THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE 115 



than a cautious discussion of the data, I believe such a discussion should 

 be undertaken and published. Of snap judgments there lias been no 

 lack, and the California press lias catered to a natural desire of the 

 commercial public for an optimistic view; hut no opinion has yet heen 

 fortified by an adequate statement of the pertinent facts. Among these 

 facts are the distribution of earthquake shocks as to locality, time and 

 severity in California, and also in the well-studied earthquake district 

 of Japan; the relation of the slipping that has just occurred to the 

 geologic structure of the coast region; the relation of other fault lines 

 to the hay district ; and the relation of the recent shock to a destructive 

 shock that occurred in 1868. If a broad and candid review of the 

 facts shall give warrant for a forecast of practical immunity, the deep- 

 rooted anxiety of the community will find therein a measure of relief. 

 If a forecast of immunity shall not he warranted, the public should 

 have the henefit of that information, to the end that it shall fully heed' 

 the counsel of those who maintain that the new city should he earth- 

 quake-proof. In any case, timidity will cause some to remove from 

 the shaken district and will deter others who were contemplating immi- 

 gration; but such considerations have only temporary influence and 

 can not check in an important way the growth of the city. The destiny 

 of San Francisco depends on the capacity and security of its harbor, 

 on the wealth of the country behind it, and on its geographic relation 

 to the commerce of the Pacific. Whatever the earthquake danger may 

 he, it is a thing to be dealt with on the ground by skillful engineering, 

 not avoided by flight: and the proper basis for all protective measures 

 is the fullest possible information as to the extent and character of 

 the danser. 



