202 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUREUM, 1903. 



These consist principally of wood, and are not of a proper character for a building 

 intended to contain valuable deposits, many of which will be donations to tlie insti- 

 tution, presented with the implied condition that they are to be properly secured 

 against danger from fire. This mode of construction was probably adopted by the 

 original building committee, in order to lessen the cost of the edifice and to !)ring it 

 within the sum appropriated by the Board. 



3. Although the committee are anxious to save the accrued interest, and to devote 

 it to objects more in accordance with the spirit of the original bequest than the erec- 

 tion of a costly building; yet, they would recommend that the interior work of the 

 center building, as now existing, be removed, and that there be substituted for it a 

 fireproof structure, in accordance with the plan recommended in the reports of Mr. 

 Renwick and of the commission of architects. 



4. The completion of the building on this plan, according to the estimate of the 

 commission, requires an additional outlay of about $44,000. To meet this additional 

 expense, the committee recommend the adoption of the suggestion of their chairman. 

 Colonel Davis, that the exterior of the building and the interior of the towers be com- 

 pleted in accordance with the plan and within the time specified by the contract, 

 and that the remainder of the interior be finished agreeably to the new plan, in the 

 course of a number of years, and in such portions as can be jiaid for out of the annual 

 interest of the Smithsonian fund, not otherwise appropriated. The object of this 

 part of the proposition is to prevent the derangement of the plan of finance origi- 

 nally i)roposed by Doctor Bache and adopted by the Board of Regents, viz, of saving 

 out of the accrued and accruing interest, after paying for the building, the sum of 

 $150,000, to be added to the principal. 



5. By the addendum to the contract, the Regents have the power of stoptping the 

 building at any stage of its progress on paying the contractor jjro rata for the work 

 done, according to the prices specified in the contract, and allowing for reasonable 

 damages if the circumstances require the payment of them. The estimates in this 

 case are to be made by the architect of the institution or other architects selected 

 by the Regents. But with reference to the quality of the work which has been 

 done, it is the opinion of the legal adviser of the committee that the decision of the 

 architect of the building is final, both with regard to the Regents and the contractor. 



6. In accordance with the forementioned stipulations of the contract, the commit- 

 tee have requested Mr. Renwick to furnish an estimate pro rata for completing the 

 whole exterior of the l)uilding and the interior of the towers, making deductions 

 for materials and workmanship which he would have condemned had the building 

 been completed according to the original plan. The following is tlie decision of the 

 architect, which has been agreed to by the contractor, with the understanding 

 that nothing is to be paid him on account of profit on work omitted by the proposed 

 change, viz: 



For finishing the whole exterior of the building, all the interior rooms of 



the towers and of the wings, the sum of $18.5, 154 



7. The committee recommend to the Board of Regents that they agree to this 

 proposition, and that a resolution be adopted directing the contractor to proceed with 

 the work in accordance therewith. In recommending this course to the Board, the 

 committee act in conformity with the advice of two of the commission of architects, 

 viz: Mr. E. B. White and Mr. J. R. Niernsee, who undertook the examination in 

 detail of the parts of the building, and gave an estimate as the basis of an eciuitable 

 settlement. 



