San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
LAND OF PERPETUAL PERIL

~ i o say tHdI japan ilNo AZ ~
nuake zone-a literally true assertion
would not be to tell the whole story OF
1he danger to which the residents OF
that \ country are continuously Sub
iected. But perhaps the fact that the
peril is ever present, or, rather, that It's
continued presence is so frequently IN
evidence as to be perceptible at almost
any time. NAV account for the spirit
of resignation which seems to describe
the attitude of the japanese people TO-
ward such revulsions of Nature as that
from which they are now suffering.
Normally there is an earthquake in
Japan nearly every day in the year, year
in and wear out. In fact, the daily av-
ersge is two quakes. This may sound
to some Americans like an irresponsible
statement, but it is true nevertheless.
Earthquakes that occur in Japan are OF
two kinds: Those that cause death and
obstruction, and those that do not. 1t
is only the former, of course, that the
outside world hears about.
Nor do the Japanese themselves hear
about, much less feel, all the quakes
that go to make up the total. The av-
erage of two a day is disclosed by the
seismograph, which detects quakes that
are imperceptible to man. But even II
there was no seismograph the Japanese
could not, between destructive upheav-
ais, forget the peril in which they con-
stanty live For there is an average
of two perceptible quakes week-earth
movements that can be felt although
they ordinarily do no damage.
Whenever tremendous disturbance,
such as the recent one, occurs, then the
Japanese are reminded of an old theory
OF their country's physical origin. Ac-
cording to that theory, the land that
is called Japan was lifted from the bot
tom of the ocean by a great upheaval
of Nature many centuries ago. Perhaps
the same earth movement submerged
the land that is supposed to have con-
nected Asia and North America. The
Aleutian Islands are regarded as remains
of that supposititious connection.
The earthquake area of which Japan,
or rather the eastern coast of that
island, is a part is characterized by
scientists as the greatest in the world.
History seems to confirm that charac-
terization. The zone extends. roughly,
from the Kurile Islands almost to Java,
missing the Philippine Islands, which
are east of the danger line.
the first destructive earthquake in
Japan of which history gives account
it seems, occurred in the year 6S4. The
number of lives lost then is not recorded
it is represented by the phrase "inesti-
Inable thousands" The next destructive
S quake came 185 years later. Then there
was a period of 1872 years during which
the quakes were so light as to do nc
damage worth recording. After thu
great quake of 1861, however, til,
periods of rest have been of shorter dura
ton. There was quake in 1893 il
which 10000 lives were lost. Sine
1903, when the loss of life was almos
as great as that. caused by the most re
cent disturbance, tragic earthquakes il
Japan have occurred with remarkabl
frequency. During this period Their
have been two only eleven years apart
one in 1874 and another in 1855. TIL
longest resting spell" was betwee
1903 and 1792-S9 years.
When the most recent earthquake
taking an estimated toll of more tina
100000 lives, befell the Japanese, tn
havoc wrought by the quake of 1S9
was still fresh in their memory. Blu
though these catastrophes have been oc