Show Rep Burton Reports from Washington West Front of of National Capitol Falling I By Rep Laurence J. J Burton If you watched the Presidential Presidential Presidential inauguration on TV or orsa sa saw w pictures of it In the newspapers newspapers newspapers news news- I papers you might also have i taken note of the east front of I the Capitol Building a beautIful beautiful beautiful white marble facade It wasn't always this way It wasn't until the that reconstruction reconstruction reconstruction re re- re- re construction of the east front took place at a cost of 12 mil mil- lion It was needed however as the east front was crumblIng crumbling crumbling crumbl crumbl- ing and might have fallen down at any time This is exa exactly what Is happening happening happening hap hap- hap hap- pening on the west front the front the side of the Capitol Building you didn't view during the Presidential Presidential inauguration Heavy wooden wood wood- en triangular braces about 10 feet tall actually hold the west front up I If the west front is not reconstructed there is danger danger danger dan dan- ger that the huge Capitol dome will come tumbling down but whether or not the reconstruction reconstruction tion Is commenced depends on how much pressure pressure pressur is applied by those who feel that there is isa isa isa a real need for the work to be done THERE IS A half four-and-a-half- inch bulge In the wall the sandstone sandstone sand sand- stone itself Is breaking up inmany Inmany in inmany many places and just last summer summer sum sum- mer a large piece of design work sprang from the west center center cen cen- ter cornice landing 15 feet from the base of the wall Even if there were no weaknesses weaknesses weak weak- nesses in the wall it is still unsightly having withstood none too well the ravages of the elements elements elements ele ele- ments over the past years Frankly many people think the I only thing holding the wall together together to to- gether is a lot of mortar and about 37 coats of paint There is some point to the argument given by the They claim that the west front is the only part of the original Capitol left and and that it would be a crime to tear it down Backed by the American American Amer Amer- i ican Institute of Architects they argue that children fifty or a hundred years from now should see it a as at it was as it was built during George Washington's Wash ington's time The The Capitol Architect George Stewart thinks otherwise Mr Stewart is is' backed by the Society of American Registered Architects These architects met recently to discuss the pro- pro lem and reported that there Is a pressing need for reconstruction reconstruction recon recon- if for no other reason reason reason rea rea- son than the safety of tourists employees and members of Con Con- gress There Is another need for reconstruction The Commission for the Extension of the CapItol Capitol Capitol Cap Cap- itol has recommended an extension extension extension ex ex- tension of the walls some 44 feet In the center and 88 feet at the sides this to provide needed office space and space for a small auditorium which could be converted into a cafeteria cafeteria cafeteria cafe cafe- teria to accommodate visitors during the busy tourist season The reconstruction of the west and east fronts was authorized in 1955 by the Congress so no further legislation is re re- The project for reconstruction reconstruction reconstruction recon recon- Is under direction of the Commission for the Exten- Exten t g s xa i L' L eee r tl x rK CAPITOL WALL WAIL UNSAFE Rep Laurence J. J Burton points out the need for reconstruction of the west front of the nations nation's Capitol Building Heavy wooden braces 10 feet tall prop up the building to keep the huge d dome me from tumbling in on on Congress slon sion of the Capitol headed by top leaders in both the House and Senate They must direct I the Capitol Architect to request fUE funds s for the west front They have not done so and until they do the west front will continue continue continue con con- to tobe be propped up for fear that the walls like Jericho will come tumbling down |