314 BEPOEX — 1889. 



wliicli they are constructed, are unquestionably heavy, we have ordinary 

 structures of stone or brick (by preference we might use hollow 

 bricks). These should rise from a deep foundation, have a free basement, 

 walls of unusual thickness, and be well bonded and tied together. The 

 roofs should be light, and the precautions respecting the position and 

 form of openings, the arrangement of floors, roof trusses, and top weight 

 referred to in the preceding epitome carefully attended to. In this case 

 we have a building where its strength more than outweighs the ill- 

 effects due to its weight. Such buildings are darable, and relatively safe 

 ao-ainst fire ; they are suitable for all climates, but they are relatively 

 to all other buildings very expensive. 



For this latter reason this type of structure can only be employed for 

 buildings of importance. 



Amongst the light buildings which have sufficient strength and 

 flexibility to overcome effects due to their own inertia when shaken by 

 an earthquake are nearly all well- constructed structures of wood or iron. 

 The former of these, however, is neither durable, safe against fire, nor 

 impervious to heat and cold. These objections may, liowever, be practi- 

 cally overcome, and wooden buildings are cheap. Iron buildings are 

 relatively expensive, and without special arrangements they are too hot 

 in summer, and too cold in winter. 



A type of building which offers the same advantages as a brick or 

 stone structure does in relation to the danger of fire, and in being suitable 

 for changes in temperature, but which is very much cheaper, and at the 

 same time safe against all ordinary earthquakes, is a building constructed 

 on the barrack system, so strongly recommended in Italy. The framing 

 may be of wood or iron, while the filling-in material which forms the 

 walls, which ought to be as light as possible, may consist of hollow bricks 

 or a concrete of light material. For this latter purpose in Japan experi- 

 ments might be made with a concrete made of the pumicious light scoria 

 of which in Japan there is such an abundance. I would also call atten- 

 tion to the possible employment of cylindrically-formed or drainpipe- 

 shaped bricks, such forms being stronger than bricks of the ordinary 

 rectangular section. 



In all these buildings, whether they be of masonry, iron, wood, or 

 built according to the barrack system, the roofs must be light, openings 

 must be in proper positions, walls must be of moderate height, while floors, 

 trusses, balconies, and the like must be constructed in accordance with 

 the suggestion contained in the previous epitome. Ordinary structures in 

 bricks or stone are usually bad, while timljer structures with a masonry 

 front are worse. To resist earthquake motion we I'equire lightness, strength, 

 and, if possible, a certain elasticity. Weight, unless it is accompanied by 

 great strength, should be avoided. 



For buildings of importance I suggest the use of brick. Let the 

 buildings be placed in good situations, the brickwork well bonded and 

 unusually thick, and let it rise from deep foundations. Roofs should be 

 light. For ordinary buildings, unless the barrack system be adopted, I 

 suggest that for a country like Japan ordinary frame buildings continue 

 to be used. To improve them they require more diagonal bracing, lighter 

 roofs, and some protecting covering against fire. In carrying out these 

 suggestions, the conclusions respecting general principles and details of 

 construction arrived at in the preceding epitome must not be overlooked. 



