Though earthquakes are likely to occur at more or less frequent intervals for some time to come, even until May of next year, according to mathematical calculations based on the number of shocks that have been felt since September 1, there should be no cause for alarm, "because, owing to the exhaustion of the seismic forces, an upheaval of the severity of that of September 1 is hardly likely to jreeur for the next 30 to 80 years.'
This is the opinion of Dr. Akitsune Omamura, a member of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, as set forth in the official report on the recent disaster.
The earthquake of September 1. says the report, occurred at 11.58 a.m., with its centre in the sea-bed at a spot from 10 to 12 miles to the cast of the Island of Oshima, and from 60 to 70 miles south of Tokio. Tt was the most violent shock felt in Japan since that of 1857.
The initial shock, which was vertical, and had an amplitude of ten inches, lasted 13.9 seconds. Following this came the "aftershocks," the severest of which had an amplitude of six inches. but lasted only two seconds and was consequently not so destructive.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.