70 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



ihe personal effects of James Smithson. The lecture room, the optical 

 and acoustic properties of which are probably unsurpassed by any 

 apartment intended lor the same purpose in the United States, occupies 

 one-half of the upper story of the main building, besides a portion of 

 the front and rear towers ; its precise length is 96 feet, and extreme 

 width 62 feet. It will comfortably seat 1,500 persons, and, when 

 crowded, will contain upwards of 2,000. The apartments on each 

 side of the lecture room, besides being fitted up with cases for books, 

 specimens, or apparatus, can be used for meetings of associations, 

 while large assemblies for public discussions can be accommodated in 

 the lecture room. 



The whole arrangement of the upper part of the building is made 

 with a view to afford facilities i()r meetings of large associations which 

 have for their object the promotion, diffusion, or application of know- 

 ledge. If at any time the space now occupied by the lecture room 

 should be required for otljcr purposes, the seats and gallery may be 

 removed and the partition walls which are unconnected with the roof 

 may be taken down and the whole upper story converted into one large 

 hall. Besides the main building just finished, the whole edifice con- 

 sists of two wings, two connecting ranges, and a front and rear projec- 

 tion at the middle on which towers are erected. 



The whole amount paid on account of the building, the grounds, and 

 furniture is $299,414 14. The amount paid during the past year is 

 $55,021 14, of which $13,000 is on the work previously done under 

 the direction of the former architect. In order to secure the fiiithful 

 performance of the work, fifteen per cent, has been withheld from the 

 monthly payments until the whole should be finished. The sum which, 

 on this account, is still due to the contractor, has not yet definitely been 

 ascertained. According to an addendum to the original contract, the 

 Regents were at liberty to make any changes in the building or in the 

 lime of its completion which they might deem necessar}^ and the con- 

 tractor should receive pro rata, according to the prices agreed upon, 

 for work so executed, and reasonable compensation for damages which 

 might be sustained. 



The foUowino: letter from the architect will oive additional infbrma- 

 tion : 



Washington, D. C, December 30, 1854. 



Gentlemen : I have the honor to report to you that the work on 

 your building has been prosecuted during the past year without inter- 

 mission, and that the central portion of it is now nearly completed. 



There are some small matters yet to be attended to, and a few tri- 

 fling repairs and alterations yet to be made in the other parts of the 

 building. These can all be completed in a few weeks. 



I am happy to state that the building has been completed without 

 any accident, either to the workmen employed, or to the building itself, 

 and that in my opinion, every part of the work has been substantially 

 done. 



I have devoted much study to the plans which have been executed, 

 and given the work my personal supervision nearly every day. 



An examination of the rooms of the central building will impress one 



