THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 71 



with the idea of great simpUcity. There is not much ornament, but 

 still enough, as I think, to enable the building to do its duty with grace 

 and dignity. 



The lower hall is equally adapted to the purposes of a museum or a 

 library. The lecture room is the best which it was possible to make 

 within the walls of the building, and now that it has been completed, 

 I am happy in being enabled to state that were it to be made over 

 again, I would not alter any of its essential features. 



I would not be doing justice to Professor Henry were I not to acknow- 

 ledge the great assistance I have received from him in arranging the 

 details of this room. lam free to confess that during the progress of 

 the work he has given me suggestions which have materially improved 

 my plans. 



It will be seen by an examination of the payments which have been 

 made to the contractor, that the cost of completing the building consid- 

 erably exceeds the estimates which I prepared before the w^ork was 

 begun. This is due in part to the rise in the prices of materials and 

 labor, but principally to the execution of many improvements which 

 were not originally contemplated, but which it was thought best to 

 make during the prosecution of the work. These improvements were 

 the sewers for drainage ; the cisterns for supplying water ; the substi- 

 tution of stone for iron stairs ; the makmg of new sashes for many of the 

 wdndows ; the strengthening and in part re-construction of the roof of 

 the main building, putting in copper gutter, and leaders on the towers, 

 besides other alterations and additions tending to swell the cost of the 

 work. 



Hoping that my efforts to improve your building will meet you appro- 

 bation, as well as that of the Board of Regents, 



I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



B. S. ALEXANDER, 

 Architect Smithsonian Institution. 



To the Building Committee of' the Smithsonian Institution. 



A full statement of rhe amount due the contractor cannot be given 

 until a more precise estimate of all the items of work done under the 

 direction of the architect has been made. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



RICHARD RUSH, 

 WILLIAM H. ENGLISH, 

 .JOSEPH HENRY, 



Building Committee. 



