SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATTACKED 5 



California. In the north we have quite a long period 

 to wait." 



"These conditions may be interpreted as indicating 

 either little chance of earthquake in Los Angeles and 

 vicinity, or the probability of a severe shock in the not 

 distant future, the latter alternative being of the 

 nature to cause intelligent men to take reasonable pre- 

 cautions."^ 



"I regard it probable that in Southern California 

 there will be a severe shock which is more likely 

 to come in three years than in ten and more likely to 

 come in five than in three."" 



"I have said to business men, bankers and insurance 

 men connected with Southern Cahfornia business, 'I 

 would be very conservative in my investment. I would 

 be particularly conservative in the examination of 

 buildings for investment or insurance, and, if I were 

 building, I would see to it that I built right." 



He also recommended that the insurance companies 

 should adjust their rates according to the geological 

 surroundings of the properties to be insured — the 

 character of formation and the location relative to 

 fault lines. Inasmuch as some of his followers are now 

 inclined to state that the proximity to fault lines is 

 irrelative, the following words of Dr. Willis should be 

 borne in mind: 



"You insurance men will then be able to say, 'You 

 must pay a high rate of insurance because you are near 

 an active fault,' or to another client, 'You do not need 



'Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America: 1924-25, "Earthquake 

 Risks in California." 



"This pi'ophecy was definitely repeated in October, 1927. 



