The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-08
JAPAN REMODELS
AS PROBATION
AGAINST FIRES
Fear Devastation Similar to
That After 1923 Earth
quake.
BIZ United Press


the great earthquake of Sept. l, 1923,
which devastated Toxic, Yokohama
and their suburbs and caused loss
of life estimated as high as 100000
would find the japanese capital and
its port city at least partly prepared.
The earthquake factor has been
taken carefully into account in the
rebuilding and replanning of each
city Many of the new business
structures in each city are of rein
forced concrete and steel of the type
of buildings which withstood the
great disaster of 1928 Streets have
been widened, new parks and open
spaces provided, and at least a
skeleton emergency organization
created to deal with the public and
prevent panic
There has been considerable criti-
cism Of the government because of
slowness in rebuilding Toxic and its
port, Yokohama, since the earth
quake and fire. Much of this, how
ever, is unjustified as the municipal
prefectural and Imperial govern
ments all have faced a tremendous
task in the reconstruction work,
which includes condemning large
amounts of property for wider
streets and parks, and almost an en-
tire reconstruction of each city.
Huge Task.
Toxic has a population of around
100000 and Yokohama 100000. It
can be appreciated that reconstruc-
ton has been a task of sorts.
The work, however, now is well
under way and within five years
each Of the cities should rank well
with the finest western capitals.
The government also has been
criticised because it never has
formed a thorough organization of
the public to ensure discipline and
needless loss Of life in event of a
repetition of the disaster. There is
a sort of official committee to co-ordi-
nate the various public and semi-pub
lie bodies in ar efficient manner, but
little has been done. In general,
however, the japanese population is
orderly and not given to panic. In
big buildings throughout all prin-
cipal cities there are hospital kits
and a certain training Of inhabitants
for emergencies. In every neigh'oor-
hood village and district in Japan
there are the Young Mems Associa-
tons bodies which have existed for
years and which always turn out in
any case of emergency. These asso
Citations are we'll orangized and take
great pride in their efficiency They
undoubtedly would render tremen
dous service in event of another Sc
we're earthquake.
Wen Organized
The police and firemen, both Of
which are unusually we'll organized
and efficient in Japan. also are or,
ganized 10 deal with any emergency.
| The Reservists Associations OF men
who have received military training,
cooperate in any emergency.
In considering any earthquake re
port from Japan it should be borne
in mind that The horrors of the 1928
disaster were largely from fires, not
from the earthquake itself. although
the quake did enormous damage. A
NOllllill ALVEY sinai ilulUD6I OF DeO-
pie would have died had it not been
for the fire which followed the
earth tremors.
And in this matter of building con-
qtruction with reeari to prevention
of fires all Japan lags. Business
houses may be fireproof. but prac-
tically every residence in Japan is
Of fimsy wood with paper-covered
sliding walls called "shoii." 1t would
be hard to conceive anything more
infammablE than.a japanese house
And the houses in many cities and
villages are built within a few feet
of one another. Many streets are
no more than five or six feet wide
Thus if a fire starts during a wind
all the houses in any given district
are very likely to burn. The replan-
ming apparently envisages merely
combining the fires to the compare
lively small areas enclosed by the
wide streets, across which fire is I'M
likely to jump.
The Japanese habit of using small
charcoal burners called "hibachi"
for heating rooms in winter also
makes great fire hazard. The usual
hibachi is merely big metal or
earthen bowl, filed with soft ashes
in which red hot charcoal cylinders
are placed. An earthquake. of course,
is likely to upset the hibachi. throw
the red Goals on the thick floor mats
and then the fire is on.
If fire can be prevented, and it is
very probable it will if there Is an
other great earthquake in Toxic, a
repetition of the 1923 disaster is most
unlikely. There is little danger of
jamming in the streets or great loss
of life in buildings-as streets and
parks are now ample to hold the en-
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