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Show f $ f v r I o V r s , s.:vr .--:. V- fi"?" f ij' : : " ' -t- I s i x. v ' f h . 1 Rep. Laurence J. Burton points out the need for reconstruction recon-struction of the west front of the mation's Capitol Building. Heavy wooden braces, 10 feet fall, prop up the building, to keep the huge dome from "tumbling in on Congress." WASHINGTON REPORT By Congressman Laurence J. Burton If you watched the Presi-dntial Presi-dntial inauguration on TV, or saw pictures of it in the newspapers, you might also have taken note of the east front of the Capitol Building, a beautiful White marble facade. fa-cade. It wasn't always this way. It wasn't until the '50's that reconstruction of the east front took place, at a cost of $12 million. It was needed, however, as the east front was crumbling and might have fallen down at any time. This is exactly what is happening on the west front the side of the Capitol Building you didn't view during du-ring the Presidential inauguration. inaug-uration. Heavy wooden triangular tri-angular braces, about 10 feet tall, actually hold the west front up! If the west front is not reconstructed, there is danger that the huge Capitol dome will come tumbling tum-bling down; but whether or not the reconstruction is commenced depends on how much pressure is applied by those who feel that there is a real need for the work to be done. There is a four-and-a-half-inch bulge in the wall; the sandstone itself is breaking up in many places; and just last summer a large piece of design work sprang from the west center cornice, landing lan-ding 15 feet from the base of the wall. Even if there were ro weaknesses in the wall, it is still unsightly, having withstood with-stood none too well the ravages rav-ages of the elements over the past 175 years. Frankly, many people think the only thing holding the, wall together to-gether is a lot of mortar and about 37 coats of paint. There is some point to the argument given by the traditionalists. tra-ditionalists. They claim that the west front is the only part of the original Capitol left; and that it would be a crime to tear it down. Backed Back-ed by the American Institute Insti-tute of Architects, they argue ar-gue that children, fifty or a hundred years from now. should see it as it was, as it was built during George Washington's time. The Capitol Architect, J. George Stewart, thinks otherwise. oth-erwise. Mr. Stewart is backed back-ed by the Society of American Amer-ican Registered Architects. These architects met recently recent-ly to discuss the problem and reported that there is a pressing need for reconstruction, recon-struction, if for no other reason than the safety of tourists, employees and tno Members of Congress. There is another need for reconstruction. The Commission Com-mission for the Extension of the Capitol has recommended recommend-ed an extension of the wails some 44 feet in the center and 83 feet at the sides, this to provide needed offices and space for a small mm which could br ' fl cd into a cahW Vf commodate visitors ' the busy tourist : The reconstruction west and east fr:... authorized in E;! 84th Congress, so t ther legislation is I i-"" The project for reC tion is under the dlC f the Commission for O g tension of the Cap:-f;1 ed by top leaders in t 5 1 House and Sena- " i must direct the Cs-;- 3 chitect to request the west front. not done so; and u.-' A do, the west front t ' tinue to be propyl j fear that the wa'jj J 'i Jericho's will corf -bling down. " il 2 |