Earthquake Warning
April 12, 1906
Summary
An expert geologist explains that earthquakes can be forewarned in advance of the storm given the proper technology, rescuing many.
Transcription
Earthquake Warning
Dr. C. Willard Hayes Believes Shocks Can Be Predicted.
Many premonitory symptoms.
Expert of Geological Survey Says Foretelling Earthquakes is Merely a Question of Observation- Suggests in Establishing of Well Equipped Stations
Dr. C. Willard Hayes, geologist of the Unites States geological survey, recently expressed the opinion that the time would come when the scientists would be able to predict an earthquake sufficiently in advance of its occurrence to give warning to persons likely to be caught by it, says a Washington special to the New York Times.
“Of course I do not say that it will come soon,” said Dr. Hayes, “but I see nothing improbable in the idea at all. I think it is largely a matter of having a sufficient number of property equipped observation stations, with prompt and thorough exchange of observations. Earthquakes are almost invariably preceded by premonitory signs and symptoms. These are now recognized and recorded. But there are not enough observations engaged in the work to make their records and observations of practical benefit in the way I have indicated.
“Fifty years ago the idea that it would be possible to predict a storm would have been regarded as preposterous. But with the increase of the number of weather observers and the development of their instruments they have reached the stage of practical certainty, and the service has become of immense value throughout the world. Of course they have had a great deal more weather to observe that the geologists have had earthquakes, and the scope and thoroughness of their observations have developed more rapidly than in the case seismic disturbances. But I see no reason why, with a proper extension of the field of observations and the proper equipment of the observers, there should not result in a comparatively few years substantially the ability to foretell for an appreciable period of time the occurrence of serious earthquakes.”
In discussing the shocks which devastated San Francisco Dr. Hayes said that the ultimate cause was undoubtedly “a deep readjustment” of the earth, manifesting itself upon the surface by a slip along the lines of the fault. These faults occur at various places upon the earth’s crust and are similar to those found in ore or coal veins, except that their scale is thousands of feet compared to inches in the mine scale. When for any cause a deep readjustment takes place the surface effect usually follows the line of a fault….
Dr. C. Willard Hayes Believes Shocks Can Be Predicted.
Many premonitory symptoms.
Expert of Geological Survey Says Foretelling Earthquakes is Merely a Question of Observation- Suggests in Establishing of Well Equipped Stations
Dr. C. Willard Hayes, geologist of the Unites States geological survey, recently expressed the opinion that the time would come when the scientists would be able to predict an earthquake sufficiently in advance of its occurrence to give warning to persons likely to be caught by it, says a Washington special to the New York Times.
“Of course I do not say that it will come soon,” said Dr. Hayes, “but I see nothing improbable in the idea at all. I think it is largely a matter of having a sufficient number of property equipped observation stations, with prompt and thorough exchange of observations. Earthquakes are almost invariably preceded by premonitory signs and symptoms. These are now recognized and recorded. But there are not enough observations engaged in the work to make their records and observations of practical benefit in the way I have indicated.
“Fifty years ago the idea that it would be possible to predict a storm would have been regarded as preposterous. But with the increase of the number of weather observers and the development of their instruments they have reached the stage of practical certainty, and the service has become of immense value throughout the world. Of course they have had a great deal more weather to observe that the geologists have had earthquakes, and the scope and thoroughness of their observations have developed more rapidly than in the case seismic disturbances. But I see no reason why, with a proper extension of the field of observations and the proper equipment of the observers, there should not result in a comparatively few years substantially the ability to foretell for an appreciable period of time the occurrence of serious earthquakes.”
In discussing the shocks which devastated San Francisco Dr. Hayes said that the ultimate cause was undoubtedly “a deep readjustment” of the earth, manifesting itself upon the surface by a slip along the lines of the fault. These faults occur at various places upon the earth’s crust and are similar to those found in ore or coal veins, except that their scale is thousands of feet compared to inches in the mine scale. When for any cause a deep readjustment takes place the surface effect usually follows the line of a fault….
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Contributed By
Emma Roberts
Citation
“Earthquake Warning,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/424.