The Long Beach Earthquake

The Long Beach, California, earthquake of March 10, 1933, will be less remembered by reason of its contributions to seismology -for as a crustal tremor there was nothing especially remarkable about it-than it will be for having broken down the "hush-hush" policy that has hitherto been followed by the commercial organizations of the cities of southern California. It has most fortunately compelled public avowal by the most important of those organizations that earthquakes are a recurrent risk in their magnificent region and that the risk must be met by safer construction of buildings. But the loss of 120 lives and property destruction estimated at more than $50,000,000 are a high price to pay for such wisdom.