The Commission which is inquiring into the structural condition of
St. Paul's has issued a second Interim Report. Like the first report it is very disturbing, though fortunately the way to safety is plainly indicated. There is little fault to be found with the foundations of the Cathedral ; the weakness is in the eight piers upon which the dome rests. The builders of the Cathedral, not through Wren's fault, filled these piers with perishable rubble. The envelopes of stone are inclined to fall away, and-one shrinks from the thought of what would happen if the stone on several of the piers...gave way simul- taneously. The Commissioners, after experiments, are not satisfied that it is enough to pour liquid cement into the piers in the place of the rubble ; they say that injec- tion under pressure is necessary. The stone casing of the piers must also be replaced. The Commissioners urge that this work should be carried out at once. The alternative would be an entire rebuilding of the piers, and this might involve the removal of the dome,and the closing of the Cathedral for a long time. Another generation may find that necessary, but the Commissioners are confident that what they recommend is enough for the present, provided that there is no delay.
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