The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-07
FAST CRUMBLING INTO RUIN
FOR WANT OF THE EXPENDITURE
OF A FEW DOLLARS FOR IT'S
PRESERVATION
sNoBoDY. TO BLAME FOR TT.
Condition of Affairs which Congress
Might Well Look
Into.

lnStOn is an outrage TO the GlIlre peO-
pie of this republic and disgrace to
the authorities. Inquiry concerning
the responsibility evokes the reply that
nobody is responsible.
The old capitol building. with its
magnificent rotunda and peerless dome.
has for many years excited the admi-
ration of visitors from all parts of the
world. 1t is built of Virginia sand
stone and is painted white.
The senate and house wings of the
capitol are built OF marble and the
staircases on the east front of these
wings are also of marble. They are in
good condition and are kept compara-
lively clean.
The staircase on the east front Of the
central building is of sandstone. and
it's condition is deplorable in the ex-
treme. The steps are crumbling and
badly broken, while thelarge sandstone
ia ggings on the landings are corroded
and broken so that on rainy days they
are covered with puddles Of water.
The top landing, beside the large
pillars, is not only defaced and crumb
ling On top, but broken and corrugated
On the edge 1t is a dsgraceful front
the world.
The twenty-four large pillars, which
are also of sandstone. have not been
painted for twenty years. Their sur
faces are notified and weather beaten.
The paint is partially scaled eff of all
OF them SO that not single one pre-
sents a respectable appearance.
The party responsible fer this shame
full condition of the main front Of the
capitol is Nobody.
The ceiling of the entablatare is
mouldy and dirty because it leaks and
is neglected The paint is scaling. off
and the ragged appearance excites a
feeling of contempt for Nobody, who
is responsible for this condition Of af-
fairs.
The south end of the ceiling is so
defaced by neglect that the plaster is
falling off IN many PAGES, leaving
great ragged holes with tie latns ex-
posed as the only adornment to that
end of the porto. TIE ceiirg Of the
north end is covered with the tests of
all sort of infinites.mal bugs, and there
also the laths sre exposed. by reason
Of the falling eff of tie plaster. Moth
ing has been done to repair the roof
and every severe rainstorm produces
through of the rain.
Over the door of the main entrance
there is bust of George Washington.
and it is so covered with dust and
CRIME, that it might be taken for q
bust Of Fred Doug'ass or any other
representative of theAAfrican race.
The large bronze doors which were
cast in Munich, Bavaria. and which
cost the government s$2S,000. are so COW
cred with Gust that It would be inn
possible to clean them without the
use of some sort of acid which might
affect the beautiful bronze mould; i2gs
and pictures in bas rel of Kenne ".
the lzirg. of the guides OF the, capitol.
says that the only safe way to csea n
the bronze 6oers wou4d he to ems 10y. g
man for an indefipite period eS- ts7He-to
take soap and water AID a eff p.S
hrfstle brush and by dill. gert effort re-.
move the dirt and ingrained CRIME IN,
that manner.
On the right of the. n2cir entra~ce s
q marble statpe CT Mars. Dt-liE.y tiEe-
Test week ss@-ehsey h s r.a Ges an eff
f,rt t. rer,-- os'e .f''orl} t 2 Ggure theSac
cum'latio7 Of ei....s' II s:'isF,e Ct. ms r
years. and ow. t G statue les ga ap-
peararce o. n11't:ai Tes9ec ah.'.ts.. 4 :
On ne ie It Of l. ~ a.. enta a op s Il
heautiful 'atue Of Minerva. II NJ M.
Last sun.rser an effcrt was RS 2 to
clean the figure and the man erl loyeI
used an acid wh Oh as fcre"er deface1
ard destroyed the statue. The fingers
are corraled aild TIE toes 'ook as
though II ey We're covered with co"rs.
TIE eS77.'frl . ~~c-v e a--n no %
and disigfrel 1t r&s N found FHs
the cr'.~e % yee@S hr- l>ono7-- 81 w.
heSded in tie r,crl 'e II al t ic ia: acs-
s;hle to restore it 10 cry .eniblalce Of
ite original w.lit5n9-~. >--~eo,se~ tie.
eGges ef the.fre,2e~y .as tIe. fig re, have
tee,, 50 cCrro,7c6 'y~tEe acta that the r