The Delta independent., 1901-07-19

proves insufficient to support the
weight Of the houses, with the newt
able consequence that the buildings
are constantly sliding and collapsing
in every direction. Our illustration CON-
veys . very graphic idea Of the magni-
tude Of these subsidences and their
effect upon public property. AZ the re-
suit OF subsidence. the building
shown in our Illustration fell over upon
its back in the course Of single night.
and 1t is noteworthy that the house.
owing to the care observed in Its con-
struction. fell over intact, not . crack
being produced in the walls nor even
a pane Of glass being broken. This Is
by no means a single instance.
Throughout the town the same effects
are to be observed upon all sides. There
is scarcely a perpendicular wall to be
seen; in-numcrous cases the doors and
window frames Of the houses are awry:
tho roads are extremely uneven, and
are often closed owing to the falling
in Of portions. Houses are being con-
tinually condemned as unsafe for hu-
man habitation and demolished. The
depreciation of public property Is enor-
nous. No matter how substantially a
house may be built. or how great the
care observed to obviate subsidence,
the building is bound to sink sooner or
later. In one instance, a house that
cost $4,000 to erect was shortly after
ward sold for 81 500, 1t had been 80 in
jured by subsiding. In some cases the
sinking is very gradual, while in 9TH
era 1t Is unexpected and instantaneous.
One Of the principal throughfares took
forty years to sink fifteen feet, while
another grew appreciably wider every
day. Examination proved that one side
Of the street was slipping completely
away. In this instance the foundations
Of the houses were three feet distant
from the buildings which they origin
ally supported. The shop Of dry goods
merchant sank one-nfth OF its height
in ten years. and in the subsequent
seven years subsided another fifth.
Several houses may be seen, the win
dows Of the ground floor Of which are
level with the roadway. 1t is no un-
common circumstance for q building
to be constructed and have to be aban-
doned shortly after its completion.
The Inhabitants, however, endeavor
to mitigate the danger of their build
inEs' collapsing by constructing them
upon the frame principle. with massive
timber beams securely bolted together.
BY this means II a subsidence occurs
the house does not necessarily collapse,
but heels over in toto. In this instance
the house is raised to its normal posi-
ton once more by means Of jacks, the
cavity filled In and the building once
more rests upon firm foundation.
Should another subsidence occur the
process Of lifting Is repeated. In the
case of the subject Of our illustration,
however, the original house was 80
damaged that 1t had to be demolished
and the ground prepared for the build
ing depicted in our illustration. But 1t
had not been built twelve months be-
fore another subsistence occurred
throwing the building into the position
shown in the photograph.
Yawning chasms are constantly ap-
pearing In the streets. and In some In
stances the cavities are so extensive
a 70 necessitate the closing Of the
thoroughfare.
The area in which those subsidences