83 ' r 108 ] 



REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



The Building Commil tee of the Smithsonian Institution l)eg leave to sub- 

 rait the following report of the progress of the building (hn-ing the year 

 1851, and of the expenditures which have been made under Iheir direction 

 during the same time. 



By the resolution of the board, at their session in 1847, the wdiole ex- 

 penditure of the building, grounds and furniture, was limited to $^250,000 ; 

 and for the purpose of meeting this expense, without encroaching too much 

 on the accruino; and accrued interest, the building^ was not to be finished 

 under five years from the time of its commencement. 



On account of the giving way of a part of the interior, the Regents, at 

 their meeting in 1849, ordered a survey of the whole work by a commission 

 of architects. This commission reported that the exterior of the building 

 was well constructed of good materials ; that the interior, consisting of 

 wood and plaster, was not proper for a depository of valuable property, 

 much of which will be donations, presented with the implied condition that 

 it would be properly secured against danger from fire. 



In accordance with this report, the Regents tound it necessary to deviate 

 from their original intention, and to order the removal of the wood work 

 which had been erected in the interior of the main building, and to direct 

 that its place should be supplied by fire-proof materials. 



This change in the materials of construction, according to the estima.te 

 of the architect, James Renwick, Jr., will require an additional outlay of 

 about 844,000. In round numbers we may therefore estimate the entire 

 cost of the building and furniture at $300,000. To meet the additional 

 expense, the Regents have directed an extension of the time of completing 

 the building. 



The contract of Mr. Cameron includes the finishing the whole of the ex- 

 terior of the edifice, of the interior of the two wings, of the two connecting 

 ranges, and of all the towers. This contract must be finished bctbre the 

 19th of March of the present year ; or, in other words, within the period 

 of five years from the date of the contract. 



During the past year, all the exterior of the building, including all the 

 towers, has been completed, and the publit- have Jiow an opportunity of 

 judging of the architectural effect, relative to which much discrepancy of 

 opinion has existed. The majority of strangers who visit the city, consider 

 it a very beautiful edifice, of which the effect will be heightened by the 

 improvement of the grounds and the planting of the trees. 



The committee, since the last meeting of the board, have thought it ad- 

 visable to order some changes and additions for the better security and use 

 of the building. They have directed that the sjiiral stairs, leading fioni the 

 bottom to the top of the octagonal tower, shall be constructed in iion, and 

 that the groined arch, whicli fiirms the ceiling of the space between the 

 front towers over the main entrance, shall be constructed in brick instead 

 of wood and plaster; also, that the floor of the second story of the vesti- 

 bule of the southern tow^er shall be laid with tile instead of wood. Besides 

 these changes, intended to render the building more secure from fire, the 

 committee have authorized the fitting up of three rooms in the basement of 

 the west connecting range, for printing and stereotyping uses. 



