Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
Rome. March 81

A n architectural tragedy, com
~ pared to which the fall Of the
= u Campanile at Venice would
appear Insignificant threatens the
mighty city of Rome.
The most ancient and famous
buildings of the city are situated
above a 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 may
give way and cause the buildings to
fall into the hidden quagmirc. Even
il the crust does not break through
a 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 APP
preaching collapse from this cause.
Some. Ike the Church of Santa
Maria In Trastevere, which is asso-
ciateI with Cardinal Gibbous's tile,
have suffered very substantial dam
age, while others, like the Colos-
scum, are beginning to show omi-
nous cracks.
Fn' architects of medieval and
earlier times did not construct
foundations for their largest build
ings that would satisfy modern re-
quirements Of safety. In these i'm
stances, moreover. circumstances
which did not enter into their cal
Culauous have placed a strain on
the foundations which they were
never intended TO bear.
These old architects were some
times rash adventures i'm putting
up their great monuments. This
was strikingly shown i'm the case of
the Campanile of Venice. where a
few light timbeTs were laid on
thin crust of earth as a foundation
for colossal structure. The build
ing stood unmovsd for centuries
simply through good luck Finally
an unusual shifting of the underly-
ing waters caused the great tower
to fall like "A house of cards.
In Rome various conditions have
combined 10 create a subterraneau
lake beneath the older portions of
the city. The continual filing up
of the Tiber through the silt carried
down from the mountains and high
lands has caused the river to rise
above the lower parts of the city.
Consequently IL is no longer as effec-
tive as it was I'm carrying of drain
age and springs.
At the same time the many
springs existing throughout the
city have been covered uu. instead
OF being permitted 10 flow 10 the
river. as they formerly did. These
springs and the surface water have
been contributing 10 the formation
OF the underground lake for many
centuries.
Recently an interesting PROPOSE
NAhi NdN NIaAf 10 restore lUt ntOTr
nous Baths Of Caracalla 10 their
original use. namely. bathing These
splendid baths. the creation of the
maddast and most marnifcent
tyrant that ever lived. held over
2-h"o persons 70 was pointed ont
that the population Of modern Rome
would be greatly benefited IL il could
enjoy the use rf the baths
The many Roman baths. or Their
mae. ere built for the endowment of
the pc, Nc hy the Euperorg who
had 10 cen, .eut the povv1ace. Among
the later eNtr-saE8nt rulers each one
enteavored 10 surpass his prede-
Ces-0~ '7 the maEui6ceuce of the
n"'' N0 constructed
Fhr Roman baths included swim
n'"" baths, warm baths. hot air
nr.s "~S ya00r haf'S The later
i.. such as those of Ca-aca'ra.
en-rair~d also theatres. libraries
-rwH7-ia and other places of amusg-
mont and dissipation THE specially