REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 593 



witnessed by six or seven thousand persons, will be found at large on the journal of 

 the committee. 



The contractors proceeded for sometime with the work in partnership ; but on the 

 first of June Mr. Dixon informed the Board that the work would thereafter be con- 

 ducted by Mr. Cameron alone ; and since that time, it has been entirely managed 

 by that gentleman. 



Mr. Cameron has since proceeded in the work with spirit, and has executed it, upon 

 the whole in a manner satisfactory to the committee. Occasional departures from 

 the letter of the contract have been pointed out to him, and he has promptly reme- 

 died whatever was complained of. He is now covering in the east connecting range, 

 and hopes still to cover in the east wing, also, before he shall be arrested by frost ; 

 though he has been very much retarded in his operations, and has suffered some 

 pecuniary loss by the breakage in the canal, caused by the late freshets. Since the 

 7th of October, when the first damage was done, until now, the canal has been closed, 

 and not a perch of stone has been received. In another week or fortnight there is a 

 fair prospect that the damage may be repaired, and water let into the canal. But for 

 this accident the contractor would already have covered in the east wing of the build- 

 ing. He has now some twelve or fifteen thousand feet of stone lying ready quarried, 

 and awaiting the re-opening of the canal. 



The chairman of the committee recently visited the quarry and found the stone 

 that had been quarried of excellent quality and color, the tint somewhat lighter than 

 the average tint of the present building. It quarries with remarkable facility, and 

 the supply is unlimited. 



The contractor has commenced to lay the foundations of the west wing and west 

 connecting range, but nothing whatever has yet been done towards the erection of 

 the ma^n building. 



The style of architecture selected by the Board seems to meet with general approval. 

 It may be taken as one evidence of this, that a church now in progress of erection 

 in Stuyvesant square, New York, and of which the cost will reach some hundred 

 and fifty thousand dollars, is built in the same style; as, by a perspective view of 

 the same herewith submitted, the board will perceive. 



The lot belonging to the Institution has been fenced in with a paling fence, white- 

 washed, which will last at least until the termination of the contract for the build- 

 ing. No measures have yet been taken for the erection of a permanent fence. 



Water has been conveyed to the site of the building by tapping the fire plug at the 

 ■engine house in Market Square. The pipe is a strong, leaden one, of inch bore, laid 

 two feet below the ground, and the water is conveyed across the canal in an iron pipe 

 of two inch bore. 



The contract for the fence was taken by Joel Downer, and that to convey the water 

 by Caleb Buckingham, both of Washington. A copy of their respective contracts 

 will be found on the journal. After completing the work in a satisfactory manner, 

 both of these gentlemen applied to the committee for extra compensation. Mr. 

 Downer stated that the fence erected by him cost much more than the amount at 

 which he contracted to complete it, and which was paid to him ; and at one time dur- 

 ing its progress — to wit: on the 22d of May — he offered to relinquish to the commit- 

 tee all he had done, if they would release him from the contract. This, however, 

 they declined to do. 



Mr. Buckingham handed in a bill of his expenses, showing a larger amount 

 expended than that which, in accordance with the terms of his contract, was paid to 

 him, and alleged that he had laid down a heavier pipe than, by the contract, he was 

 required to do. On these grounds, ho put in a claim for additional compensation. 

 The committee declined to allow it, but informed Mr. Buckingham that the matter 

 would be by them referred to the Board of Kegents. 



The Board will find the particulars of this case, and of that of Mr. Downer, in the 

 minutes of their thirty-fourth meeting ; and the committee beg to refer both cases to 

 the Board, for their decision as to whether, in either case, relief ought to be granted. 



The total amount expended on the building, and on the fencing of the lot, up to 

 this date, the 1st December, including superintendence and all incidental expenses 

 therewith connected, is $25,002.67, namely : 



Paid to Cameron, contractor $20,840 00 



Buckingham, supplying water to building 650 00 



Downer, for fence, $400 ; additional rail subsequently added, $60 ; 



whitewashing the same, $60 520 00 



For architect's office 200 00 



Coal bin 10 00 



38 



