The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKES
NEW BUILDING LAWS IN MANILA RE-
GARDED DOUBTFULLY.
Natives VIII Decline to Take Up
Quarters in FOur-StOry Struc-
lures, Though Strongly Built.
Of the Indianapolis Journal.

dents who hear it said, and hope it is true,
that the new sovereignty is carrying the
Islands in a few years from the seven
teenth to the twentieth century, read the
building laws framed for the city with no
little trepidation. The lawmakers in their
wisdom and with manifest intent to make
the city attractive and symmetrical, and
to minimize fire risks. have designated
zones of building called respectively the
district Of strong materials and the dis
trict OF light materials. With the purpose
of this plan no fault is found. The native
likes pretty effects. and may be counted as
quite ready 10 approve laws shaped to that
end and for safety. But when lawgivers
presume to set aside affairs of nature with
as little consideration for the past as they
reform things traceable to man, even the
credulous and confiding native shakes his
head. While not wishing at all for such
earthquakes as many have witnessed and
Of which all know. old residents wonder If
nothing short of that calamity can curb
American assurance. 1t is a safe prediction
that until such a CONFUSION shall pass
harmless over the modernized city, the
laws permission to build four stories into
the air Will not tempt natives to trust
themselves asleep in any lodging Of more
than half that height.
Commotions which would disturb people
not accustomed to involuntary rocking oc
cur so frequently to pass almost unno-
ticed A newcomer beyond the grading
age is very likely to be awakened by the
sway of the bed, first lengthwise and then
across, and the timid frequently experience
a feeling not unlike sickness. Among
the phenomena observed at a recent vista
ton. a local newspaper mentions this:
There were three distinct shocks, each
of about three and one-half seconds dura-
ton A party of clerks in a certain part
OF the city were playing poker when the
first shock arrived. 1t scattered the chips
all over the table, the result of which
was that the boys who had been losing had
huge stacks of blues and reds tipped over
their way and the winners saw their piles
disappear in instant
TIME BY SLOW MEASURE.
Three and one-half seconds may not seem
long when multiplied by three. but
testimony to the contrary could readily be
gathered in a community exposed to an
earthquake for that period. The travel of
dreams is not faster than that experienced
by the mind alert at such a time. A resi-
dent in whom the imprint of fear was laid
IN his boyhood. in 1853. and whom the first
tremor always rouses, no matter how
soundly he may be sleeping. tells of Incl
dent of last spring to illustrate the slow
ness OF time. He awoke at once as usual.
On leaving the bed he struck a light and
looked at his watch, which lay open on the
table A bookcase in the room had creaked
out of plumb. He gathered wad of paper
and righted that furniture by lifting one
OF it's legs and stufing the paper under.
Then he went TO the window. Under
lamp outside stood an American police Off
GER TO whom the resident remarked that
the shock was rather severe. YES" the
officer answered. reaching for his watch,
"and it is a long one, too" The resident
walked back TO the table got his own
watch and returned with it to the window
Motion ceased while he stood there. fifteen
Seconds after he had first looked a his
watch. AS the official report gave that time
the duration of the shock the resident
had evidently started from bed at the in
slant of the first commotion. He says he
was not conscious OF special haste in the
things he did while the shock lasted.
At the weather bureau there is a pillar
OF stone sunk ten feet into the ground,
cemented as firmly as if it had grown there.
1t rises through the building wholly clear
OF the floors or framework, so that nothing
IL. n
wooden cylinder like a thick pipe is secured
to the face of the pillar. Within the cylin-
der hangs a pendulum. which moves only
with the pillar BY a lens arrangement at
the bottom OF the cylinder one may watch
the swing OF the pendulum 1t is always
In motion. The degree and rapidity with
which il moves vary. but il has never been
known TO be quiet. That is an index of
what Is happening to this island. A strong
wind striking any part OF the coast will
set it in vibration. and the furious storms
that attack the island make IL rock as IL
II might be blown from its anchorage. This
motion might not be perceptible 10 the
physical senses even if the people did not
have enough other troubles without II AZ
such times. but the weather bureau pendu
lum tells the story over and again of a
foundation that may be safe but is certain
~ not firm. In earthquakes the pendulum
catches fresh spasms of activity. describ-
ing every motion 10 which this part of In
zon Is subjected. The simplest Office it per-
forms Is to prove that the island is never
at rest and 10 warn the inhabitants thar
they should take that fact into serious ac-
count in building upon it,
Such data are furnished bv the Garth
quake record that has been kept and the
face in this region. fail unhappilv To point n
the slightest prospect that disaster from,
earthquake VIII cease. There Is no way of
reckoning with H. The common tremors are
matters for merriment but those who have
seen the climax of these warnings ind them
far from jOcOse. Probably every generation
has had at least one such experience al
though accounts OF most Of them are moe
ger and have been handed down in fra,-
mentary shape. Seven OF the visitations
were so violent as 20 have survived in stor,,
and incomplete writing, and there have
been three additional in the last fifty vears
OF which IL Is possible 10 hear from actual
witnesses. Workmen are now busy tearing
down the ruined walls OF a Jesuit church
IN this city which earthquake DESTROYED
in ls52 The walls are OF solid masonry. ten |
fact thick at the base and taperine 10 NOT