192 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



without unnecessary ornament, and to contain provisions for cabinets of natural 

 history and geology, and for a library, a chemical laboratory, and lecture rooms. 

 * * * The cost was at that time limited to 180,000. In 1846, however, the bill of 

 Dr. Robert Dale Owen, without change of phraseology from those which had pre- 

 ceded it in regard to location and character of the structure, was adopted, but the 

 limit of the cost was increased, and $242,129, the exact amount of the Smithsonian 

 interest which had at that time accrued, "together with any additional interest 

 which might remain after paying the current expenses of the succeeding years," was 

 designated for that purpose. * * * 



From the very beginning Doctor Owen was the chief advocate of a large and 

 showy building. In this matter he was supported by the sympathy of the people of 

 Washington, and especially INIr. William W. Seaton, mayor of the city and one of the 

 Regents, whose interest in the realization of the plan of 8mithson undoubtedly did 

 much at last to secure action from Congress. Outside of Washington there was much 

 opposition to an expensive building, owing partly to the manner in which the 

 bequest of Stephen Girard had been rendered for many years inoperative by the 

 action of its trustees. * * * Dr. Owen, nevertheless, more than any other person 

 at that time concerned in the establishment of the Institution, seems to have felt 

 that much of its future success depended upon the erection of a building which 

 should perform a legitimate duty in dignifying and making conspicuous the work of 

 the organization to which it belonged. Scarcely anyone can doubt that Doctor 

 Owen was right and that the usefulness of the Smithsonian Institution has been 

 materially aided by the fact that' its building has for fifty years been one of the chief 

 architectural ornaments of the national capital. 



1846 and 1847. 



The first formal action of the Board of Regents, in respect to the 

 building called for in the fundamental act, was the passage of a reso- 

 lution on Septeml)er 9, 1846, authorizing aud instructing the Chan- 

 cellor, Secretary, and executive committee — 



to take such measures as may be deemed by them most proper to obtain plans 

 for the erection of buildings, fulfilling all the conditions in reference to them con- 

 tained in the law organizing this institution, and that said committee report such 

 plan as they may approve to this Board at its next meeting; and, further, that said 

 committee specially report in regard to the best material for said buildings, and to 

 the best modes of warming, lighting, and ventilating the same, with estimates of the 

 cost when constructed of different materials, etc. 



The committee so organized consisted of Vice President George 

 M. Dallas, chairman; Representatives William J. Hough and Robert 

 Dale Owen, Gen. Joseph G. Totten, and W. W. Seaton, mayor of 

 Washington. 



A notice to architects, inviting competitive designs, was published 

 in the Washington newspapers of September 22, 1846, and with the 

 object of accumulating information that might guide the Board in the 

 choice of a plan for the building, a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. 

 Owen, Hough, and Totten, visited the principal cities of the United 

 States; examined many of their most noted structures; had confer- 

 ences with several eminent architects; collected specimens of the best 

 stone material, and obtained data regarding the cost of construction. 



