I40 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



published by the French and Italian Commissions.^ There is, more- 

 over, every reason to think that the Italian government would welcome 

 and cooperate in every way with such an expedition as is here proposed. 

 The present writer takes pleasure in saying that his studies of the 

 Calabrian earthquake of 1905 were aided in every possible manner 

 by the Italian scientific societies, and by individual seismologists. 



There is a further reason why such a study should be undertaken 

 by outside parties. It is difficult for one unfamiliar with the facts 

 to understand the vexatious delays under which Italian scientists are 

 often compelled to carry out their work. As a result of the financial 

 straits in which the Italian government finds itself, the publication 

 of scientific monographs is often long delayed. The manuscript of 

 a report upon the Calabrian earthquake of 1894 had not seen the light 

 when the shocks of 1905 arrived. This greater catastrophe seemed 

 to render the report of less vital importance than a new report, and 

 two separate royal commissions were appointed to prepare a report upon 

 the disturbance of 1905. As their report has not yet appeared it is 

 likely to be side-tracked for the report upon the new disaster. Thus 

 the results of much painstaking scientific work see the light only in 

 brief abstracts, because government action is too slow or, shall we say, 

 seismic action too frequent. 



^ F. Fouque et al., Mission d'Andalousie ; "Etudes relatives au tremble- 

 ment de terre du 25 d6cembre 1884 et a la constitution geologique du sol 

 ^branlg par les secousses," Acad. Sci. Paris, Mem., 2me ser., Vol. 30, 1899, pp. 

 1-772, pis. 42. T. Taramelli e G. Mercalli, " I terrimoti andalusi cominciati 

 il 25 dicembre 1884," Atti della R. Accad. dei Lincei, Mem., 4th ser., Vol. 3, 

 pp. 116-222, pis. 4. 



