The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-21
THE COST OF EARTHQUAKES.
Not Only in Property and Lives at the
 Time, But i Otherp Ways. proH Iohn Milne in The Inndon Daily

Not Only in Property and Lives at the Time, But i Otherp Ways.
 Prof John Milne, in The London Daily In Britain earthquakes occur but rarely, and the damage they occasion is usually too trifling to demand ser ious attention. Directly we turn to earthquake shaken colonies and for eign countries where capital Is invest ed, the desirability of doing all that is possible to mitigate loss of life and property Is at once apparent. The de- struction which accompanied the re- cent earthquake in San Francisco had very marked financial effect In Eng land and other countries. The City Hall alone cost f1.200,0oo. while the total property loss has been estimated at eco, 900. 900. Insurance companies no doubt know the extent of their re- responsibilities, while the total losses which extend over the whole of Central California can only be estimated by many millions. Now our attention Is directed to the wilderness of ruin just created in Central Chile.
 Although it is too soon to form q monetary estimate of the widespread damage. we already hear that millions have been lost at several places. The total will not be large. but 1t will be large enough to stagger many in- surance offices and companies who have investments in the shattered area. The annual loss of life in the world occasioned by earthquake Is, on the average. about $500. This number is fairly in accordance with the numbers lost during the past twelve months. On October 8, 1891, Japan lost 9.960 of her people, or double the number lost in her war with China. The wounded numbered 19.994. With a single earth quake in 1896 the loss of life in the same country approached 3o.000. If we turn to the loss of property, after the earthquake of 1891. $30.000,000 or f6.000. .oO0. was required for the restora- ton of railways. roads, bridges and other public works. In addition to this l28,75O houses. together with factor ies, temples, and other buildings had to be restored .~-"
 In 1897, after a disastrous earthquake in Assam. the chief commissioner of that country reported to the secretary of the government of India that their own resources had been exhausted. and with the object of restoring various public works. a grant from the imper- ial revenues would be required to as- sist his administration. The total damage occasioned. much of which had to be met by shareholders in railways. tea factories and other industries. was roughly estimatel at f5,00O.0o0 Speak ing generally, a large earthquake in populated country often results in dam age to the extent of several million pounds.
 If it Is asked whether these expen- ditures can be reduced the answer is distinctly in the affirmative. One of the outcomes of modern seismology has been to devise instruments which measure earthquake motion. From knowledge of the actual nature of earthquake motion derived from the use of these instruments new rules and formula for the use of engineers and builders have been established. In Japan and other countries these have been extensively applied in the con- struction of piers for bridges. tall chimneys. walls. ordinary dwellings.