourse. The situation demanded a
strong man, and by a happy Inspiration
tho President called upon Waldeck-Rousseau.
A change was almost Immediately
apparent. Instead of a Cabinet from one
puiiuuui Kuupt auecK-rsousseau got I
other strong men wherever ho could find J
them. Millerand, the Socialist, Gallifet,
an Irascible old martinet, with a silver
stomach In place of the ono shot away
in the Mexican War, were among those
chosen. Their first Job was to get the
Dreyfus case out of the way, which they
did In a manner which by no means sat
isfied everybody, but with a finality that
prevented further agitation. Then came
two years of hard administrative work
which mokes no showing except In ulti
mate results.
One agitator after another was
squelched. I remember being In Paris
when Paul Deroulede was trying to
make a General Boulanger of him
self. In a rusty looking cab, "so as to
nleaso the nlnln norml h ivn rliHnir nn
and down the boulevards, rpcelvinsr ehper.i
and gaining a considerable following. Waldeck-Rousseau
thought him over during
the consumption of one cigarette and
packed him over the frontier, where he
still languishes. The administrative sword
of Napoleon was coming Into play. Tho
next official heads to fall into tho basket
were those of high army officers who had
been paying more attention to politics than
to drill.
There was tremendous uproar, but noth
ing happened and the administrative ma
chine ground on. The next adversary was
a much more diffioult one.
"IinYT of Rcllglona Asftociatlon."
Since Richelieu's day there has always
been a section of the church party In
France that has sought to mix religion
and politics to the end of securing a
priestly dictatorship. Here again the Na
poleonic system was useful. When the
great Corslcan re-established Christlnniti-
In France he made an .agreement or "con
cordat" with tho Panaev hv -trhloh n
French bishops were to be appointed with
out the consent of the French govern
ment. All French administrations had
been jealous of this prerogative and tha
Vatican authorities in turn had .always
tried to evade it. Feeling that Its con
trol over the parochial clergy was not
sufficiently strong the Vatican encouraged
the growth of religious orders in France
which would be under the direct authority
of Rome. These had grown very strong
and Waldeck-Rousseau became convinced
that they were meddling In politics with
a view to overthrowing his government.
As a result came the famous law of Re
ligious Associations, which puts them all
under the supervision of the government.
Again there was great uproar and the
associations have posed as martyrs be
fore the world. But the French peo
ple have Indorsed Waldeck-Rousseau's
course in the matter by five votes to
three.
But the man himself, aside from his de
termined use of the Napoleonic machine,
accounts for his victory at the polls and
tho present stability of republican gov
ernment In France. In most of his official
life ho is stiff and unbending and he holds
his friends chiefly by never forgetting them
nor deserting them. But occasionally he
can unbend, and Count Munster, the Ger
man Ambassador, was heard to exclaim
at a reception, "I wish my Imperial mas
ter might know him." His real hold,
however. Is not with those who appear In
drawing rooms, but with the workingmen
of, the nation. With the aspirations of
organized labor he has always a strong
and understanding sympathy.
The story is told that one day when he
was first Minister of Interior, a number
of carpenters called upon him who wished
to form' an association or guild for mu
tual benefit, but were unable to do sa
because they had no mnnpv Thr .
1 no public fund for the purpose, but Wal- (
deck-Rousseau, struck with their plan,
himself advanced the necessary amount.
No papers were signed, no witnesses to
the act were called, but the money was
returned upon the day appointed. He was
thus the father of the first worklngman's
association for mutual benefit organized
In France, a movement that has now
reached vast proportions. Waldeck-Rousseau's
connection with it has given him
a hold with the masses which his politi
cal opponents hae never been able to
shake.
Cartoonists make Waldeck-Rousseau's
head long and narrow, with a heavy
under Jaw and a generally wooden ex
pression. His enemies describe "the hated
Waldeck' as being metallically hard and
unsympathetic "He is a man who does
not talk" they say, and a Frenchman
who is not voluble Is sure to be Im
perfectly understood by his fellow-countrymen.
Of his colleagues In the cabinet
he asks advlco and then always follows
his own ideas.
He Is a great cigarette smoker and when
there is a great question on. he obscures
himself In a cloud of smoke until he ha3
thought It out. Once decided he retires
into an upstairs room, which Is arranged
like a studio, and amuses himself with
water coldr painting, apparently as much
absorbed In the little canvas before him
as he was a few moments before In the
destinies of a nation. When he has time
for longer recreation he goes fishing. His
country house on the Seine above Paris
almost overlooks" tho river. His principal
outdoor companion Is Tcho, a big Chinese
dog, whom his master describes as "an
excellent keeper of political secrets."
Of the Minister's private life the world
knows little except that It is blameless
something not always possible to say of
French public men In the past and now
part of the better order of things In
French politics. Madame Waldeck-Rousseau
was a widow when he married
her 20 years ago. They have no children,
else he might have been more like other
Frenchmen, who are young again with
their sons.
JOHN VANDDRCOOK.
AD 100.2