THE NEW TOKIO

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1924, Page 16

THE NEW TOKIO

SAFETY

LESSONS TAUGHT BY"

THE EARTHQUAKE.

An article in the cm-rent issue of the " Asiatic Review," by Mr. T. Okamoto, the First Secretary to the Japanese Embassy, deals with the destruction and resurrection of Tokio. It mentions that in Tokio 301,336 houses and in the suburbs some 600 buildings were destroyed in the earthquake and fire, the aggregate value of the. destroyed houses and buildings being estimated at 3000 million yen. The area was six times as great us that of the great fire of London. A Council of Reconstruction was set up with plenary powers consisting of Cabinet Ministers, leaders of political parties, and the business world, and a. Reconstruction Board as the chief executive body to prepare plans for the counul, and, on approval, to carry them out the first draft reconstruction plan was ready by the middle of November, and contemplated an expenditure of 750 - 000,000 yen, This was subsequently reduced to 597 million yen, a large proportion for. the purpjse of laying out new woods and parks—the great lesson' from the old Tokio being the essential need of fireproof zones. Another lesson was taught by the disaster at Honjo where more than 33.000 people were roasted alive, bi|t where 50,000 people were saved in the Iwaziki villas, surrounded by trees and plants-a .witness U> the value of trees as a safeguard. Reconstruction work is expected to last six years. The whole plan, of the eilv :s to be new with radiating and coiicentnu roads, central markets,, undergiound and elevated railways. Mr. Okamcto says: " It is a great work to which the Japanese Government, backed by the Japanese nation', have set thenhand. In my opinion the chances of ultimately realising the ereatinn of a new capita! which, shall be reasonably safe from damage by earthquake and fire are good, and this opinion, is shared by the vast majority of my countrymen", lime, patience, perseverance, ant!, above ali ; a rigid economy in expenditure and a determination to utilise to the best advantage the national resources of the country, are the main factors which enter into the solution of probably one of the greatest problems with which a nation has even becu faced."