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Residents Flee Homes And Offices As Temblors Sway Buildings
All Schools Closed
Idaho, Wyoming And Nevada Jarred; City Takes Precautions
Five distinct temblors, described by geologists as the most severe that have ever struck the region during the years for which records are available, shook Salt Lake, all of northern Utah and parts of three surrounding states Monday morning.
The first shock, of major intensity, occurred at 8:08 a.m. and was followed by three minor temblors at 8:32 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:14 a.m., with the final shock of the day, another major one, occurring at 11:21 a.m. Alarmed residents, who fled from their homes and from office buildings in many instances when the first temblor shook buildings, were assured by geologists Monday afternoon that there was no basis for the belief that further, major shocks would occur.
Despite the assurances, all Salt Lake City schools were closed by Dr. I. John Nuttall Jr., superintendent, on the recommendation of Chief of Police W. I. Payne and Dr. L. K. Vixor , city health commissioner, a precautionary measure, and the school buildings will be inspected Tuesday before Dr. Nuttall will permit them to be reopened.
The shocks were felt as far north as Boise, Idaho, to the south as far as Richfield, east as far as Rock Springs, Wyo., and west at Ely and Elko, Nev. Damage was reported from a wide area, but it was all of a minor nature.
Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret professor of geology at the University of Utah, fixed the center of the quake at the north end of the Great Salt lake, near the town of Kelton. He said on the basis of telegraphic reports he determined that one of the Great Basin faults, running north and south through the lake, had slipped.
Reports from towns in the four states indicated the shocks were felt for a distance of about 450 miles east and west and about the same distance north and south.
Both geology professors were swamped throughout the day with calls from panic stricken persons checking reports that there were more and even stronger temblors in store for them. The professors termed such reports false and said it was impossible to determine whether there would be further disturbances.
Both expressed the belief the strongest temblors already had struck the region and that any further shocks probably would be minor, but could be expected during the next 24 hours. They said they would be greatly surprised if a disturbance of disastrous proportions occurred.
Newspaper officers were besieged throughout the day with calls from residents reporting minor damage to their homes. There was every indication that not a section of the city had escaped. Beds, chairs and tables were rocked, chandeliers were shaken, plaster was jarred loose and a few buildings were cracked. At the first disturbance, residents just arising fled from their homes partly clad, expecting further temblors to follow.
Reports that the Main street corner of the Clift building had been cracked proved groundless when the building manager, Lawrence H. Heath, said the crack had been caused by the weather years ago.
Plaster tumbled into the lobby and president's suite of the Newhouse hotel.
At the city and county building, officials said the building was safe, but some apprehension was felt regarding capstones of the chimneys and the statue atop the building, which was bent. After the order to vacate had been issued, guards were posted to prevent persons from entering. Plaster fell in several rooms in the building. Engineers, after an inspection, ordered removal of all capstones.
Many buildings were reported cracked at Logan and in Cache valley, and, following the second major shock at 11:21 a.m., city schools and classes in the Home Economics building and main building of the Utah State Agricultural college were dismissed. Plaster fell in many structures.
One death was indirectly attributable to the earthquake at Ogden. Mrs. Ida May Venable Atkinson, who had been ill for two weeks with heart trouble and was in bed when the first tremor struck. She complained that her bed was being shaken and when she was told the disturbance was caused by a quake she died.
Charles Bithell, 55, of 1345 Roberts avenue, a city water department employee, was injured internally when a trench weakened by the first shock collapsed at Sixteenth South street and Highland drive, and trapped him. The walls gave way soon after he entered the 10-foot deep trench to place support planks. He was reported in a critical condition at a hospital.
Mr. Bithell was buried nearly to his hips and was extricated by fellow workers who took him to the emergency hospital for treatment. Later he was removed to the L.D.S. hospital.
As the wall gave way, one of the workers shouted a warning to Mr. Bithell, but before he could climb out the trench collapsed.
Immediately after the first shock, Chief Payne called Norman Sims, commander of the Salt Lake post No. 2, American Legion, requesting the Legion Alerts to stand by to step in and take charge of the situation in the event of a major disaster. Police prowl cars were put into service at noon in case of an emergency.
At Kelton, near the center of the disturbance as located by Dr. Pack, the chimney on the schoolhouse was shaken loose by the two major shocks, although other shocks also were felt. Classes were dismissed.
Among other towns in the four states which reported feeling the shocks distinctly were Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs, Paris, Mackey, Twin Falls and Burley, Idaho; Kemmerer, Evanston and Rock Springs, Wyo.; Richfield and Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
St. George and Price reported the tremors were not felt there, indicating Richfield was the farthest south to be shaken.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Pack Locates Shock Near Kelton, Other Geologists Place It In Different Faults
Slipping of one of the many faults in the great basin fault area extending from the Wasatch mountains to the Sierras on the Nevada-California border caused the earthquake disturbance, but which fault slipped was a subject of conjecture Monday by Utah geologists. It was generally agreed that the offending fault will not be determined until a check is made of the intensity of the tremors in various localities or actual evidence uncovered of disturbance along a known fault.
The only geologist who gave an opinion as to the definite location of the disturbance was Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret professor of geology at the University of Utah. He placed the epicenter a few miles south of Kelton in the Great Salt Lake.
Mr. Beeson spent Monday morning in driving in Mill Creek, along the Wasatch boulevard to Big Cottonwood canyon, and to the airport, but he reported there were no cracks in the highway of any evidence of disturbance or movement of either the Wasatch fault or the Warm Springs fault. He declared that the position of the Wasatch fault is definitely known at the mouth of Little Cottonwood canyon. The Warm Springs fault runs from Utah lake through the Jordan Narrows and up Salt Lake valley to the warm springs north of the city. The shocks, he said, might have come from some other range basin fault farther to the west.
R. T. Walker, chief geologist of the United States Smelting, Refining and Mining company, expressed the belief that the slipping fault was west of Salt Lake and not immediately local in that disturbance close to Salt Lake would have been sharper, with faster vibrations, but not necessarily with more intensity.
"Actual determination will require a checking of observations on intensity, the direction of the movements, [ ? ] [Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Salt Lake schools will reopen only after a thorough examination has been made to determine what, if any, damage was done to school buildings by the earthquakes Monday.
Dr. L. John Nuttal. Jr., superintendent, announced Monday night that the schools will reopen Wednesday morning, unless there are further earth disturbances or unexpected finding of damage to buildings.
A careful preliminary survey of the buildings was made Monday by engineers of the school board's department of buildings and grounds under direction of Howard Barker, department superintendent.
The check, made after all school children had been removed from the buildings, after the 11:21 a. m. quake, revealed no structural defects caused by the tremors, Dr. Nuttall and Mr. Barker said.
The engineers found only slight cracks in plastering, practically all of which already were in existence, the school officials said. Nothing wrong was found with footings, walls, roofs, floors and other structural parts. Such cracks as were found in the plastering, Dr. Nuttall explained, were due to settlement and temperature stresses. Any reports circulated after the quakes concerning damage to school buildings apparently were not founded on fact.
Officials of Judge Memorial school, St. Mary-of the-Wasatch and Kearns St. Ann's orphanage school announced all departments of the institutions will be closed Tuesday pending a check of possible damage caused by the shocks.
Rowland Hall and schools of the Granite district will be open. Dr. Calvin S. Smith, superintendent of Granite district, said schools of the district were closed Monday afternoon and an examination of the buildings was made revealing no damage. An inspection at Rowland Hall was reported to have disclosed no damage.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Shock Fatal To Victim Of Heart Trouble; Bank Building Cracked
OGDEN--Four shocks, two of major proportions and two minor tremors, had been felt in Ogden up to a late hour Monday. The first shock came shortly after 8 a.m., when buildings swayed, houses danced and late sleepers were driven frantically from their beds.
One death was attributed to the first quake. Mrs. Ida May Venable Atkinson, 21, wife of Clarence Thomas Atkinson, was the victim. She had been suffering for 17 days with heart trouble following the death of a child at birth.
Mrs. Atkinson, bedridden, was sleeping when the first shock occurred. Members of her family were about her. She apparently felt the shock, was awakened, and rose in bed to inquire: "Why are you shaking the bed. I am sleepy. I don't want to waken now."
Damage was reported to some buildings in the city. A crack appeared in the plaster of the First National Bank building near the ground floor.
At the Weber county infirmary in Roy, plaster fell and struck Mrs. Annie Barton. She was uninjured. The entire building swayed, dishes rattled and the inmates were frightened, but no injuries were reported.
While reports of damage came in, reassuring announcements came from others who said that the quakes had little effect upon their buildings. The first National Bank building was rocked to a considerable extent, but no particular damage resulted. That building is one of the tallest in Ogden. The Eccles building, across the street from the First National building, at Twenty-fourth street and Washington avenue, apparently was not damaged at all.
Walls of the Hotel Ben Lomond and the Ogden hotel, adjoining, rubbed together, spectators said, but only dust caused by the friction resulted.
Telephone wires connected at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Trimble at the artesian wells, from which Ogden obtains its water supply, were snapped, but they were quickly repaired.
City Commissioner Fred K. Williams, superintendent of the city waterworks system, said late Monday that a thorough check had been made on the pipe lines leading to the distributing reservoirs on the foothills, and that everything in the system is functioning perfectly.
Schools were kept open throughout the day, with exception of Sacred Heart academy, a Catholic school. Parents besieged that institution with calls, resulting in the dismissal of classes for the afternoon. In Ogden the quakes assumed a wave motion, in contrast to sharp tremors. Railroad telegraph wires between Ogden and Montello, Nev., on the Southern Pacific were affected. The sway of the earth caused the wires to "hit," swinging together, and disrupting communication momentarily.
Officials of the Union Pacific railroad said that their line is in perfect condition, travel not being interrupted. Reports of the quake came from as far east on the Union Pacific as Medicine Bow, Wyo. The greatest fear of railroad officials was the possibility of rocks tumbling down the mountain sides near entrances of tunnels. There are ten tunnels between Ogden and Medicine Bow, but not one was affected by the tremors.
Passengers on transcontinental trains, arriving in Ogden following the quakes, said that they felt no tremors. That is explained by the fact that the trains would take up the motion of the earth.
Mrs. John Madsen, working on the ninth floor of the First National Bank building, was surprised to find a typewriter tipped into her lap She stood up and a door bumped her in its sway. Clocks in the Weber county courthouse stopped a 8:06 a.m. In the federal building, clocks stopped at 8:07. In some homes chandeliers swung until they bumped into the ceilings, bulbs being broken. A wall of the building of the Ogden Dressed Meat company was cracked.
All police and firemen were kept on duty throughout the night. Although it was the opinion of Mayor Peery that no alarm should be felt, because of the splendid construction of most tall buildings in the city.
One person in Ogden, talking with another man in Uintah at about 11:20 a.m. said the Uintah man told him: "I didn't feel the first shock which has been reported--but wait--here is something. It's shaking my house now."
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Quake Not Noticed At Elsinore, Monroe Or Panguitch
RICHFIELD--Swinging chandeliers and rattling dishes caused some excitement here shortly after 8 a.m. Monday, when a slight earthquake shook the town. No damage was done.
Reports from Elsinore and Monroe, where tremors of other years have been more severe than here, indicated Monday's disturbance was not even noticed.
Panguitch and other southern towns also reported not feeling the tremor, as did Salina to the north and Milford.
The tremor was distinct and quite severe for this section. The motion of the earth seemed to be from east to west, and was felt in all parts of the city. Many families here were seated at the breakfast table and each person experienced quite a sensation when the dishes began to move about the table, chandeliers began to swing and windows to rattle. Many people rushed from their homes in the excitement. The tremor was felt more distinctly perhaps in the upper stories of the large business blocks.
From current reports, no damage was done in this section, but Hervin Bunderson, superintendent of schools, received a message from Reynold Johnson, principal at the Kelton school, stating that the earthquake destroyed the chimney on the schoolhouse there. It will be impossible to hold school at Kelton until the damage is repaired, Mr. Bunderson said.
Two windows were reported broken at the Lincoln school, three miles northeast of here, and a window in the Baker Ice Cream shop cracked, but so far as has been learned no other damage was done.
Goods were shaken off shelves in some of the stores.
Reports from the International Smelting company plant, St. John, Stockton, Erda, Grantsville and other localities indicate the disturbance was general in Tooele county.
The Tremonton grade school and the Bear River high school continued with their classes after the noon hour.
A slight crack about 20 inches long was made down the front of the building housing the Coombs & Persson Clothing store and the Blue Bell confectionery of Garland. Only a bit of plaster was shaken down from one of the rooms in the Garland school.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Damage Small, But Quake Starts Fire Gong A-Ringing
POCATELLO, Idaho, March 12--Citizens of this locality were regaining their composure Monday night, after what many termed a "harrowing sensation"--that of experiencing two distinct earth tremors. No casualties or injuries were reported.
The shocks, occurring at 8:05 a.m. and at 11:20 a.m. caused persons throughout both the business and residential districts to run into the streets. Anxious parents besieged the school administration offices throughout the morning and at 11:30 a.m. school was dismissed for the day.
Most serious damage done was at the gymnasium of the University of Idaho, southern branch, where an investigation led officials to close the balcony during the Pocatello-McCammon championship basketball game. Dean John R. Nichols said the large steel girders had moved as much as an eighth of an inch. Plaster was cracked at the tops of windows where cross beams are anchored. He asked that the state department of education make a thorough inspection.
Severity of the shock was illustrated at the east side fire station, where at 11:20 a.m. the five-ton truck was rocked to such an extent that the heavy brass gong sounded three times.
Another instance at 8:05 a.m. was in the Bannock county jail, when Night Jailer C. W. Ellsworth made a hurried inspection of the large cell tank in which 45 prisoners are incarcerated.
"I thought they (the prisoners) were attempting to shake down the bars and that they were jumping on the floor," he said.
In the district courtroom a part of the wall settled, throwing a doorway out of alignment so much it was impossible to close either the transom or the door.
Mrs. Curl, who resides at the Quinn apartments, was treated at the general hospital for first degree burns on the arms and back. Her condition was not serious. The movement was said to have been the most severe of any ever felt in this country. The weather bureau records show that other shocks occurred December 1, 1917, October 5, 1915, and November 11, 1905.
BURLEY, Idaho, March 12--Two marked temblors were felt in Cassia county Monday, shortly after 8 a.m. and about 11:20 a.m. with intermittent light shocks between. Chimney bricks and plastering were shaken down and some wells were affected, but no material damage done. The tall Amalgamated sugar mill chimney was not damaged. A seismoscope in the shop of A. C Williams registered a deflection of six inches, indicating a marked but not abrupt earth surface wave. Pupils in the Oakley and Albion schools were dismissed.
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo, March 12--Rock Springs remained undamaged Monday after two earthquake shocks had caused teakettles to skitter across stove tops, light fixtures to shimmy and chairs to dance. The majority of the citizens did not realize that they had been visited by a temblor, many thinking that heavy trucks, trains or tractors caused the rumble and shaking.
The first shock came at 8:07 Monday and lasted for several seconds. This was a distinct shock. One man described the sensation of trying to sit in his chair to tune his radio, only to have the radio shimmy away while he tried to keep his seat beneath him. The second shock, distinct but briefer in duration, was felt at 11:22 in the morning. This was slight and was hardly noticed in the larger buildings of the city.
MACKAY, Idaho, March 12 (AP)--A slight earthquake was felt here this morning. The first shock occurred at about 8 o'clock and the second was an hour later. No damage was reported.
IDAHO FALLS--Although earthquake shocks were felt in Idaho Falls and vicinity Monday, no damage was reported.
PARIS, Idaho, March 12--Two distinct earthquake tremors were felt here this morning, shaking houses, rattling dishes and swaying electric light fixtures. The first was at 8:08 o'clock and the second at 11:20 o'clock. The tremor was more effective, in Rich county than Bear Lake.
LAVA HOT SPRING, Idaho, March 12--A strong earth tremor was felt for ten seconds here at 8:07 this morning. Citizens scurried to their windows to see if the inactive volcanoes near this town had taken a new lease on life. Except for breaking bottles in the Nye pharmacy and causing hairlines to appear in several structures, it did no damage.
KEMMERER, Wyo., March 12--An earth tremor was distinctly felt in Kemmerer at 8:10 o'clock this morning.
Beds were moved in the Hotel Kemmerer, chandeliers and dishes moved in the Hotel Kemmerer cafe, while a number of homes reported having felt the shock and the moving of furniture. Lights were seen to sway during services in the Catholic church and the Rev. Mr. Thompson, holding Episcopal services, reported that some of the candle lights went out when the church was rocked. It was also distinctly felt at Frontier. No reports of any property damage have been received.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Minor Slip In Mountain Fault Blamed By Schneider
A minor slip on one of the many faults in the Rocky Mountain region was the comment of Dr. Hyrum Schneider, University of Utah geologist professor, on the earth tremors which caused fear among Utah and southern Idaho residents Monday.
Dr. Schneider, who said he felt two distinct shocks in this basement office at the university and was told of another felt on the top floor of another building, declared the shocks were the most severe he had ever experienced and were stronger than any recorded in this region. The shocks felt distinctly at the university occurred at 8:05 am., 11:14 a.m. and 11:21 a.m., he said.
"It is hard to say just which one of the many faults slipped," he said, "and it is just as difficult to locate exactly the epicenter. It may have been the major fault on the eastern side of Cache valley or in the faults in the Soda Springs region of southern Idaho.
"People have only a vague idea what a fault is. A fault is a fracture on the surface of the earth along which some relative movement has occurred. Any slipping up or down or to either side along the line of fracture results in what we call a fault. The mere fact that a fracture exists does not indicate the presence of a fault. Even if this fracture should spread it does not make a fault.
"We have a number of clearly recognizable faults in a gravel pit near the university campus in which the displacements on the lines of fracture amount to only two to five inches, indicating that mountain slides do not have to slip great distances to form a fault.
"Tensional fractures are rather common around igneous intrusions. These intrusions are caused by heated rock forcing its way upward from within the earth, but not reaching the surface.
"The Wasatch fault is a tensional fault but was not formed by an igneous intrusion. There are evidences that in early times there were many upheavals in this valley and the fault was formed when the mountain side moved up and the valley side down. It is hard to say in the case of the Wasatch fault just how it was formed as the whole region was pushed up.
"There are both tensional and compressional faults in the Rocky Mountain region. There are many, many faults in the region in addition to the major Wasatch fault, but they are relatively small.
"I am of the opinion the Wasatch fault has just about adjusted itself, but one never can tell when slipping will occur. The fault passed at the foot of the Wasatch range to the east of Salt Lake and extends from a point north of Brigham City, southward to Nephi."
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
The earthquake shocks which alarmed residents of Salt Lake, all of northern Utah and southern Idaho Monday were described by Dr. Frederick J. Pack, head of the University of Utah geology department, as the most severe that have struck the region in historic times.
Dr. Pack said the exact location of the center of the quake was at a point in the north end of the Great Salt Lake, near the town of Kelton. He explained that the shocks were due to a slipping in the most easterly of a series of Great Basin faults lying between the Wasatch fault on the east and the Sierra fault on the west. The fault which slipped, he said, is miles northwest of Salt Lake.
Dr. Pack and his assistants spent much of their time answering telephone calls from persons panic stricken by reports that new and more severe shocks were to be expected at various hours during the afternoon. Such reports, he declared, were groundless, and added that with all available scientific instruments it would be impossible to determine the hour at which a tremor would occur.
"We should be surprised, however, if we experienced a tremor of disastrous proportions. The many reports of expected disturbances are entirely unfounded."
Dr. Pack explained that he located the center of the disturbance with the aid of telegraphic reports.
"With the use of the telegraphic reports and knowing the geology of the region," he said, "we plotted the intensity of the shocks as reported from the various localities and very easily put our hand on the point of origin."
Explaining the probable cause of the slipping of the faults, he said:
There are two general origins of earthquakes, he said, one in volcanic regions and the other in movements of the crust of the earth. When the crust moves it necessarily fractures and that fracture is comparable to ice breaking up on a river.
"In a very large sense," he explained, "the region between the Wasatch and Sierra Nevada mountains is comparable to ice when it breaks up.
"Monday's disturbance was relatively slight and the displacement caused by the slipping of the fault also was slight. Evidences point to the conclusion that there have been many much more severe earthquakes in the region than the present one. They occurred, however, before historic times.
"Although the Great Basin is an earthquake region, it is not be compared in point of intensity or frequency of occurrence with that of the Pacific coast. We may have further earthquakes in the future, but it is scarcely to be expected that they will be extremely violent."
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
California Instruments Record Temblors Continuing For Hour And Half
BERKELEY, Cal, March 12 (AP)--The earthquake which shook Salt Lake City today was described by Professor Perry Byerly of the University of California seismology department, as being as severe as the shocks which caused so much damage to Santa Barbara, Cal., in 1925. Byerly also said today 's quake was equally as intensive as the quake which occurred in Nevada December 20, 1932.
"The quake began recording on our instruments at 7:07.45 a.m." said Professor Byerly. "The shocks continued for an hour and a half. The epicenter apparently was some 500 miles away."
"The shocks were extremely severe, as much so as those of the Santa Barbara and Nevada quakes. Today's shocks were so bad that they must have caused considerable damage if they were in an inhabited region"
The records, seismologists said, indicated the shock was considerably heavier than the destructive Long Beach earthquake of March 10 last year, and that the point of origin evidently was some distance from Salt Lake City.
BOISE, March 12 (AP)--The earthquake in Boise was a delightful diversion for a few people, but a vast disappointment to far many more who knew naught of it.
A check at most public buildings and many private residences failed to disclose a single instance of damage, although a few, particularly in the higher buildings, reported swaying chandeliers.
The weather man had the most definite report.
Sitting in his office this morning, he felt his desk move and looked up to see if a jesting visitor had shaken it. Then he felt his chair move and immediately snatched a pencil to record that the quake was felt at 8:07 a.m., lasting 10 seconds.
Immediately after the quake finished, reporters rushed to the street to see if any damage had occurred. One went so far as to see if the bronze eagle atop the statehouse had taken flight--but it appeared not to have rustled a brazen feather.
Weather bureau records indicate this was the first tremor Boise has felt since 1916. In that year there were six, coming in April, May and July. Even with all six quakes, no harm was reported.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 12 (AP)--A distinct earthquake shock startled residents in nearly every town in the extreme western part of Wyoming shortly after 8 o'clock this morning.
Although no great damage was reported, the action of the tremor caused consternation among the residents when dishes rattled, clocks stopped and beds moved.
At Rock Springs the tremor was felt from 8:07 to 8:08.4.
Trains were stopped at the entrance to a tunnel at Evanston, pending an inspection after the shock.
The shock was distinct at Frontier, Wyo., a mining town where a hurried inquiry was made to determine if a mine explosion had occurred
SEATTLE, Wash., March 12 (AP)--The tremor felt in Utah today was the most severe recorded by the University of Washington seismograph in some time, W. M. Chappell, operator of the instrument, said today, throwing both needles off the record.
The shock began at 7:08 a.m. Pacific standard time, and was about 800 miles southeast. Chappell said it made a "spectacular" record.
ELKO, Nev., March 12 (AP)--Two earthquakes, the first at 7:09 a.m. (P.S.T.) and another at 1:20 a.m. (P.S.T.), were felt here today. Although the first shock was strong, there were no reports of damage.
RENO, Nev., March 12 (AP)--Professor Vincent P. Gianella, University of Nevada geologist, said today the university's seismograph recorded a "strong earthquake" at 7:07 a.m. (P.S.T.) today. The shocks, he said, kept the instrument's needle quivering for 33 minutes.
Professor Gianella estimated the center of the disturbance to be 552 miles from Reno, somewhere in the Wasatch mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho. He said the quake had a "strong east
west component."
The shocks were not felt in Reno, Professor Gianella said. There apparently was no connection between today's quake and the one which rocked Nevada last January 30.
SANTA ROSA, Cal., March 12 (AP)--A slight earthquake was felt here at 8:10 a.m. (P.S.T.) today, the shock was described as an "up and down" movement. No damage was reported.
Several so called "phantom quakes" were recorded here recently and seismologists said they possibly might have been caused by underground explosions of accumulated steam.
Geologists said the shocks might have been of semi-volcanic origin, the steam accumulating until its pressure caused explosions.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Policeman Blames 3.2 For 'Dizzy Feeling' During Earth Shock
LOGAN, March 12--Two severe earthquake shocks were felt here at 8:06 a.m. and 11:21 a.m., Monday, which did some damage to buildings throughout Cache valley. No estimate of the damage was available. It consisted of chimneys toppling over, plaster falling and cracks in several homes.
Following the second shock at 11:21 a.m., city schools and classes in the Home Economics building and third floor of the main building at Utah State Agricultural college were dismissed on recommendation of Fire Chief C. W. Rapp. Walls of the college building were cracked, while the chimney at the Woodruff school toppled over. Cracks were reported in Nibley hall on the Logan senior high school campus, and in several of the rooms at the high school plaster fell, much to the discomfiture of students, who ran from the building during the second shock.
Several residences reported falling plaster and cracked walls. At the homes of Moses G. and G. W. Thatcher chimneys toppled over, while Percy Smith, local printer, reported that cracks were made in several rooms of his house and a piece of the foundation cracked off. The J. C. Penney company building had the front wall sprung so that it was impossible to lock the front door, while at the Logan Garment company a 12 foot long pillar split from ceiling to floor.
Similar reports of damage was reported from Providence, Mendon and Clarkston.
Sheriff Ray Osbourne of Randolph reported that the first shock struck at 8:10 a.m. and the second at 11:20 a.m. and that no damage was done with the exception of falling plaster in the school building at Randolph. The same was true at Woodruff.
A peculiar thing of the earthquake was the completion Sunday night of a home-made seismograph by Jack Edwards, 13, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Edwards and Don Edwards, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Edwards, which recorded a shock here about 6 a.m. The seismograph was in the basement of the Edwards home, 428 North First West street, and worked on a ballast with water dripping from a bucket and wires running into the ground. According to the recordings from the seismograph, markings show that a trembler was felt at 6 a.m. The shock at 8:10 a.m. destroyed the machine, but Monday afternoon the boys were repairing it and setting it on a permanent base.
Jack Edwards said this was the first instrument that had worked for them, that they had built several others, but none of them workable.
Several amusing things were seen along the street during the first shock. At a local barber shop a man was just being shaved and ran screaming from the chair to the center of the street with the lather still on his face. Another instance was that a local police officer had just drank a glass of 3.2 beer and during the shock got dizzy and blamed it on the beer until he found out it was an earthquake.
Logan residents during the first shock ran from their homes, some still in their nightclothes and others half dressed, and stood gaping in the street watching buildings, trees, light poles and other things sway. Employees at the Logan city light plant in Logan canyon reported that for a time the building seemed as though it was going to crash, but an examination following the first shock failed to reveal any damage. No damage was reported on the city dam or to any of the pipe lines. Light and power service was not disrupted during the shock and the local phone office handled more than 2000 calls following the first shock, it was reported.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Prisoners of the county jail wanted "out" when they felt earth tremors Monday.
"Let us out! Open up the doors! There's an earthquake! Take us out!" were some of the cries that reached the ears of turnkeys as the earth shook.
Regular visiting hours were abolished for the afternoon as it was feared if another quake came there might be an attempt at a general jail break.
Courts in the county building were thrown into a general pandemonium when the 11:21 o'clock quake came. Jurors left their places without being excused and there was a general rush for the halls and doorways.
In City Judge M. J. Brownstone's chamber, the quake caused plaster to fall over the doorway. Court was hastily adjourned.
A pair of workmen, engaged in cleaning the interior of the dome at the state capitol, claim the distinction of have the most precarious place in the city for experiencing an earthquake. Perched upon improvised scaffolding, the workmen clung to their insecure supports as the building swayed. When the temblor subsided, the workmen climbed to safety and declined to attempt further work.
John Harkelson, 65, a resident at the Lincoln House, had reason to be grateful for the earthquake. It shook a clock that hadn't run for years from a shelf. Upon picking up the timepiece, Harkelson found it was running and apparently keeping good time.
Members of the sheriff's force who moved their offices from the county building to the county jail after the closing order for the latter structure, closely watched the tall brick chimney that stood at the south side of the jail. Prisoners on the south tiers of the jail vocally made known their fears that the chimney would fall over into the jail.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Following are fragments of conversation overheard Monday on the streets of Salt Lake; readers are allowed one guess as to the topic:
. . ."We were just sitting down to breakfast". . .
. . ."Looked at my watch and it was exactly 8:06.".
. . ."And Professor Whositt out at the university says there'll be two more." . . .
. . ."Everybody dashed into the hall.". . .
. . ."Spilled part of the water out of the goldfish bowl":. . .
. . ."Bet there'll be headlines about it in the Los Angeles papers.". . .
. . . "Set the chandeliers to swaying just like this". . . . . ."We thought Daddy was shaking the bed to play a joke on us.". . .
. . ."Fainted right on the street.". . .
. . ."So I grabbed both sides of the bathtub and hung on for dear life.". . .
. . . "Dismissed school and sent the children home.". . .
. . . "Shook just like a dog shakes a bone.". . .
. . . "So I grabbed the kiddies and we dashed into the street.". . .
. . ."Safest place is an airplane.". . .
. . ."Slept right through and never knew what happened.". . .
. . ."Some day. . . a good one like they get on the coast.". . .
. . ."Well, it's earthquake weather, you know.". . .
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Crop failures or even rheumatism, perhaps, can be attributed to the weather, but not earthquakes. The term" earthquake weather" has no scientific meaning, and those who lay any store by it are clinging to an idea which has long since been proved false.
So declared Weatherman J. Cecil Alter after many citizens had inquired if the unseasonably warm weather was the cause of the temblors which rocked Salt Lake and other parts of the intermountain country Monday.
And Mr. Alter is backed by the good authority of a group of California scientists who addressed the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Salt Lake last June.
They told the association that careful observations over a period of years in California and other parts of the world have proved conclusively there is no connection between weather and earth disturbances.
Mr. Alter kept close check of Monday's quakes, not because he believes the upper air has anything to do with the movements of mother earth, but merely because he is interested in all natural phenomena.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Professor Bailey Willis of Stanford university, world renowned authority on earthquakes, can now tell Salt Lake people, "I told you so."
In an address to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Salt Lake last June, Dr. Willis warned that Salt Lake is in an earthquake zone and that the people of this city could expect a good shaking at almost any time.
"You live directly in an earthquake zone," he said at that time. "The Wasatch fault, which skirts the Wasatch mountains, is a young, active fault. It has in the past given rise to many earthquakes, and in the future it will give rise to many more."
He told the Salt Lake people he is not an alarmist, but has made it his chief business to preach the doctrine of preparedness. And any city, through proper precautions, can be prepared to withstand the effect of a major quake.
Comparatively simple precautions, he declared, will make a house or building safe. The general rule is that construction be rigid and light. In the case of a frame house, the sheathing should be nailed on diagonally, and if the house is of masonry the mortar should be strong and the walls tied into the interior framework.
He pointed out at that time that what is known as class A buildings, those with steel or reinforced concrete frame, can be built so strong that they will resist almost any quake.
Such a calamity could be averted by installing flexible joints in the pipes where they cross the fault, or by providing reservoirs on this side of the fault with a capacity sufficient to last the city a week or so in case of a quake.
The artesian wells are a partial guarantee of a water supply in the event of an earth disturbance, Dr. Willis said, but the other precautions suggested also should be taken.
If Dr. Willis were in Salt Lake now, it is safe to say that he would tell Salt Lake people not to sit back and do nothing in the belief that Monday's shocks eliminated all danger of future earth disturbances.
Those who heard him last June have interpreted his remarks as a warning that temblors of a destructive nature may occur in the future, and it behooves Salt Lake, and all other cities, for that matter, to get busy
and make themselves earthquake proof.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Second Shock Occurs As 5000 Persons Watch Civic Parade
PROVO--No apparent damage was done to property in Provo by earthquakes felt here about 8:07 and 11:20 a.m., Monday. However, many residents felt the shocks, especially the first.
According to reports beds were rocked and many persons were awakened in this manner; dishes were shaken from cupboards and windows rattled in residences and business houses.
At the city and county building a chandelier in the center of the main floor was set to swinging by the first shock and continued to swing for more than half an hour, John Harrison, custodian, reported. At the Provo post office four clocks were stopped.
After the shocks, principals of the Provo city schools, accompanied by Superintendent H. A. Dixon, inspected their respective buildings. Inspection revealed that no damage was done and school will continue Tuesday as usual.
The second shock was noticed by few persons in Provo. More that 5000 persons were gathered in the business section watching a parade in connection with the eighty-fifth anniversary of Provo and few noticed the disturbance.
Dr. George H. Hansen, professor of geology at Brigham Young university, said that such tremors were not unexpected, as Provo is in the area covered by the Wasatch fault line.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
PRESTON, Idaho, March 12--Three severe earthquake tremors were felt Monday by residents of Preston and vicinity. The first occurred at 8:10 a.m. Damages were all on this tremor. Several windows, including the large plate glass window in the J. C. Penney company, were broken. Many people report dishes were shaken from tables and cupboards, and one home, belonging to Jethro Hathcock, was moved three inches on its foundation. Walls in the recently renovated county courthouse were cracked in several places and strips of plaster fell to the floor.
The main administration building of the Preston high school, formerly Oneida stake academy, revealed the intensity of the shock more than any other building. Several top stones were shaken loose and fell to the lawn below, weakening the roof structure of the building and allowing a slip of the main rod braces. The Jefferson school also showed a bad crack in the rear wall.
Superintendent Campbell ordered school dismissed for the day.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 13, 1934]
Injuries suffered when he was caught beneath a cave-in caused by the earthquake Monday at Sixtieth South street and Highland drive proved fatal Tuesday to Charles Bithell, 55, of 1345 Roberta avenue. He died in a local hospital Tuesday at 7 a.m. of chest and stomach injuries.
Weakened by the first shock, the walls of the trench gave way shortly after one of his fellow workers shouted a warning.
Born in Salt Lake July 25, 1873, Mr. Bithell had been a employee of the city water department 23 years. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Loot Ewing, Mrs. Robert K. Duffy and Mrs. Douglas D. Cantwell; three sons, Charles, Claude and LeRoy Bithell, all of Salt Lake; a sister, Mrs. Bert McIntyre of San Francisco, and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday noon at the Deseret mortuary, 38 East Seventh South street. Burial will take place in the Mt. Olivet cemetery.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 14, 1934]
Five distinct temblors, which shook Salt Lake City and surrounding territory into a fever of excitement on Monday, at least lend credence to the warning sounded a year ago by Professor Bailey Willis of Stanford university. In an address to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in Salt Lake City last June, Professor Willis said:
"You live directly in an earthquake zone. The Wasatch fault, which skirts the Wasatch mountains, is a young, active fault. It has in the past given rise to many earthquakes and in the future will give rise to many more."
The scientist had no idea of frightening our people. He simply wanted to urge them not to discount the possibility. His remarks now bear the stamp of public experience. Fortunately, little if any damage was done and no loss of life occurred. The temblors here constituted an earthquake without a sting, providing thrills, but no damage.
The experience merely emphasizes the warning of Professor Willis, which, briefly, is that in building for the future we cannot ignore the possibility of earthquakes. Our water supply must be projected so that protection is afforded the city in any emergency. We cannot afford to be indifferent, even when the years prove that earthquakes are rare in our experience.
Similar attention must be given to construction and the building code. The city cannot afford to take any chances with this risk. It must be prepared for the worst, even if the worst never happens. Building against the hazard of earthquakes is not fearful building, but intelligent construction.
In this connection it is pleasing to note the precautions exercised by the Salt Lake City school authorities in the recent experience. Classes were dismissed and the children sent home, allaying the concerns of parents and taking no chances with the safety of the children. Chief of Policy William L. Payne and L. John Nutttall , Jr., superintendent of schools, who were responsible for the action, are to be commended for their quick and precautionary response to an emergency situation. While the action, perhaps, was not imperative, the course was the one surest to be free of future regrets.
The wisdom of the school administration is further emphasized by the decision to defer the opening of the public schools until a thorough and minute inspection has been made of every structure. They might easily assume that no damage was done, but this would be a poor substitute for a first hand inspection. This evident desire to take no chances with precious young lives should be a source of gratification to every parent.
This action of the school authorities is suggestive of inspection precautions for the future. Buildings which would not stand the rigors of passing temblors should be condemned and razed. Because of rigorous climatic demands, Salt Lake City construction has to be substantial. Protection against the possibility of earthquakes need register no fear nor entail heavy additional expense.
The experience of Monday may never come again. The danger may be entirely passed, but the future alone can determine that. The future course of the city, nevertheless, must take this hazard into account, and guard against it. That is reflective only of intelligent planning, which should be followed by humanity wherever it is, for it finally must appear that there is no complete escape from this or some other equally dangerous hazard of living, wherever we are.
Editorial
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 14, 1934]
Scientist Discovers Fifty Mud Volcanoes Created By Tremor In Hanzel Valley;
Shock Dries Spring, Second Starts It
Four enormous fault scarps, extending from a quarter to a half-mile in length, and fully 50 mud volcanoes, some of which were four feet across, with three-foot craters, marked the epicenter of the earthquake that rocked Utah and intermountain states Monday and Tuesday, it was reported Tuesday night by Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret professor of geology at the University of Utah, after he had spent a day inspecting the center of the seismic disturbance.
The epicenter of the quake is located in the lower end of Hanzel valley, 15 miles southeast of Kelton in Box Elder county on the north end of Great Salt lake, Dr. Pack reported, and is within three miles of the spot announced Monday by Dr. Pack as the probable center of the shock.
"The area presents the most interesting series of earthquake phenomena that Utah has experienced in historical times," Dr. Pack declared. "The surface phenomena in connection with the Long Beach earthquake is not to be compared with the Utah manifestations, although the force of the two quakes probably was about equal.
In addition to the four large earth cracks, the surface of the ground is checkered with innumerable smaller ones, Dr. Pack declared.
"When the first shock rocked the state Monday at 8:05 a.m., the great Locomotive Springs went dry," Dr. Pack said. "In fact, water ran into the spring instead of running out. This peculiarity continued for half an hour, until after the second violent shock, when the waters of the springs resumed their flow with approximately 30 per cent more volume than before.
"The waters were colored with a reddish brown sediment, which grew less abundant as the flow continued," he said. "Discolored water flowed from the springs for eight hours."
"Not fewer than 50 new springs and an equal number of mud volcanoes sprang into being and flowed abundantly, following the earthquake," he said. "Some of the mud volcanoes were four and five feet in diameter, and built up cones to a height of three feet."
"Water from most of the springs was fresh, but many produced salt water."
"Between Monday noon and midnight," Dr. Pack said, "employees at the emergency landing field at Locomotive Springs counted 20 distinct disturbances. At 4 P.M., while at the landing field, I counted four distinct shocks," he said.
Dr. Pack was accompanied by his wife, his son Eugene and a department of commerce employee who served as guide.
Water that flowed from the newly created mud volcanoes poured on a flat that is normally dry and so rapid was the accumulation of the water that the Southern Pacific company dispatched crews to the scene to dig ditches under the tracks to protect a portion of the fill on the old main line.
An artesian well at Cosmo, 50 miles west of Logan, which for 13 years had been stone dry, developed an abundant flow of water under stimulus of the earthquake.
Professor Reed Bailey and ten geology students of the Utah State Agricultural college Tuesday visited Cosmo and reported that quakes occurred there during the entire day Tuesday, the worst one coming at about 5 p.m.
City and county authorities took stock Tuesday of the effects of the quake, and came to the conclusion that the city and county are in fairly good condition for coping with earth shocks.
City officials decided to embrace every opportunity for developing the city's water supplies west of the Wasatch fault, and expected that two artesian wells, now in the process of drilling, would help in event the Wasatch fault slips. City Commissioner George D. Keyser pointed out that the city has an available water supply of 11,000,000 gallons, in readiness this side of the fault. This supply represents more than half the maximum daily consumption.
County commissioners decided to remove trimmings and fixtures from the city and county building that might be shaken loose during the course of a quake. As soon as equipment can be assembled, all capstones and structural ornaments on the building will be removed
Another great earthquake that evidently centered in the south Pacific, 6000 miles from Pasadena, Cal., was recorded Tuesday, Associated Press reports indicated. The quake was recorded on instruments at the seismological laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington at Pasadena. The beginning of the quake recording was at 5:24 a.m.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 14, 1934]
Examination Finds Buildings Sound; Classes Will Resume Wednesday
Salt Lake schools can withstand an earthquake three times as violent as the disturbances that shook the state Monday and Tuesday, it was stated by Howard Barker, superintendent of buildings and grounds, after he and several engineers made a minute inspection of each of the city's 44 schools. School sessions will resume Wednesday.
"The entire amount of plaster that the quakes shook from the walls of all the school buildings in the city was less than a double handful," Superintendent Barker said.
Not a single masonry crack was found that could be attributed to the quake, and practically every plaster crack that was inspected was either the result of contraction and expansion or had been caused by the settling of the building, the engineers declared.
Engineers who conducted the surveys were H. M. McNeil, assistant to Mr. Barker; D. P. Thomas, C. N. Douglas, D. F. Burnett, James Anderson, Oren Law and Daniel Garbett.
"The earthquake has definitely proved that Salt Lake's school buildings are substantially constructed, and that the lives of school children will not be imperiled unless an earthquake of more than ordinary violence occurs," said Mr. Barker.
Reports were received that the East, West and South high schools had been badly damaged by the earthquake, but no cracks or breaks were discernible, it was declared. At the South high school a number of portable panels in the auditorium were disarranged slightly.
So far as the safety of students was concerned, school could have been resumed Tuesday morning, but it was decided by school authorities that a thorough and complete inspection should be made to determine the exact condition of each building.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 14, 1934]
Cove And North Cache Buildings Hurt, Check-Up Discloses
LOGAN--Inspection of Cache county school buildings Tuesday by Building Inspector H. R. Adams, Superintendent J. W. Kirkbride and Clerk Lloyd M. Theaurer, revealed all buildings escaped quake damage except Cove school and North Cache high school. At North Cache high school, Superintendent Kirkbride reported, a crack on one side of the building appeared, although it was not serious.
The Cove school, an old building, had several cracks in before the quake and these opened about an inch wider in the east room, where the students assemble, making it unsafe. Although classes are not dismissed it is expected this building will be under "fire" at the board meeting Thursday, when steps will be taken to have it condemned.
This building was under "fire" a short time ago when residents of Cove asked that the partitions in the building be removed and a recreation center made. The board put it up to the vote of these people, in hopes they would reject the project because of the condition of the building, but they insisted that they wanted the work done. Whether the earthquake has changed their minds was not known, but Superintendent Kirkbride said the building was not safe.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 15, 1934]
Quake Disturbs Pupils Before Class Dismissals
Shirley Newman, Editor
Roy Cole, Associate Editor
LOWELL SCHOOL--After experiencing an earthquake while at their homes before school Monday morning, the pupils of Lowell were just in the right mood to get excited over the slightest temblor, so when the quake at 11:20 came they were easily disturbed. Some of the classes were dismissed before noon, and others left at that time for the remainder of the day.
Mary Jane Penniston, 7B, writes: On Monday, March 5, the upper grades were given the privilege of hearing President Roosevelt speak on the N.R.A. We all assembled on the top floor, where a loud speaker was the center of interest. The talk was very interesting and instructive.
Kennedine Corina, 3B, writes: We drew pussy willows last week. They have been placed on the side blackboard for decoration. They are very pretty as they are drawn in charcoal.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 15, 1934]
More than 30,000 Salt Lake school children returned to their classes Wednesday morning after a day and a half holiday called by the school board as a result of Monday's earthquake.
School work was resumed after a thorough examination by engineers of the school board's department of buildings and grounds revealed no damage to the buildings was caused by the earth shocks.
Praise of the cooperative attitude of Salt Lake citizens and organizations during the period when the city was threatened by a possible serious situation was expressed Wednesday by Police Chief W. L. Payne.
"A willingness to cooperate wholeheartedly with the police department was demonstrated by numerous persons and organizations," Chief Payne declared. "It appeared evident that if the quake had resulted in serious damage, involving injury to persons or loss of life, that the police department would have received splendid aid in handling the situation.
"It is most gratifying to know that Salt Lake stands ready to meet any emergency of such a nature. If there had been a disaster I am confident that the citizens would have conducted themselves in an orderly manner."
City and county officials have emphasized that the city and the county are in fairly good condition for coping with earth shocks, but city officials have recognized a need as a result of the earthquake for taking advantage of every opportunity for developing the city's water supply west of the Wasatch fault, so if that fault ever slips the city will have enough water available for the emergency.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 15, 1934]
Three Felt In Salt Lake; Slight Disturbances Are Expected To Continue
Shocks To Be Checked
Snowville Suffers Greatest Damage; Many Residences Lose Chimneys
Millions of tons of rock under the earth's surface in Hanzel valley, shifting to adjust themselves to their new positions at the epicenter of Monday's earthquake, brought nearly 30 new temblors to northern Utah Thursday, three of which were felt in Salt Lake.
Geologists were of the opinion the shifting of positions, accompanied by minor disturbances, might continue for some time. Since the first strong shock was felt in Salt Lake Monday morning, when four enormous faults were created in Hanzel valley by the shifting of the earth, the Locomotive Springs airways radio station of the department of commerce reported to the Salt Lake airport weather office more than 100 tremors. Locomotive Springs is within a few miles of the point of origin of the quake.
"It is difficult to say," said Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret professor of geology at the University of Utah, "just how long these disturbances will continue.
"Following the Long Beach quake of last March, minor disturbances continued for a month. It would not be unusual if such a condition existed in Hanzel valley, although such a statement cannot be considered a prediction.
"We are not looking for major disturbances, but rather expect to experience a gradual decline in intensity. The major readjustment apparently has been completed, and it is doubtful if the surface of the earth at the faults has undergone any change since Monday."
Dr. Pack said he had tentatively planned to take his geology majors, about 30 men and women, to the scene Saturday for an inspection and study of the faults.
Dr. F. F. Hintze, another university geologist, plans a trip to the region probably Friday or Saturday. He said he would study in detail causes and effects of the quake and hoped to make interesting observations at Rozel, in the quake region, where an old oil well oozes small amounts of oil. He said the well apparently is fed from a fissure on the fault trend.
At Locomotive Springs the spring waters turned black after Thursday's disturbances. On the first day the shocks blackened the waters, but they cleared later.
Probably the most severely shaken town in the state was Snowville, near the Idaho border and about 40 miles from Hanzel valley. All but three of the 40 houses in the villages lost their chimneys and merchandise was thrown from the shelves of the Snowville store during Monday's temblors.
School was dismissed at Snowville after the first shock Monday morning and with the second major disturbance at 11:20 a.m. a portion of the front wall crumbled and plaster fell from the school building. The community was without drinking water for ten hours as a result of the breaking of the town's water main.
Lights were swayed by a shock at Ogden at 5:06 a.m. Thursday.
The government took official notice of the series of shocks Thursday when headquarters of the U. S geological survey at Washington ordered that a study be made in the vicinity of Locomotive Springs.
The survey is to be made by P. J. Shenan, geologist for the survey, who left Thursday for the quake region. Mr. Shenan, who formerly had headquarters in the national capital, has been working in Salt Lake this winter with Ralf R. Wooley, senior hydraulic engineer for the survey, in making river surveys in Utah and other intermountain states.
After a thoroughgoing study of the region, Mr. Shenan will make an official report to the government.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 16, 1934]
Custodian Denies Reports Of Quake Damage To Building
PRESTON, Idaho--Contrary to repeated reports condemning the Preston high school administration building, James B. McQueen, high school custodian now reports slight damage, if any, caused by the recent earthquake.
He claims it is not true that the east and west walls were forced out, that the roof settled six inches under the tower, or that rocks were loosened on the southwest corner. A row of tin shingles down either side of the roof makes it appear as though the walls had moved out and left unbleached shingles exposed. Until the earthquake, students had paid no attention to this.
Except for the few rocks which were shaken from the west gable, there was practically no ill effect from the earthquake, he says.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 23, 1934]
IN WEATHER BUREAU FILES
Region North Of Lake Revealed As Center Of Disturbance In 1898;
More Temblors Noted During Same Year
Buried in the files of the local weather bureau office is a record of violent seismic activity in the region north of Great Salt lake--center of the earthquakes which recently shook Utah and surrounding states.
It tells of a period of prolonged disturbances back in 1897 and 1898, which caused phenomena similar to those attending the temblor of 10 days ago. During that early quake observers noted a violent churning of the waters of the lake and discovered that gas was escaping through the brine from subterranean recesses opened by the cracking of the earth.
The records of these quakes were discovered Thursday by Howard E. Warner, supervisor in charge of a C W A project, doing special research work in the weather bureau office. They were noted on the margin of the regular weather reports kept by V. A. Hill, at that time weather observer at the town of Corinne.
Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret professor of geology at the University of Utah, said Thursday night that he had no records of quakes in the region other than the recent ones. He announced, however, that his observations had revealed that the scarps left by the recent shocks followed the line of eroded scarps left by previous quakes, and which might have been caused in 1897 and 1898. Dr. Pack plans to inspect the region again Saturday.
"Escape of gas," he wrote, "is reported a mile or so out in Great Salt Lake from the mouth of the Bear river, which throws up mud and water. It was first reported on February 21."
When Mr. Hill jotted that down on his report the quakes were not over--Mother Earth was due for more convulsions before the year was out. Fairly heavy shocks again were recorded on August 3 and September 15, after which there was a quiet period until February 20, 1898, when tremors of less intensity were felt.
Mr. Hill does not state whether damage was done, but he notes that the first two shocks of the year-long cycle were heavy.
The earliest record available of temblors north of Great Salt lake goes back to August 30, 1893, when the weather observer at Snowville made the margin note that a light earth shock was felt at 4:30 p.m. In the recent quake Snowville was the hardest hit of any of the towns in the section. Chimneys were thrown to the ground and walls in many of the older structures were badly cracked.
After Mr. Warner had discovered the quake records, J. Cecil Altar, in charge of the weather bureau office, found reports of earth disturbances at Kelton. The observer there noted two or three shocks of moderate intensity on October 2, 1915, and again on November 19, 1919.
It also was found that a light quake occurred at Snowville on November 11, 1905.
Mr. Alter said that although quakes have apparently centered in other parts of the state during Utah's history, the region at the north tip of Great Salt lake appears to be the most unstable part of the state.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 23, 1934]
Reports Building Damaged By Quake Called Unfounded
COVE--Reports that the Cove school was unsafe and that the cracks had been widened by the recent earthquake are unfounded, Levi H. Allen, former county commissioner and representing a group of Cove residents, told press representatives Wednesday. Work started three weeks ago in tearing out partitions to make a recreation center in the front end of the school building is still under way, Mr. Allen said, and the residents feel the building is still safe, contrary to the reports of Superintendent J. W. Kirkbride and Building Inspector H. R. Adams of Hyrum.
Mr. Allen stated the "cracks" were there when an addition was built years ago. Some time ago a group was granted permission by the school board to use the front part of the building as a recreation center, by removing two partitions. Later the board called a meeting of the Cove residents who voted in favor of the recreation center.
Mr. Allen further stated the Cove school was one of the schools considered by the school board in the consolidation plan which has been opposed by Cove residents.
[Salt Lake Tribune; March 23, 1934]
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