128 EAETHQUAKES. 



Typical houses for earthquake countries, — From what 

 has now been said about the different buildings found in 

 earthquake countries, it will be seen that if we wish to put 

 up a building able to withstand a severe shaking, we have 

 before us structures of two types. One of these types may 

 be compared with a steel box, which, even were it rolled 

 down a high mountain, would suffer but little damage ; 

 and the other, with a wicker basket, which would equally 

 withstand so severe a test. Both of these types may be, 

 to some extent, protected by placing them upon a loose 

 foundation, so that but little momentum enters them at 

 their base. One suggestion is to place a building upon 

 iron balls. Another method would be to place them upon 

 two sets of rollers, one set resting upon the other set at 

 right angles. The Japanese, we have seen, place their 

 houses on round stones. The solid type of building is 

 expensive, and can only be approached partially, whilst 

 the latter is cheap, and can be approached closely. In 

 the case of a solid building it would be a more difficult 

 matter to support it upon a movable foundation than in 

 the case of a light framework. Such a building is 

 usually firmly fixed on the ground, and consequently at 

 the time of an earthquake, as has already been shown by 

 experiment, must be subjected to stresses which are very 

 great. In consequence also of the greater weight of the 

 solid structure, more momentum will enter it at its base 

 than in the case of the light structure. Also, we must 

 remember that the rigidity favours the transmission of 

 momentum, and with rigid walls we are likely to have 

 ornaments, coping-stones, and the comparatively freer 

 portions forming the upper part of a building displaced ; 

 whilst, with flexible walls absorbing momentum in 

 the friction of their various parts, such disturbances 

 would not be so likely. Mr. T. Ronald son, referring to 



