Abstract of the Results of the Investigation of the Charleston Earthquake ¹

Abstract

I. THE amount of information now in possession of the United States Geological Survey, relating to the Charleston earthquake, is probably larger than any of similar nature ever before collected relating to any one earthquake. The number of localities reported exceeds 1600. The sources of information are as follow: (1) we are deeply indebted to the U.S. Signal Service for furnishing us the reports of their observers; and (2) equally so to the Lighthouse Board, which has obtained and forwarded to us the reports of keepers of all lighthouses from Massachusetts to Louisiana, and upon the great lakes; (3) to the Western Union Telegraph Company, which instructed its Division superintendents to collate and transmit many valuable reports; (4) to the associated Press, which has given us access to the full despatches (with transcripts thereof) which were sent over the wires centering at Washington during the week following the earthquake; (5) to geologists and weather bureaus of several States, who have kindly exerted themselves in this matter and collected much important information; (6) to a considerable number of scientific gentlemen who have distributed for us our circular letters of inquiry in special districts,—notably, Profs. W. M. Davis, C. G. Rockwood, J.P. Lesley, T. C. Mendenhall, and Messrs. W. R. Barnes, of Kentucky, and Earle Sloan, of South Carolina; (7) to a large number of postmasters in the Eastern, Central, and Southern States; and, finally, to hundreds of miscellaneous correspondents throughout the country.