The Lassen Earthquake. Geologist Mills States that the Sierras are Still' Growing.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 395, 21 August 1889, Page 6

The Lassen Earthquake. Geologist Mills States that the Sierras are Still' Growing.

The serere seismic disturbances recently experienced in the neighbourhood of Susanville have given Lassen County, California, quite a reputation as an earthquake centre. The shocks eommence'd at 9 o'clock, Wednesday night, and continued until 3 o'clock the 1 following morning. They were more than fifty altogether, and some were more violent than others. Clocks were stopped all over the town and a terrific rumbling was heard, causing an immense degree of alarm all over the region affected. The movement appeared to be from north-east toward south-west, and was particularly '"sharp. The majority of the separate shocks were not of over a few ' seconds' duration, and were particularly jerky. As fasual, atmosphsric disturbances' of marked peculiarity accompanied the shocks. 1 James E. Mills, the well-known geologist, has given a great amount of time to investigating seismic phenomena in the Sierra Nevadas. 'He lived ' for several years in Quincy and has made the most minute surveys of the surrounding country. Speaking of the matter last night, Mr Mills eaid : •It is highly probable that the earthquake movements near Susanvftle are' connected with annplifting or downthrow of a mountainous mass' along' some one" 'of the lines of uplift which exist in the Sierras. The Sierra Nevada owes its present elevation largely to upliftings occurring in comparatively 'late geological periods; 'and' we have reason to believe ' that -this uplifting probably is still going on. Susanville does not belong to tlie Sierras proper^bufc' is sit•uated in one of the basin ranges to.^he east. j A comparatively slight shifting upward or' downward of a mountainous mass ,wbuld produce earthquake 'movements. I have' no doubt,' he continued, 'that such an uplifting couldbe' found in the neighbourhood of Susanville if a careful -search- was made. I don't' remember that, this region has ever experienced any severe disturbances of this character previously.' , , Regarding the hypotheses • advanced' to 'account for the earthquakes in. this county, ■Mr Mills said that they were very liumer'-' 1 ous, but ill-defined or doubtful. The sub'jectisdne that is obtaining a good deal of ith'ought and consideration from ( geologists in these days. Amongst the most widely ' accepted " theories, is that of a horizontal thrust iwhich 1 forces strata' of certain 1 character lying in a certain position together' and 1 -then slightly . upward.' Even if the subsidence or the elevation be very slight it is : sufficient to cause a serious disturbance all around. If it occurred at', sea there' would be a tidal wave.—' S. F. Call.' • '' ■ > ' ;> '->■'' ''> l

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