There were cracks in the bronze at each corner of the pedestal. The pedestal is the large box of bronze with a relief sculpture and upper basin of water on each of its sides. Some of these cracks were a few inches long, others ran a foot long. Some of the cracks appeared to be old and were the impetus for the 1971 reinforcing on the interior with concrete and steel. Other cracks were possibly more recent and may have been caused by freezing water caught between the bronze and concrete or continued stress from the weight of the upper sculptures.

These cracks and the deterioration of the internal reinforcing of concrete and steel were of great concern to the engineers who studied the fountain. They feared an eventual collapse unless the internal reinforcing was redone and better engineered. This provided and opportunity to replace the steel with stainless steel. Corrosion of the old internal bracing was greatly responsible for the iron staining of the fountain through its recirculating water.