Work helps save lives, buildings

To the editor:

When I saw the pictures of the destruction in China following the recent earthquake and the aftershocks with the loss of lives of many children who were in the schools there, I was reminded of a tour I took of the Carnegie Building during the retrofitting process.

This tour was early on in the work; it was major with the lower level torn up while it was being made seismic-proof. Apparently those schools in China had not undergone such a process.

I don't think many buildings in Baker are seismic-proof. I believe it is only required when new buildings are being built or old ones are being remodeled. When I am in the finished Carnegie Arts Building now, I admire the beautiful finishing. But I am also grateful for the basic, not beautiful, work that was done early on to make it seismic-proof.

Maryalys Urey

Baker City