NATIONAL MUSEUM BUILDINGS. 203 



8. By adopting the above sum of $185,154 as the amount to be paid to the con- 

 tractor, Mr. Renwick gives the followiiig estimate of the cost of finishing the building 

 in accordance with the fireproof plan, viz: 



Amount of proposed contract. |185, 154 



Expense of fireproofing the entire (;enter building according to plans and 



estimates of the architects 44, 000 



Expenses common to both plans: 



Plastering center building $8, 000 



Gallery fronts ^ 2, 000 



Staircase of library and Museum 425 



Furniture of librarj' and Museum 4, 700 



15,125 



Extra cartage 200 



Materials now on the grfnind, but which may not be useil 1, 000 



Total expense of the building, including fireproofing 245, 479 



9. The original contract, with the addition made to it by direction of the 



building committee, is 209, 810 



Add the estimate of fireproofing 44, 000 



Thus we have for the cost of the building, according to the estimate 

 of the commission 253, 810 



Note. — The foregoing estimates are exclusive of the salaries of the architect and 

 superintendent; also of the cost of the improvement of the grounds and part of the 

 furniture. 



This last sum is greater than the preceding by $8,331. The difference, according 

 to the statement of Mr. Renwick, is due to the various deductions he has made on 

 account of defective materials, imperfect workmanship, and changes in the plan. 



In conclusion, the committee are fully of opinion — and in this they are sustained 

 by the commission of architects — that, by adopting the plan of fire-proofing proposed 

 by Mr. Renwick and the proposition of the contractor, the building will be ren- 

 dered safe and durable at a very reasonable cost, considering the amount of work 

 which has been bestowed upon it. 



The committee do not consider it necessary to offer any remarks on the cause of the 

 accident which led to these investigations. If these recommendations be adopted, 

 the whole structure of the interior of the main building in which the accident 

 occurred will be exchanged for one more in accordance with the permanence and 

 utility of the edifice, and in this case they will consider the accident as a fortunate 

 event. 



1851. 



In view of the report of the special committee followino- the acci- 

 dent in 1S,50, the Regents found it necessary to deviate from their 

 origitud intention, and to order the removal of the woodwork which 

 had been erected in the interior of the main build ing and dii-ect that 

 its place be supplied I)}' fireproof materials. During LS51 all the exte- 

 rior of the building, including the towers, was completed. Some 

 minor changes in interior construction, insuring l)etter tireprooting, 

 was also arranged for. 



At a meeting of the Regents on Febniary 27, 1851, it was resolved 

 that the executive committee be requested to incpiin' into the feasi- 

 bility of providing buildings for the residences of the officers of the 



