The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-08


dations. Upon this theory he set to
work and erected an immense bamboo
structure, with its foundations of
wooden beams resting upon long iron
1ollers. At the first rumbling of an
earthquake after its erection many of
the most prominent men of Toxic
gathered around the building to watch
the effect. For few minutes it was
marvellous. The whole structure rose
and fell with the undulating earth,
and swayed from side to side at angles
of many degrees. Bnt it was only for
q short time, and while the quake
continued in one direction. As soon
as the trembling swerved to different
direction the building collapsed, for
the rollers could only move in one di-
rection, from side to side. When the
motion of the earth was from north to.
southIthey were wholly useless.
The experiment had demonstrated,
however, that the terrible destruction
from earthquakes could at least be
checked, and, encouraged by the. ac-
tion Of the rollers, thework of expert
menting was continued. a.E
The next step was to equip q build
ing with two set of rollers, one above
the other, and placed at right angles.
This was somewhat more successful, as
it sustained the building for a longer
time, but was far from guaranteeing
safety to the occupants. it. 4
Many new features were added from
time to time, but il the endall proved
useless from the one cause, that the
earth yibrated from SO many directions
at once. At last the experiments were
given up, and the work which had
been watched with interest by scientists
all over the country was abandoned.
Professor Milne was one OF these ex-
perimenters, but he did not give up
the movable foundation theory. At
the same time he was as much at aloss
to solve the problem as his colleagues.
One day about two years ago, while
taking apart a bicycle, his eye became
riveted upon the ball bearing at the
axles, and almost instantly the secret
became clear to him. Dropping every
thing else, he began the construction
of foundation upon the ball theory.
From the sides of the house he
dropped foar foundation walls. which
were grooved out at che base and
rested on rows Of iron shot. These liz
turn rested in grooves, running in all
directions, so that the house could
move up and down or to and fro in
unity with the earth's movements with
perfect ease.
The experiment proved successful.
The structure swayed terribly, but did
not fall.
Upon this secret of the problem Pro.
fessor Milne has worked continuously,
and is adding numerous improvements.
Quite number of buildings have al.
ready been built in Toxic and other
cities of Japan after this idea, and al
though they have been shaken by
earthquakes several times not one has
fallen.
He has now devised new style of
building and foundation, which rests
on balls, but eclipses any OF his former
ingenious inventions. Instead OF be-
ing constructed of bamboo the build.
ing itself il built OF wood and irons
lightly but strongly riveted together,
so as to make the whole thing really
one piece. He claims that the build
ing could be lifted in its entirety, and
not one piece would fall apart. The
foundations, instead of being long
walls, are four wrought iron posts,
one under each corner of the building.
They are supported and connected to-
gether by light iron arches, running
from one to the other. Upon these
pillars and arches the building rests,
while the large open space between
them (the exact area of the buiidln2l
serves as O cellar. The base of each
of the pillars is grooved out and rest
on an immense steel ball. Between
this ball and the base of the posts Gre
inserted number OF small shot, or
really full set OF ball bearings, which
are cased in after the pattern or oi-
cycle. 49,.
By this arrangement tie building
can move quickly and lightly. The
smaller balls are sensitive to shock.
and move readily before the larger
balls get into motion. The four large
shot rest upon perfectly smooth
floor Of cement, and can roll III Gu.r
direction without interruption, for
their movements in this plan are not
confined to grooves.
About three feet from either side o
the pillars are stone walls which hn.!
the rolling of the building t? with"
that space. This gives ample play -
the swayings in any direction, wi,h'
ont allowing the building IT, :onp.n
too far over.
The only possibility by which the
building could collapse during ~
earthquake would be the renting Op4M
OF .,reat seam in the earth directly
between the pillars. In that even:
they would be forced apart and tea
the building from its fJda;asiols.