Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26

Work Of reconstruction of the
White House has revealed that the
roof was in even greater danger OF
collapse than had been known by en-
gineers when arguments were adj
vanced to obtain an appropriation for
its repair. For the most part the
trusses had ceased to function as
such and the upper chord of one OF
the main trusses had been cut
through entirely at some time to make
way for light well, statement is
sued by the Office of Public Buildings
and Public Parks last night declared.
1t also was announced that despite
delays due to structural features OF
the old building which the contractor
had not anticipated, the repair work
will be completed by the end of July,
leaving ample time for cleaning, paint;
ing and decorating before the Presl-
dent returns from South Dakota.
During the demolition Of the old
roof" the statement said. IAN oppor'
tunity was presented Of making a
more thorough examination of the
original construction than had been
possible while the building was occu-
pied. This examination but confirmed
the need for replacing the roof. Al.
though nearly all Of the removed
timbers, with the exception OF those
over the north portico. were in good
state of preservation, most or the
trusses had long since ceased to act
as such. At some time in the past,
the upper chord Of one of the main
trusses had been cut entirely through
and a section removed to make room
for a light we'll; that the truss did not
collapse was evidence that 1t was no
longer acting as truss.
Trusses Seriously Weakened.
"In partial explanation Of the fail.
ure of the trusses, 1t may be SAID that
they were apparently designed to
carry only the roof loads on their
upper chords. Because of the lack or
space in the lower stories, however.
the attic space was used for storage
of records and after 1902 for servants
quarters and general storage, bring
ing heavy loads on the lower chords.
AS a result of this overlooking, many
OF the intermediate joints were pulled
apart and the end joints. where the
end posts were mortised into the
lower chords, had in some cases COM
pletely failed by longitudinal shearing
1.-THE lower chords had settled upon
and were being supported by the IN
terror partitions of masonry and WOOD
and were carrying the roof and attic
loads as beams They were seriously
weakened by spices and at several
points by notches cut in the lower
surface to accommodate wooden
troughs that formerly carried the roof
drainage, some of the notches being
SO deep that only about inches OF
solid wood remained.
1.-THE ends of the timbers forming
the trusses over the north portico
| were found to be badly decayed, and
| had also been seriously damaged by
powder post beetles. Little decay was
discovered in the timbers of the main
roof, although there were indications
that some Of these had been attacked
by beetles.
Great Fire Hazard.
aside from the question of struc-
tural safety. the replacement of the
old roof was necessary to eliminate
| a serious fire hazard. The great ag.
gregation Of thoroughly dry and sea-
soned timbers seemed to invite fire,
, which even If small would inevitably
have spread very quickly to the entire
roof, endangering the lives of the
| houses occupants and threatening
the destruction Of one Of America &
most beautiful and historically most
valuable buildings"
This reconstruction is practically all
| of the work that has been placed on
! the structure since it was rebuilt be.
| tween 1915 and 1919. In 1914, when
| Washington was captured by the
British, the White House was burned
the fire destroying the interior end
seriously damaging some of the
masonry. The work of reconstruc.
ton was begun shortly thereafter,
under the supervision of James Ho.
ban, the architect who had made the
original design, and the building was
again occupied in 1918 by President