EARTHQUAKES; VOLCANOES 227 



which have been felt in the eastern half of the United States 

 since its occupation by Europeans. 



In 1906 a severe earthquake occurred in California, in 

 and about San Francisco. It was caused by the faulting 

 of rocks along the line of a break which had been made 

 years before. Many lives were lost and much property was 

 destroyed. Fire followed the earthquake, and as the water- 

 mains had been broken and the fire department was without 



FIG. 120. EFFECTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE AT MESSINA 



1. Which would have more elasticity, a wooden building or a stone 

 building? 2. Which would be least injured by a swaying motion, a one- 

 story building or a higher one? 3. A building with a broad or a narrow 

 base? 4. Give directions for the erection of an earthquake-proof structure. 

 5. Have you read of a country where such buildings are erected? 



water to fight the fire, $500,000,000 worth of property was 

 destroyed before the fire was conquered. 



Regions in which earthquakes are of most frequent occur- 

 rence, for example the Pacific coast region from California 

 to Chili, are near young mountain chains. Japan and Italy 

 have suffered from numerous earthquakes, some of which 

 are known to have been of volcanic origin. But the two 



