“Reflections Concerning Earthquakes”

Creator

Capac

Date

2-19-1812

Newspaper

The Georgia Journal

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2 and 3

Newspaper Location

Milledgeville, Georgia

Serial Number

596

Abstract

Long article concerning speculation concerning the origins of earthquakes, Written by Capac

Transcript

FOR THE GEORGIA JOURNAL. REFLECTIONS CONCERNING EATHQUAKES. No. I. Of late, the frequent occurrence of these phenomena, has been a source of awful dread to the wise, and superstitious terror to the ignorant. These circumstances will probably procure to these lines an attentive perusal; and they are presented to the public with a hope of giving some quite to the imaginations of many. Of the internal structure of the earth. A knowledge of the internal structure of the earth seems necessary to the elucidation of our subject; and here it must be confessed that our information is very limited. Forced as we are to supply by conjecture what it is impossible for us to prove by experiment, we shall think ourselves fortunate, if in making our subterranean voyage, we are still able to keep in our hands a clue that extends to the light. The Earth is composed of solid and liquid matter, which by their gravity are held together in the form of a Globe. The water from its fluidity and deficiency of gravity, is collected on the surface of the solid part of the Earth, which is so irregular as to remain in part uncovered. This irregularity in the surface of the solid parts of the Earth, extends from the top of the mountains to the unfathomable depths of the ocean; probably a perpendicular height of several leagues. Let us wave the fruitless enquiry after the causes that impressed on the surface of the solid parts of the Earth its present form, and confess ourselves entirely ignorant of the origin of those maritime animals, the relics of which are found on the tops of the highest mountains. For our present purpose it will suffice, that we believe the nucleus of the earth to be a solid basis, on which rest all the solid parts of the globe; that the height to which they rise is so irregular that a town or whole province may sink into the ocean, upon the same principle that a rock which is loosed from the brow of a mountain, will roll down to a valley. We do not suppose that all parts of the earth that are above the surface of the ocean receive their support in a direct line from the center of the globe; on the contrary large tracts of country may receive collateral support, as the arches of a bridge are supported by its pillars. Altho' the inequalities of the earth's surface that lie below the surface of the ocean are filled with water, there are many excavations in the earth that penetrate far below the surface of the sea, and are yet not filled with that fluid. The extent of these excavations is entirely unknown-but when we observe the ease with water passes through the earth, we are induced to believe that they are of small extent when compared with its solid parts; probably the height of the water in the ocean would not be perceptibly altered if all such excavations were laid open to its access. The relative proportion of the solid and liquid parts of the earth can not be ascertained, though it is entirely probable that the irregularities of the surface of the solid parts will always be such as to leave room for the liquid, below the surface of all the continents, and most of the islands that are now to be seen. But allowing the quantity of water to be uniformly the same, an reflecting on its mechanical and attenuating qualities, the falling of rains and rolling of rivers to the ocean, and the solid parts of the earth that are thus continually borne to the depths of the sea, we do not see why the extent of the water over the solid parts of the earth does not continually encrease. At great depths from the earth's surface, and far from the confines of the ocean, are found vast collections of combustible materials. To what extent they reach, it is impossible to say; but it is probable that they were formerly far more extensive than at present; for there are traces on the globe of the combustion of many, that seem now to be extinguished. Some indeed have lately appeared; but if we understand the nature of combustion, it is not attended with the re-composition of combustible materials; and whatever of the internal parts of the earth are decomposed. In this way, leaves a deficiency that is not filled up by an process with which we are acquainted. Then it follows, that the sources of internal fires are annually diminishing. The cavities left after the burning of matter in the earth, are commonly filled with air or water; for by combustion no destruction, but a change in the form of matter is effected; and if the material thus altered is displaced, the course of its departure, unless it is valvular, furnishes an inlet to air or water. Such is the nature and disposition of these substances on the surface of the globe, that it does not seem probable that a vacuum of considerable extent, if formed, could long remain in the earth. CAPAC.

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