REPORTS OP THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 599 



rough marble for the Smithsonian Institution, from the quarries in Baltimore county 

 to Washington, at a charge of 2£ cents per ton per mile for the whole distance. 



I regret that I cannot yet give you an answer. The period has now arrived for 

 the appointment, by our legislature, of directors of the company on the part of the 

 State, who will constitute a majority of the whole board. 



Expecting every day to hear of such appointment being made, the directors have 

 not deemed it expedient to enter at this moment into a contract which will last for 

 several years, and thereby forestall the action of their successors, should the Legisla- 

 ture think proper to make any changes in the board. 



This question will probably be settled before this day week, when I hope to be 

 prepared to give you the decision of the company. 



Hoping that this unavoidable delay may not be productive of any inconvenience 

 to the Regents of the Institution, or to the committee of that body with which you 

 are acting. 



I am, very respecfully, your obedient servant, 



CHAELES HOWARD, President. 



Hon. Robert Dale Owen, Chairman of Building Committee. 



The letter was laid on the table. 



« 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That, as the specifications were not furnished by the printers by the time 

 appointed by public advertisement, for the inspection of bidders, the time for receiv- 

 ing bids for the work specified in the advertisement of the Building Committee be 

 •extended from the 10th to the 15th instant. 



On motion, the committee adjourned. 



Fourth Meeting, March 6, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton, Hough, and Owen. 



Mr. Seaton laid before the committee a letter from Mr. Peter, owner of a quarry on 

 the margin of the canal, near the mouth of Seneca creek, as follows : 



Monte Video, near Darnestown, 

 Montgomery Co., Maryland, December 9, 1847. 



Dear Sir: Yours of the 5th instant was received by yesterday's mail, in which 

 you state that the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution have in their possession a 

 specimen of red sandstone, taken from my quarry, on the margin of the canal. I 

 am unable to determine from which particular quarry the specimen they have in their 

 possession was taken, as several have been opened, and there is a continuous line of a 

 mile in length of similar stone, equally convenient to the canal. 



The aqueduct at the mouth of Seneca creek, and many of the locks, both above 

 and below, are constructed of stone derived from my land. 



The jury, in condemning the quarries for the use of the canal company, allowed 

 me twenty-five cents a perch for the backings ; that is, all stone intended for cut 

 work, twenty-five cents — all calculated for hammered work, twelve and a half cents 

 a perch ; and for these prices would I grant permission to obtain stone for any pur- 

 pose. 



The excellence of the material — for it is capable of withstanding any exposure — 

 the facility with which it is obtained, and the ease with which it may be transported 

 \>y the canal to the spot where required, would, I should suppose, give it a decided 

 preference over any stone which could be brougbt in competition with it, for the pur- 

 poses of the Institution. 



As to quantity, it is unbounded, and in texture and shade a great variety ; and in 

 such a building as, I have no doubt, the Smithsonian Institution will be, would pre- 

 sent not only an appropriate, but a pleasing contrast with the other public edifices in 

 Washington. 



It would afford me great pleasure to see it selected by the Regents as the material 

 of which the edifice shall be constructed ; and the very liberal price at which it is 

 offered, may, I hope, have its influence in securing its adoption. 



It will afford me pleasure to answer any inquiry the Regents may desire to make 

 in relation to the stone, and to afford every facility to an agent, should they think 

 proper to send one, in making any examination. 



Yours, very respectfully, JOHN P. C. PETER. 



W. W. Seaton, Esq. 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That on the return of Dr. Owen from the marble quarries of Maryland, 



