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materially influenced the amount of the bids subsequently put in for the 

 erection of the building in marble and granite. 



Such is a brief summary of the measures adopted by the committee, and 

 of the information collected by them, and which will be found in detail on 

 their journal, on the important subject of b/iilding material. While engaged 

 in collecting that information, they caused to be inserted in the city jour- 

 nals, advertisements inviting from contractors proposals for the erection of 

 the "institution building; the external walls to be of upper Potomac free- 

 stone, or of marble, or of granite, or of blue gneiss j and separate proposals 

 ' were requested in each of these materials. Meanwhile the architect and 

 superintendent attended in the office of the institution with specifications, 

 ready to give the necessary information to all applicants. 



The day originally set as the last on which bids would be received, was 

 the 10th of March; but as the specifications were delayed by the printers 

 several days beyond the time appointed by the public advertisement for the 

 inspection of bidders, the committee extended the time for receiving bid:^ 

 -to the 15th March, 



On the 16th of March the bids were opened, in presence of the building 

 committee and of the architect and superintendent. A number of these 

 were found to be proposals to deliver materials only, or to execute a small 

 portion of the work, as the brick work, alone; the stone cutting at so much 

 per foot, &c. These are spread on the jovu'ual of the committee^ and will 

 be found to contain much valuable information as to prices. 



The bids to erect the building were found to be fourteen in number, and 

 to vary in amount from $196,000 to $318,000 — the lowest being that of 

 James Dixon & Co., of Washington, and the estimate being for Seneca 

 freestone, laid up in rubble masonry. The bids by the same firm, as given 

 in the explanatory correspondence of the same date and in a personal com- 

 munication on the ISth March, for ashlar finish, were also the lowest put 

 in, namely: 



For marble ashlar - . . . . $228,500 



And for Seneca freestone ashlar ... 205,250 



After a careful examination of the subject, the committee decided, that 

 to the particular design as adopted by the board, with its numerous vertical 

 lines often closely approaching each other, the finish of regularly coursed 

 ashlar was the best suited, and would make a more substantial job than 

 broken rubble. 



They concluded also, that, with a complete conviction on their minds of 

 the durability of the Seneca freestone, and with a doubt whether it did not 

 assort even better with the Lombard style of architecture adopted than 

 marble, it was inexpedient to expend twenty three thousand dollars addi- 

 tional to obtain the latter material. They informed James Dixon ^fc- Co., 

 therefore, that their bid of $205,250 for the erection of the building in 

 Seneca stone, finished in coursed ashlar, was accepted. 



The result, your committee think, has proved that their selection of ma- 

 terial was a judicious one. 



On inquiry, the committee found that the firm of James Dixon and Co. 

 consisted of James Dixon, of Washington, and Gilbert Cameron, of New 

 York. The latter gendeman executed a portion of the work on Trinity 

 church, and was a contractor on Calvary church, New York. 



A contract was signed by the committee and by Messrs. Dixon and Cam- 

 eron on the I9th of March. It will be found, accompanied by the specifi- 



