Show LESSON OF earthquake if argument were needed to show the advisability of an investigation of structural materials it Is more than supplied by the recent earthquake in california what buildings best stood the shock Is a question of very great practical interest why they endured when others fell Is food for thought to builders all over the co antry in this connection it la is interesting to note that the appraisers building in san francisco where the united states geological survey maintains a local office Is one of the few business structures in that city which was un injured either by shock or by flame mr charles G yale special agent of the si sl r ney rey ey reports that a little plaster has fallen but that the building Is probably the only one in the city that shows not a single crack in ill its brick walls this may be due to the fa fact ct that the foundation consists of a six toot bed ol 01 solid cement placed upon thousands of piles and that the bricks bare are put together with cement instead of mortar the walls are thicker be low the sidewalks than above aboe them when the building moves it moves as a monolith and while the vibration Is considerable no damage has been done except to the plaster that the geological survey might with profit to the country undertake the investigation 0 of structural mate rials Is attested by the numerous requests which it receives for or information on the subject twice during the past year the survey was visited by a body 0 engineers who represented large industrial developments in ln a number ot of different states the sur vey was unable to supply the informs tion which they desired concerning the and endurance of materials a a be us asid d in a variety ot of building and construction work this one fact shows how desirable it Is that the investigations now under way by the eur bur vey be enlarged thesa investigations have thus tar far had to do mainly with the testing ot of cements and concretes it Is felt that the work should be continued and a am till aued |