OUR YOUNGEST VOLCANO 



BY 

 J. S. DILLER 



{Presented before the Society April 28, 189S) 



Onr yoiingest volcano is in Alaska. There was an eruption 

 at Bogoslov in October, 1883, and at other points since then, and 

 there can be no doubt whatever concerning the existence of 

 active volcanoes in Alaska. In our own country, exclusive 

 of Alaska, there may be some doubt whether living volcanoes 

 exist. 



It is well known to all, no doubt, that the greatest volcanic 

 region in the world lies in the northwestern part of our own 

 country, occupying a large tract in Idaho, Washington, Oregon 

 and California. There were many active volcanoes there during 

 the middle and latter portions of the Tertiary period, and there 

 is still a considerable number of them which can hardly be 

 called extinct. 



Frequent rej^orts of volcanic eruption may be seen in western 

 neAVspapers, but the large majority of them are of doubtful 

 authenticity. There is considerable evidence, however, that in 

 1842- '43 mount Baker and mount Saint Helens, in Washington, 

 discharged large quantities of " ashes " with which the adjacent 

 country was covered as with a light fall of snow. Professor 

 Davidson, of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and 

 Mr J. S. Hittel report eruptions of mount Baker in 1854, 1858 

 and 1870. These reports are based on observations made at 

 long range, and so far as I know have not been corroborated by 

 actual ascent of the mountain. 



Dr Harkness, of San Francisco, reported to the California 

 Academy of Sciences a volcanic eruption in Plumas county of 

 that state, at a point about ten miles northeast of Lassen peak. 

 He found the trees near the lava were scorched as if by the heat 

 of the lava at the time of the eruption. He visited the locality, 



C93) 



