Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-21
wEATHER-sTAINED STONE WORK
The Classic but Dingy East Front Of the
Treasury Building.

Col. Fred Bracket. the chief clerk Of the
Treasury department, is engaged just at pres
ent IN an effort to make some what presentable
the historically dingy east front Of the depart
ment building, which forms gloomy vista to
the prospect up F street. Various attempts have
been made in former years to obtain appro-
prlatlon for the purpose Of renovating this
'front.', but without success, and the white paint
on the free stone of which the walls, columns
and cornices Of that part Of the building are
made has gradually worn off under the infu-
ence Of the weather until they are changed
from their original pure tint to an ugly hue
somewhat between black and a slate color in
some spots. shading off to muddy gray in
others. The columns are the worst OF all, each
being composed of seven blocks that have
withstood the weather with varying success
tnus giving to some of them barber-pole APP
Pearance that detracts greatly from the natural
beauty of the facade. which, in the opinion Of
experts, is one of the
FINEST PIECES OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE CITY.
There are thirty columns in this line, and the
effect made by them is unequaled in any piece
OF stone work in this vicinity 1t is therefore
generally regarded pity that the natural
beauty of the building should be spoiled by
the lack OF means to at least keep clean the
handsomest of the four fronts of the building.
The best plan would of course be to tear it out
and replace it with granite. but this would be
a costly proceeding. which would, however, be
justified by the results. The free stone il de-
terlorating from it's long exposure to the ele-
ments-even with the protection of the paint
Above the columns is heavy cornice. which
has changed from nearly white to just AS nearly
black. looking like an enormous, heavy, frown-
ing eyebrow along the entire face. Between it
and the columns is fiat space, which, being
almost of the original TINT, only accentuates
the hideousness of the cornice. On top of all
is balustrade about eight feet in height This
was formerly almost as bad as the cornice, but
1t Is now being made to assume a color very
closely resembling that of the dust-browned
granite of the wings on either end of the east
front. This is done by means of paint of
dark cream color two coats thick. and sanded.
1t is being put on by single man, who has
been several weeks making the long pilgrimage
back and forth from gable to gable.
A STRIKING CONTRAST.
The result is rather pleasing as far as the
balustrade itself goes, but together with the
white space just above the columns, it makes
the black cornice stand out even more re-
pulsvely than ever. 1t is probable that moth
ing will be done with the cornice at present as
it would require good sum to provide the
scaffoiding that would be necessary in order to
reach it with the paint brushes.
Col. Bracket Is anxious to secure an appro-
prlatlon that will enable him to give trial to
a certain preparation for the renovatIng Of the
free stone that has been brough. to his atten-
ton. 1t is said to permeate the stone and ar
rest the disintegration.
ORGANS SLIGHTLY USED, els and upward
Sold on IS payments. F. G. Smith, 1925 Pa.
aye-Adrt