140 Mr. John Milne [March 20, 



Moreover, if this is so, and we assume that silent electrical adjust- 

 ments have a real existence, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that 

 these must have an effect on what we call "climate," and hence 

 upon everything that lives upon the surface of the globe. We 

 have many instances of places only separated by a few miles, as for 

 example, Newport and Sandown in the Isle of AVight, or Bournemouth 

 and Swanage, the climates of which are said to be very different. 

 The thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer do not explain these 

 differences, the only apparent difference between such places appears 

 to be one of soil and the moisture in the same. Inasmuch as we lind 

 great differences in the emanations from granite, clayslate, and chalk, 

 it would seem extremely probable that we should find differences in 

 the relative electrical conditions of different soils. 



To determine whether earthquakes are increasing or decreasing, 

 it is not only necessary to turn over the pages of many histories, but 

 also to consult the geologist. Jules Verne might perhaps have dipped 

 deeper into time than a geologist or physicist, and drawn pictures of 

 the reactionary effect which might accompany the collision of one 

 world with another, bombardments of great meteorites, a click that 

 announced the birth of our moon, the sudden yieldings of a primitive 

 crust covering an ocean of molten rock, and of many other things 

 that float through the brains of those who entertain us with the 

 results of their imaginations. The greater number of earthquakes, 

 and certainly all that are large, originate from the formation or 

 extension of faults. These operations have been most marked when 

 secular movement amongst rock masses is in progress, as, for example, 

 during the growth of mountains. Should this be in operation near 

 large bodies of waters, volcanoes and earthquakes are found in the 

 same region. If, therefore, we wish to know when earthquake fre- 

 quency and intensity was at a maximum, we turn to those periods in 

 geological history when mountain ranges were built, when volcanic 

 activity was pronounced, and when great faults were made. The 

 first of these periods would be coincident with the creation of the 

 Urals, the Grampians and other ancient mountain ranges. This took 

 place in Palaeozoic times. Another period of mountain formation 

 was in early Tertiary times, when the Himalayas and the Alps were 

 slowly, but intermittently brought into existence. In both these 

 periods volcanic activity was pronounced and beds of coal were 

 formed. When the crust of the earth was crumbhng, mountains 

 grew spasmodically, faults gave rise to earthquakes, volcanic forces 

 found their vents, and conditions existed which gave rise to the 

 accumulation of materials to form coal. 



In quite recent times, many large faults have been created at the 

 time of earthquakes. In 1<S91 the Mino-Owori fault was created in 

 Central Japan, 10,000 people lost their hves, and 128,000 buildings 

 were destroyed. On April 18, 1906, San Francisco and other towns 

 were ruined by mpvements along a fault which can be traced for 

 a distance of 200 miles. One estimate suggests that it may be 400 



