[23] 



14 



various styles of public architecture, particularly the Grecian, Roman, 

 modern Italian, Gothic of diiferent ages, and Norman; giving the actual 

 cost, compared to extent of accommodations, of some of the principal pub- 

 lic edifices in the United States, in the various styles, including some of 

 the public buildings erected in Washington, and elsewhere, by the general 

 government; also, that, so far as the funds permit, the work shall contain 

 illustrations, in the best style of art, representing such among the public 

 buildings of the United States as exhibit the purest specimens of architect- 

 ure, in Various styles, including two perspective views of the Smithsonian 

 Institution on steel; and including, also, one or more perspective views of 

 the best designs for the institution, offered in competition. 



To execute such a plan as this in a reputable manner, the illustrations, 

 including numerous wood cuts, essential to a proper elucidation of the 

 text, will, the conmiittee have ascertained, cost more than the sum here- 

 to tore appropriated. The two steel engravings of the institution building 

 in perspective cannot be obtained, executed in the best style of art, for 

 less than $350 to ,§400 for the two. The committee ask, therefore, of the 

 board an additional appropriation of a thousand dollars. By reference to 

 a supplement recently made to the original contract Avith Wiley & Putnam, 

 and of which a copy is given in the minutes of the forty-first meeting of 

 the conmiittee, the board will perceive that such an additional appropria- 

 tion, expended on illustrations, will entitle us to an additional hundred 

 pages of letter-press; making in all two hundred and fifty pages. This 

 the committee consider important, as it is doubtful whether the number of 

 pages to which, by the original contract, the volume was restricted, will 

 sutiice for the purpose of the work. 



It will require six months, properly to execute the illustrations of this 

 work; so that it cannot be published before next summer or autumn. The 

 committee will proceed in its preparation as rapidly as is consistent with 

 the proper execution of the work. 



It is the purpose of the committee to add to this work, as an appendix, 

 the result of the experiments heretofore (to wit, by resolution of the first of 

 March last) authorized by the board, to determine the economical value of 

 the diiferent building materials used in the United States. This will 

 give to the work additional value for builders, carpenters, and mechanics, 

 generally. 



For fiirther particulars regarding the various subjects touched on in this 

 reprt, the committee beg to refer the board to the copy, herewith sub- 

 mitted, of their journal. They think it would be useful to make that copy 

 a portion of the annual report of the board to Congress. 



They submit also, herewith, the original contracts with Dixon & 

 Cameron, Joel Downer, Caleb Buckingham, and Wiley & Putnam; and 

 the security bond signed by Dixon & Cameron, Winter, and Buder. 

 All which is respectfully submitted. 



ROBERT DALE OWEN. 

 W. W. SEATON. 

 JOS. G. TOTTEN. 

 December 7, 1847. 



