312 EEPORT— 1889. 



condemning tlie use of liquid lime, and recommending that stone walla 

 should be kept wet while mortar is setting, that there should be good 

 bonding, &c. 



15. Types of Buildings. 



The type of building most suitable for earthquake countries was dis- 

 cussed at considerable length by the Commission summoned after the 

 disaster in Ischia. 



The objections to iron buildings chiefly rested in their cost, the diffi- 

 culty of keeping them cool, and the fact that as they were a novelty it 

 might be difficult to get them generally accepted. The Commission, 

 however, considered them durable and secure, and recommended that ex- 

 perimental buildings should be erected. 



Timber buildings, although sufficiently strong and elastic to resist 

 earthquake motion, and at the same time impervious to heat, have the 

 objection that they are not durable, and are subject to fire. These objec- 

 tions may to some extent be overcome by the proper application of 

 paints and chemical preservatives. Mixed constructions of iron and 

 timber were not considered to pi-eseut great advantages over those wholly 

 made of timber. Buildings may be made of iron or masonry either by 

 covering an iron framework with stone or brick, by building an iron, 

 framework inside the masonry walls, or by filling up the spaces between 

 a double metallic framework with hollow bricks or other mataijials. Such 

 buildings, although exceedingly good from many points of view, have the 

 drawback that they are exceedingly expensive. 



Having considered these types, from which it will be observed ordi- 

 nary buildings of brick and masonry have been excluded, the committee 

 describe a ' barrack system ' of building, which is the system they particu- 

 larly recommend for Ischia. Briefly, such a building consists of a 

 timber framework well braced together, the spaces between the timbers 

 being filled up with hollow bricks or some light material like scoria. 

 The timbering is hidden by rough cast. After the disaster in 1755 

 such a system was made compulsory in Portugal. A building of this 

 type, which may be made ornamental with an outside covering of tiles, is 

 cheap, impervious to heat, and safe against earthquakes and fires. This 

 suggestion respecting the system of construction was adopted in the regu- 

 lations issued by the Government. 



In the building regulations for Norcia the bar'-ack system is the one 

 to which preference is given. In the Manila regulations considerable 

 latitude is allowed as to the system of construction. Stone walls are 

 considered best, but concrete or brick are also considered good. Although 

 timber ofiers great resistance to earthquakes, its destructibility by fire, 

 white ants, ordinary rot, and its inability to exclude heat prevent its 

 recommendation. An iron framework filled in with concrete is spoken 

 of with favour. In the recommendations of a committee appointed to 

 consider building in Manila, we find that stone is recommended for the 

 basement and for the walls of the ground floor. This, with an upper 

 story of timber, is the type of building which is common in Manila. 



The military committee which was summoned in connection with the 

 destruction in Manila in 1863 pointed out that destruction had occurred 

 in all classes of buildings, but buildings with masonry supports had suf- 

 fered more than others. This led them to suggest that only one kind of 

 material should be used in constructions, and masonry supports should be 



