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constant flow has cut through them and divided one slope from the
other to a great depth; where in gravelly strata the waters have run
off, the materials have, in consequence, dried and been converted
into hard stone, and this happened most in what was the finest mud;
whence we conclude that every portion of the surface of the earth
was once at the centre of the earth, and viceversa &c.
7
90.
The heaviest part of the foundations of buildings settles most, and
leaves the lighter part above it separated from it.
And the soil which is most pressed, if it be porous yields most.
You should always make the foundations project equally beyond the
weight of the walls and piers, as shown at m a b. If you do as
many do, that is to say if you make a foundation of equal width from
the bottom up to the surface of the ground, and charge it above with
unequal weights, as shown at b e and at e o, at the part of the
foundation at b e, the pier of the angle will weigh most and
thrust its foundation downwards, which the wall at e o will not
do; since it does not cover the whole of its foundation, and
therefore thrusts less heavily and settles less. Hence, the pier b
e in settling cracks and parts from the wall e o. This may be
seen in most buildings which are cracked round the piers.
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