[ 1 ] m 



The central is roofed in and slated, and enclosed in such manner as to be 

 perfectly protected from the weather. 



The principal front tower is carried up to a height of one hundred and 

 twenty-two feet, and covered in temporarily for the winter. 



The stone and mason w^ork of the lower central front tower is completed, 

 and the roof is on and slated. 



The campanile and north east corner towers are roofed in. 



The central south tower is carried up to a height of forty feet. 



The south east and south west corner towers are carried up to the height 

 of the cornice of the cell of the main building. 



The contractor states, that all the stones necessary for the completion of 

 the building are quarried. The greater portion of them are delivered at 

 the building, and will be cut during the present winter. 



During the last year portions of the roads around the building have been 

 graded and many trees and shrubs have been set out on the grounds. 



It is a source of satisfaction to the undersigned that the walls of the 

 building have not as yet, shown any signs of settlement. When the various 

 heights of the w^all and towers, ranging from twenty-six to one hundred 

 and twenty-two feet are considered, this circumstance affords a satisfactory 

 proof that the principles adopted in the construction of the building are 

 correct, and that the care taken in calculating the weights and pressure of 

 the different walls has not been uselessly expended, and that the construc- 

 tion of these most important parts of the building has been well performed. 



The following is a statement of the amount expended in the building up 

 to the 31st of December, 1850 : 

 Amount expended on building up to December 1, 1847, was as 



then stated, 825,002 67 



Amount expended from December 1, 1847, to December 31, 



1848, 53,934 74 



Amount expended from December 31, 1848, to December 31, 



1849. 56,383 76 



The amount expended on the building during the 



the year 1850, has been as follows : 



Paid G. Cameron, contractor, $ 24,000 00 



Paid Architect, Superintendent, and incidental 



expenses of office, 2,459 42 



Miscellaneous, 1,868 05 



Grounds, improvement of, -1,616 46 



29,943 93 



Making total amount expended on building up to December 

 31, 1849, -$165,265 10 



I remain, very respectfully. 



Your obedient servant, 



JAMES RENWICK, Jr., 

 Architect Smithsonian Institution . 



