The Capital: The Falling Front

The west front of the U.S. Capitol is in danger of tumbling down. Begun in 1793, the sandstone edifice has 21 cracks running down its full 105-ft. height, and more than 1,000 smaller cracks zigzagging crazily in every direction. The front portico is held up only by wrought-iron straps, and in three major areas is kept from buckling by impromptu wooden supports. So many records and books—including 300 copies each of the 17,000 bills introduced in the House this year—are stored in the Capitol attic above the west front that the old walls are under a downward pressure of...