194 REPORT OP^ NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



two hundred and forty-two thouisand one hundred and twenty-nine dollars referred 

 to in the first section of the act, a sum exceeding one hundred thousand dollars. 



The resolutions tinally iulopted preliminary to the work of building- 

 were agreed to by the Regents on fTanuary 2S, 1847, nearly all being- 

 offered by Mr. Owen. The most important follow: 



Resolved, That the Norman plan of a building for the Smithsonian Institution, 

 furnished by James Renwick, jr., of New York, substantially as amended and 

 reduced agreeably to the suggestions of the committee, is approved by this Board. 



Resolved, That a building committee of three members of the Board, as provided 

 in the fifth section of the act of Congress, be appointed, who are hereby authorized 

 and empowered, on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, to enter into contracts for 

 the completion of the buildings; and that said connnittee have jiowerto employ one 

 or more persons to superintend the erection of the buildings and the fitting up of 

 the rooms of the institution; and that the work shall l)e done to the entire satisfac- 

 tion of the said superintendent or superintendents; and that the said superintendent 

 or superintendents shall have power, and shall be required, to reject any of the 

 material proposed to be employed, and also to object to inferior or insufficient work, 

 and to direct its change, at his or their discretion. 



Resolved, That in the performance of the duty intrusted to them, the building com- 

 mittee of three hereinbefore referred to shall give the contracts to the lowest bidder 

 of good reputation, who shall give unexceptionable security, to the entire satisfac- 

 tion of the committee, for the performance of said contracts; and such security shall 

 in all cases be taken. No advance shall in any case be made; and fifteen per cent. 

 of all payments shall be retained until the faithful performance of the work. 



Resolved, That the building committee, after taking counsel with the Secretary, 

 shall carefully revise the specifications of the plan furnished to this Board by the 

 architect before entering into any contract; and if, after such examination, they 

 shall be of opinion that any modifications of the said plan and specifications are nec- 

 essary for the safety, durability, or better adaptation of the structure, the)' may 

 incorporate these in the said specifications; but no addition to the dimensions of the 

 building shall be made, nor any ornament of any kind added; and the said modifi- 

 cations shall have sole reference to the safety, duralnlity, and adaptation of the 

 building. And the whole amount of the contract for the said building, including 

 the modifications alcove provided for, shall, under no circumstances, exceed the 

 amount of the original estimates of the architect, to wit: the sum of two hundred 

 and two thousand dollars, with a percentage not exceeding ten per cent, on the said 

 sum. 



Resolved, That the building committee be also authorized to contract for the warm- 

 ing and lighting of the building; provided that the contract for the above objects 

 shall not exceed five thousand dollars. 



Resolved, That the building committee be also authorized to contract for the fitting 

 up and furnishing of the building of the institution; provided that the contract for 

 the same shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars. * * * 



And it Ijeing on the one hand desirable that a portion of the buildings to l)e 

 erected by the institution be ready for use at an early day, and on the other hand it 

 is essential to the solidity and durability of a structure of the size required to 

 embrace all the objects specified in the act of Congress that its erection l)e gradual 

 and not too rapidly hastened forward: Therefore — 



Resolved, That the building committee be instructed to arrange the contracts for 

 the buildings of the institution so that the wings of said buildings may be completed 

 in two years from the ])resent time, and the whole completed in five years. 



Resolved, That the building committee be instructed, in the arrangement of the 

 buildings, to extend the gallery of art throughout the western range and western 



