The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06
Rome, March 81

fOme, March Il.
A \ architectural tragedy, COM
a pared to which the fall Of the
Campanile at Venice would
appear Insignificant, threatens the
mighty city Of Rome.
The most ancient and famous
buildings of the city are situated
above subterranean lake that has
been accommodating for centuries,
ever since the time of Nero, In fact.
AT any moment there is danger
that the thin top crust of soil NAV
give way and cause the buildings to
fall into the hidden quagmire. Even
If the crust does not break through
disaster just as complete is likely
to occur. A shifting OF the un.
stable top soil through inability to
bear the weight placed upon it
would cause the buildings above TO
collapse in irretrievable ruin.
Already many buildings have
shown unmistakable signs Of an an.
preaching collapse from this cause.
some, like the Church of Santa
Maria In Trastevere, which is asso.
ciated with Cardinal Gibbons's title.
nave suffered very substantial dam.
age, while others, like the Colos.
scum, are beginning to show omi-
nous cracks.
Inc architects of medieval and
earlier times did not construct
foundations for their largest build.
lngs that. would satisfy modern re.
Hulrements~ of safety. In these in.
stances, moreover, circumstances
which did not enter into their cal.
cniatons have placed strain on
me foundations which they were
never intended TO bear.
lhese old architects were some
nmes rash Adventures in putting
up their great monuments. This
was striHingly shown in the case of
me Campanile of Venice, where n
rev light timbers were laid on
thln crust OF earth as a foundation
Tor colossal structure. The build
ing stood unmoved for centuries
simply through good luck. Finally
an unusual shifting OF the underlv-
ing waters caused the great tower
10 fall like house OF cards.
IN Rome various conditions have
comDlnec 10 create subterrauean
lake beneath the older portions of
the city. The continual filling I'M
or me 'Tlber through the silt carried
Gown from the mountains and high.
iands mas caused the river to rise
ABOVE the lower parts OF the CITY.
consequently II is no longer as effec.
1--WE as II was in carrying off drain.
age and springs.
AT the same time the rnany
springs existing throughout the
city nave been covered up. instead
OF being permitted TO flow to the
river, as they formerly did These
springs and the surface water have
peen contributing TO the formation
OF the underground lake for many
centuries
Recently an interesting proposi.
ZION was made to restore the enor-
nous Baths OF Caracalla to their
Original use, namely. bathing. These
spieno1o baths, the creation of the
maooest and most magnificent
tyrant that ever lived. held over
-'SSo PSi IoAi-' II WAS nOlnte0 O1lf
that the population of modern Rome
"oulo De greatly benefited If 1t could
enjoy the use of the baths.
The many Roman baths. or ther.
mae, we're built for the ENJOYMENT of
the people by the Emperors. who
had Ito content the populace. Among
the later extrayagant rulers each one
endeayored TO surpass his prede.
cessor in the magnificence OF the
baths he constructed.
The Roman baths included swim.
ming baths, warm baths, hot air
baths and vapor baths. The later
baths. such as those OF Caracalla.
contained also theatres, Libraries,
gymnasfa and other places of amuse.
ment and dissipation. The specially