  We examine background solutions of black hole type arising from the string
effective action in five dimensions. We derive the unique metric - dilaton
vacuum which is a Schwarzschild type black hole. It is found that it can be
extended to incorporate electric charge without changing the topology of the
three space. Kalb-Ramond charge may also be introduced if the three space is
closed. The basic features of the cosmology induced on a three brane evolving
in this background are also discussed.
