Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22
EARTHQUAKES PROOF.
A Curiously Constructed Church Being
Erected at San Sebastian, Manila.

In a recent report to the State department
United States Consul A R. Webb, at Manila
Philippine Islands, calls attention to rather
cess Of construction at San Seba stian Manila.
This is al earthquake-proof church. The con.
sui says:
'The numerous Catholic churches and cathe.
drals of Manila have heretofore been con-
structed Of stone and wood and have suffered
greatly from earthquakes. Therefore, In the
building Of edifices Of this character the main
object has been to secure solidity in the walls
rather than attractiveness in external appear
ance, and hence the churches are much palmer
than they would be were the people not in a
state of continual apprehension that their
places of worship may be shaken down in an
instant. How to construct a church that would
DEFY the most vigorous ''terremoto' has been q
very perplexing problem, apparently unsolv-
able, until Senior Don Genera Palacios Guerra
chief engineer of public works of Manila and
pianner OF the excellent system of water works
with which the city is favored, conceived the
idea OF making an edifice entirely of wrought
and cast iron, securely bolted together, and nc
more to be shaken apart by a subterranean dis.
turbance than solid block OF stone The re-
suit OF his ingenuity is the iron church Of San
Sebastian. which is now partially finished and
Is attracting the wonder aud admiration of all
who see it.
HANDSOME EDIFICE OF IRON.
1.-THE design is original, with two tall stee
pies at the front end and a number of shorter
spires over each abutment When finished il
will be painted in imitation of stone and will
present an external appearance similar TO thai
OF many of the beautiful stone cathedrals oil
Europe and America. Inside the church is l6.
feet long by 20 wide; the height to the tops Of
has ia faaf nd To tha ,f he
same "a feet the nave Is a span Of 81 feet and
there are two side aisies.
1.-The entire framework is of wrought iron
bolted together In the irmest manner possible
the 1uted columns and b,fttresses being hollow
The walls are Of double plate iron with a space
OF 30 inches between the plates. The decorative
work, which Is quite elaborate, is of cast iron.
The total weight of iron in v.e building is
about LOGO TONS or about one-fourth of the
weight of material in the Eiffel tower All the
material was made by the SOciete anonyme
denterprlse des travaux public of Brussels,
Belgium. at the following prices; Cast-iron
work, S4S.25 per ton; ornamental cast iron,
SlO6. 10 per ton; wrought iron, including plat
ing. $780, 80 per ton delivered fob. at Antwerp.
The total cost of the iron work is $3.50, 900, t.
which may be added the estimated cost OF the
flooring, masonry, painting, &C., $40, 000 and
the pulplts and interior decorations, $50, 900,
making the total cost OF the church about
$3.50, 600.
AN OPENING FOB AMERICAN IRON MEN.
at having been demonstrated that an earth.
quake-proof church is a possibility it is very
probable that edlhces similar to the church OF
San Sebastian will be built in future not only
In Manila but in the various cities and towns OF
the Philippine archipelago, and there is no ap-
parent reason why the architectural iron manu-
lecturers of the United States should not supply
the material for them"