SEISMOLOGY. 369 



On the practical side, the problem presented was that of safeguarding the 

 people against a repetition of disaster by designing quake-proof houses with 

 the materials with which they are accustomed to building and within their 

 very limited means. This problem has been solved by a study of the struc- 

 tures that stood during the earthquake, as well as of those which were ruined. 

 It is essential to support the roof on a frame independent of the walls in order 

 that the swaying of the one may not overthrow the other. That done, it is 

 possible to build houses of adobe brick reinforced by galvanized fence wire at 

 a moderate cost and within the limits of strength and flexibility required to 

 resist such earthquake shocks as occur in Chile. Such houses are also reason- 

 ably fireproof. Another type of house which was successfully tested in 

 the last earthquake consists of a wooden frame well mortised and wired on 

 each face with tightly stretched fence wire in place of lath. The space 

 between the wires on either face is best filled with mud brick, while over the 

 wires plaster may be put as finish. A house of this construction went through 

 the earthquake without even cracking the plaster. The results of these 

 practical studies are incorporated in a pamphlet to be published in Santiago 

 and distributed throughout the earthquake region. 



The Chilean Government cooperated in every possible way to promote the 

 investigation, and through President Alejandressi, as well as through several 

 ministers, has expressed its urgent desire to continue its cooperation with the 

 Carnegie Institution. 



