Contra Costa County CA Archives History - Books .....Earthquakes 1882
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Book Title: History Of Contra Costa County, California

   EARTHQUAKES.—There is a sort of nameless terror about an earthquake to those
who have never experienced one, and to many who have, the sensation is anything
but pleasant. But they are trifles compared with the terrible thunder-storms and
hurricanes that prevail on the other side of the continent. Hundreds of people
are killed by lightning there, to every one that loses his life by earthquakes
here. The thunder-storms and tornadoes have this advantage, however: they send
their warning signals of gathering, skurrying clouds ahead, to prepare people
for the dire disaster which may soon follow. The earthquake steals upon one when
he least expects it. A sudden jarring of the earth, with perhaps a deep rumbling
noise, followed by a quick, oscillating motion, which dies away in a gentle
tremulous vibration, and all is quiet. The shock seldom lasts longer than eight
or ten seconds. Many months sometimes intervene between these earth shocks, and
then again we have known several to occur in a single day. For the last ten
years they have been rare.

   The heaviest shock experienced in this county since its occupation by
Americans was on October 21, 1868, when several buildings were more or less
injured. The shock extended for several hundred miles along the coast, caused
considerable damage to property in San Francisco and other places, and taught
architects the necessity of improving their methods of building, by bracing and
strengthening their walls in a more secure manner. In the construction of
chimneys, also, galvanized iron has been substituted largely for brick. Wooden
buildings are considered earthquake proof. They are seldom damaged to any
considerable extent by the shocks.

   There are various theories concerning the reason of these disturbances, which
at present, however, are mainly speculative. It is possible that scientific
research may eventually fathom the cause, if not provide a remedy. The electric
theory has many advocates. In other countries the equilibrium of the upper air
currents of electricity and those of the earth is established and brought about
through the medium of cloud conductors, as witnessed in the lightning's flash
followed by the thunder peal. Here there are no cloud conductors during the
Summer months. The earth, it is supposed, becomes overcharged with electricity,
which seeks an equilibrium with the upper air currents; hence the disturbance.
This theory is strengthened by the fact that earthquakes usually occur in the
Fall of the year when the clouds begin to gather and the air becomes filled with
moisture. "Good earthquake weather," is what old residents designate a warm,
cloudy day preceding the Winter rains. The "internal fire" theory has also its
advocates. But whatever may be the cause, we much prefer an occasional
earthquake to the frequent electrical disturbances that cause so much disaster
to life and property in the Atlantic States.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCTUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.


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