The volcano is nothing more than a local fire, as much in connection
with the Earth’s surface as the furnace fire built in a man’s basement
to warm his house, or in his stove to cook his breakfast. When the fuel
that is used in either one is consumed, the fire goes out, which is a
common result in both cases. Of all the volcanoes known to have existed
as evidenced by their craters, fully three-fourths have become extinct.
Now what causes the volcano? The Earth is filled with immense supplies
of fuel, consisting in stores of coal, sulphur, oil, gas, limestone,
etc. While it is claimed that at the imaginary axis of the Earth there
can be no friction, yet when the surface is approached with all its
weight of mountains and continents, here friction begins to put in its
work. It is very doubtful if any volcano exists, or ever has existed
whose fires go to the depth of 500 miles, and more likely not half
that distance.
On the outside of this circle, of 25,000 miles it is only reasonable
to expect an enormous strain. The abrasion of limestone found in huge
masses will, by process of heat, convert them into lime. The contact
with water, universal throughout the Earth, will start the volcano,
which by slaking, this small amount of rock converted into lime will
generate a heat that may ignite and produce more lime, or reach other
combustibles, which may be set on fire by this; or when in contact
with other substances, this would lead to reservoirs of oil and gas,
and deposits of coal and sulphur. These when ignited may remain in
a slight slumbering condition and burn for ages, but water will be
the constant aggressor and from time to time will manifest itself
by coming in contact with these burning forces thus producing the
volcanic eruptions and in time will be the conqueror, and the crater
of the volcano will become a lake, of which evidences exist all over
the Earth. That volcanoes are only local, the same as fires in our
houses, is fully evident from the fact that they burn, and go out. This
theory of producing volcanic eruptions can be easily demonstrated in
every kitchen or casting shop in the country. Kettles of hot fat or
melted metals when brought in contact with water will cause a miniature
eruption at short notice. It is common to speak of volcanoes emitting
smoke, but it is rare that such cases are ever a fact, but instead of
smoke, we should say steam. The result of friction to produce effects,
we claim, is well illustrated in shipments of cotton. Cotton shipped
from India in the vessel’s hold, rarely, if ever, takes fire. From
this country it is no unusual thing, and why? In India they bind the
bales with jute or hemp, while in this country with straps of iron. In
the ship’s hold, there is, of course, a constant motion and rubbing
together of great weight of bales which ofttimes generates the fire
in the cargo. This is the way the volcano is started, but sooner or
later, water will put it out. All volcanic eruptions are credited with
throwing out great volumes of water, steam, mud, ashes, stones, lava
and sulphur. During earthquake convulsions which generally precede
volcanic eruptions, the world over there is a bursting out of fresh
springs as well as an increase in the present existing flows.