referring now to fig1 , the basic elements are soil reinforcing mat sm , backing mat bm , stiffening mat st , and top mat tm . these mats are of welded wire construction and typically constructed of w3 . 5 to w12 wire welded together at their intersections and coated with a suitable anti - corrosive coating , such as zinc . mat sm has a face section fs and a floor section ff disposed at right angles relative to one another and comprised of longitudinal wires 10 and intersecting transverse wires 12 . typical spacing is 8 inches for the longitudinal wires 10 and 21 inches for the transverse wires 12 . the length of the floor section ff is determined by the depth of the formation being reinforced . the height of the face section fs is typically 31 inches , with 21 inches being the distance from the intersection of the floor and face sections to the transverse wire 12 of the face section and 10 inches being the length of the free distal end of the face section above the transverse wire therein . the stiffening mat st has floor and face sections sf and ss and is comprised longitudinal wires 14 and transverse 16 welded together at their intersections . typical spacing is 6 inches for the longitudinal wires and 12 inches for the transverse wires , with the face section ss having the height of 7 inches and the floor section sf having a length of 23½ inches . the backing mat bm is of generally planer configuration and comprises longitudinal wires 18 and transverse wires 20 welded together at their intersections . typical spacing is 8 inches for the longitudinal wires and 3 inches for the transverse wires . the top soil reinforcing mat tr is of a modified construction , as compared to the mat sm . mat tr has a face section ts and a floor section tf . the mat tr is comprised of longitudinal wires 22 and transverse wires 24 welded together at their intersections . typical spacing for the longitudinal wires is 6 inches and for the transverse wires is 12 inches . the length of the floor section tf is determined by the depth of the formation being reinforced . the face section ts terminates at one of the transverse wires 24 and typically has a height of approximately 24 inches . the longitudinal and transverse wires of the top mat tm are designated by the numerals 26 and 28 , respectively , and have the same spacing as those of the top reinforcing mat tr . the mat tm has a face section fm disposed at right angles relative to its floor section mm . the face section terminates at a transverse wire 28 , with distal ends of the longitudinal wires 26 being bent inwardly to form hooks 30 . the components of the wall are completed by filter mats 32 formed of conventional filter fabric . these mats are cut to compliment the shape of the backing mats bm . the assembly sequence for the lowermost lift is illustrated in fig2 a to 2c . first the stiffening mat st is tilted into place as shown in fig2 a to engage the longitudinal wires 14 beneath the transverse wire 12 . then the stiffening mat st is swung downwardly so that the upwardly extending ends of the longitudinal wires 14 are positioned behind and closely adjacent the face section fs , as seen in fig2 b . next the backing mat bm is threaded over the upwardly extending distal ends of the wires 14 so that the wires 14 extend between the lowermost transverse wires 20 of the backing mat . the backing mat is then tilted forwardly as seen in fig2 c to the generally vertical orientation seen in fig3 . the backing mat is deliberately positioned so that its lower extremity is positioned above the floor section sf of the reinforcing mat sm by a dimension “ s ” of approximately three inches . the uppermost transverse wire 12 of the face section fs is then connected to an adjacent transverse wire 20 of the backing mat bm by hog ring 34 , as shown in fig3 . with the components of the lower lift so assembled , the filter mat 32 is then placed to the back of the backing mat bm and fill 36 is backfilled into the first lift and compacted to the level of the uppermost transverse wire 20 of the backing mat , as seen in fig3 . with the backfill of the first lift in place , the components of the second lift are then assembled over those of the first lift , as shown in fig3 . the first step of this process is to position the soil reinforcing mat sm of the second lift on top of the backfill 36 of the first lift , with the floor section ff resting on the uppermost wire 20 of the lower lift backing mat bm and the foremost transverse wire 12 of the second lift soil reinforcing mat immediately to the front of the upwardly extending longitudinal wires 10 of the lower lift soil reinforcing mat . in the later condition , the foremost wire 12 of the second lift soil reinforcing mat serves to hold the facing mat of the lowermost lift against outward displacement . the next step of assembly for the second lift is to thread a backing mat bm over the upwardly extending ends of the longitudinal wires 10 of the lower lift soil reinforcing mat so that the wires 10 pass between the lowermost adjacent transverse wires 20 , as seen fig3 . the backing mat of the second lift is then tilted forwardly and secured to the face section fs of the second lift soil reinforcing mat by a hog ring 34 ( see fig4 ). a filter mat 32 is then positioned behind the backing mat bm of the second lift and backfill soil is then filled into and compacted into the second lift , as seen fig5 , to the level of the uppermost transverse wire 20 of the second lift backing mat . fig5 shows the backfill compacted and settled to the extent that it has forced the backing mat bm of the lower lift downwardly . as this occurs , the backing mat bm of the lower lift slides downwardly on upwardly extending longitudinal wires of the stiffening mat st , and the dimension “ s ” is reduced . at the same time , the hog ring 34 for the lower lift is stretched to an open condition , as seen in fig5 . all of the later compaction is accommodated by sliding of the lower lift backing mat bm on the upwardly extending wires 14 of the stiffening mat st , without bulging of the face of the lower lift . assembly of the second lift is completed by sliding the second lift backing mat bm over the upwardly extending distal wires 10 of the lower lift face mat fs to an extent such that the lower extremity of the second lift backing mat bm is spaced from the floor section ff of the second lift soil reinforcing mat by a dimension “ s ” of approximately 3 inches and then swinging the second lift backing mat bm forwardly and fastening it in place with a hog ring 34 , as seen in fig4 . a filter mat 32 is then placed behind the second lift backing mat bm and the second lift is then back - filled with fill 36 ( see fig5 ). successive additional lifts corresponding to the second lift may be constructed above the second lift to form a retaining wall of whatever height desired . each of these successive lifts would correspond to the second lift . as each successive lift is compacted and settles into place , it may bear on the lift there below and settle similarly to the settlement of the lift depicted at the bottom of fig5 . during the course of such settlement , the backing mats of the successive lifts may slide down over the dimension “ s ” to accommodate settlement , without bulging of the face of the retaining wall . construction of the retaining wall is completed by forming the top lift of the wall through means of the top reinforcing mat and tr and associated backing mat bm and filter mat 32 seen at the top of fig1 . assembly of these elements would corresponds to that of the first and second lifts , with the mat bm of the top lifts spaced above the floor section tf of the reinforcing mat tr by a dimension “ s ” to accommodate settlement of the soil in the top lift , without bulging of the retaining wall face . the top lift is completed by placing the top mat tm over the lift with the hooks 30 hooked over the uppermost transverse wire 24 of the reinforcing mat tr . covering soil is then placed over the top mat tm . the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the elements used to form the lower lifts are of a slightly different construction . the elements to form the top - most lift are of a construction identical to that of the first embodiment , as may be seen from the upper portion of fig6 . the stiffening mats st and filter mats 32 of the second embodiment are also identical to the corresponding elements of the first embodiment . the elements of the second embodiment which are the same as those of the first embodiment are designated by like numerals and letters . the elements of the second embodiment which correspond to those of those of the first embodiment , but are somewhat modified , are designated by the same letters and numerals of the first embodiment , followed prime marks as follows : the elements of the lowermost lift of the second embodiment are assembled in a manner corresponding identically to those of the elements of the first lift . this may be seen from fig7 wherein the elements are shown in fully assembled condition with the soil reinforcing mat sm ′ at the bottom and the stiffening mat st engaged thereover and extending between the lowermost pair of transverse wires 20 ′ of the backing mat bm ′. the backing mat bm ′ is positioned so that its lower extremity is above the floor section ff ′ by a dimension “ s ” of approximately three inches . a hog ring 34 extends around transverse wires 12 ′ and 20 ′ of the soil reinforcing mat sm ′ and backing mat bm ′ to hold the backing mat bm ′ to the face section fs ′. the differences between the first and second embodiments can be best seen from a comparison of fig4 and 7 . this shows that the upper distal ends of the longitudinal wires 10 ′ in the face section fs ′ of the second embodiment are relatively short , as compared to those of the first embodiment and that the longitudinal wires 18 ′ of the second embodiment backing mat bm ′ extend upwardly to provide free distal ends 38 above the uppermost transverse wire 20 ′ of the backing mat . as a result of this difference in construction , the distal ends 38 of the backing mats bm ′ extend upwardly beyond the distal ends of the longitudinal wires 10 ′. fig8 shows the manner in which the second lift of the second embodiment is erected over the first lift , after fill soil 36 has been placed in the first lift . the first step of such erection is to place the second lift soil reinforcing mat sm ′ over the fill 36 with the transverse wire 12 ′ at the juncture of the floor section ff ′ and face section fs ′ to the forward side of the longitudinal wires 10 ′ of the lower lift face section fs ′. so positioning the second lift soil reinforcing mat sm serves to hold the longitudinal wires 10 ′ of the face section fs ′ of the lower lift against outward displacement . the next step of assembly for the second lift is to thread the distal ends 38 of the lower lift soil reinforcing mat sm ′ between the lowermost transverse wires 20 ′ of the second lift backing mat bm ′. the latter step is carried out so that a dimension “ s ” of about three inches is provided between the floor section ff ′ of the second lift and the lower extremity of the backing mat bm ′ of the second lift . assembly of the second lift is completed by swinging the backing mat bm ′ in the direction of the horizontal arrow line shown in fig8 and then securing the backing mat bm ′ and face section fs ′ of the second lift together with a hog ring 34 ( not illustrated ). a filter mat 32 is then placed behind the backing mat bm ′ of the second lift and fill 36 is then backfilled into place to the level of the uppermost transverse wire 20 ′ of the second lift backing mat bm ′. like the first embodiment , successive lifts are assembled over the second lift of the second embodiment until the wall reaches it desired height , with the uppermost lift being construction through use of a top reinforcing mat tr and a top mat tm . in assembly of the top most lift , the backing mat bm of that lift is threaded over the distal ends 38 of the backing mat bm ′ of the lift immediately therebelow . as with all lifts of the second embodiment wall , the backing mat bm of the top lift is assembled so as to be spaced above the floor section tf by a dimension of approximately three inches . settling of the second embodiment wall as the result of the compaction of the fill therein is accommodated similarly to that of the first embodiment wall . in this process , the backing mats bm ′ may slide vertically on the distal ends 38 over the dimension “ s ” for each lift , without bulging of the face of the wall . at the same time , the face section fs ′ of each successive lift holds the face section of the lift therebelow through means of the transverse wire 12 ′ at the intersection of the face section fs ′ and floor section ff ′ of the next successive lift . from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings , it is believed apparent that the present invention enables the attainment of the objects initially set forth herein . in particular , it provides a soil reinforced retaining wall wherein successive lifts may settle , without bulging of their face sections . such settlement is accommodated by supporting the soil reinforcing mats of successive lifts on the backing mats of the lifts therebelow and permitting these backing mats to settle through means of a slidable connection . it should be understood , however , the invention is not intended to be limited to the specifics of the illustrated embodiments , but rather is defined by accompanying claims .