[23] ■ 52 



As each of the foregoing bids was opened, it was labelled " Opened 

 March 16, 1847," each of the building committee adding his initials. 



As soon as all the bids v/ere opened and their amounts compared; 

 a letter was prepared and addressed to six of the bidders, to wit: 



1. Messrs. James Dixon &- Co. 



2. Butler, Adams, and Cameron. 



3. T. M, Niven. 



4. Gilbert Cameron. 



5. F. Gerard. 



6. B. B. Curran. 

 The letter is as follows : 



Office Smithsonian Institution, 



iliarc/i 16, 1847„ 



Sir : Please to inform the building committee whether your proposals 

 include furniture, as per specifications, or not ; also, please state what are 

 your separate estimates on mason work, carpenter's work, and stone- 

 cutting. 



Your answer by this evening at six o'^clnck will oblige, sir, your obe- 

 dient servant, 



ROBERT DALE OWEN, 



Chairman Building Committee. 



The letters v/ere placed in the hands of the messenger at \ past one 

 o'clock. 

 And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



NINTH MEETING— March 17, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton, Hough, and Owen. 

 - The chairman laid before the committee the following replies to the 

 letter addressed yesterday to sundry bidders, 



Washington, March 17, 1847. 



Sir: In answer to your letter of this day, and in compliance therewith, 

 1 have the honor to state that my bid for the carpentry work included the 

 furniture, in accordance with specification, as also my general bid. 



My separate estmiatcs, constituting the bid for the whole building; 

 were — 



Mason work .... $80,000 



Stone-cutting .... 94,800 



Carpentry work . . - - 65,200 



I would beg leave here to explain that my bid for the whole job did not 

 contemplate the erection of the building of Seneca stone, but of white 

 marble or granite ; I . should deduct $35,000 from the amount if the 

 building committee decide upon using that kind of stone,* instead of the 

 more beautiful, costly, and durable marble or granite. 



Respectfully, yours, &,c., 



B. B. CURRAN. 

 Hon. Robert Dale Owen, 



Chairman of Building Committee. 



* This bid is for Seneca ruhble, — R. D. 0. 



