EARTHQUAKE PROOF.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE PROOF.

AN ENGLISH INVENTION. ] Mr William P. Kenny, New York millionaire contractor, who gained international fame by giving his barber a vacation in Europe, has now turned his attention to the matter of tornado and earthquake proof buildings, and he has revealed in an interview that he is considering the formation of a 100,-000.000-dollar company to exploit an English invention which the'inventor claims will revolutionise building operations throughout the world. r , \ The invention, it is claimed, will make possible the construction oi buildings proof against tornado, earth quake, or even fire, and at the same time will reduce the cost of construction 20 per cent. Elimination of expensive steel in all buildings less than five storeys in height, and' of much steel in all buildings and increased speed in construction are other adr vantages claimed for the invention. "I am most enthusiastic," Mr Kenny said, "but I will proceed with caution, because 1... have not yet submitted the invention to my own American engineers. I have negotiated for the American rights to the invention, strictlv subject to satisfactory proof that, it will fulfil all claims. Accordingly T am planning to erect a building in the United States, probably in some tornado-ridden where 1 can actually verify whether it will* resist the elements as tbev are rarelv encountered in the milder .English climate." The new. system of building. Mr Kennv said, already has undergone successful experiments in England. As a practical man. he said, he had great faith iri the invention, and believed that if it really proved able- to' resist the fury of the elements it would "revolutionise the building business throughout the world," It was because of that belief, he said, that he', too* the necessary steps to organise worlds wide control of the invention. The inventor is the .well-known British building contractor and expert. Mr E, J.. Prewen who stated that the invention is based oh a brick similar to other fireproof bricks, except that it-is. groove-!..enabling one brick to be- fitted into* or on to another. like "tongue and groove" wood, thus eliminating the use of mortar. "The invention means," said Mr Frewen, "that henceforth bricks will

be laid one on top of the other, interlocking to form a monolithic structure. To wreck such a structure a tornado must 'uproot the foundations and blow over the entire building, or else make it look like the leaning tower of Pißa. The interlocking bricks would prevent the building from falling apart. Thus an earthquake cavity would have to be wide enough to swallow up an entire building. Otherwise it would only tilt it." ■ ,-V v--.