REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 611 



building stone, carefully broken, and placed upon tbe cars at Cockeysville — at the 

 rate of one dollar and eighty-seven cents per perch of twenty-five feet ; or, at one 

 dollar and twenty cents per ton, as weighed by the railroad. 



I will agree, also, to furnish the dimension stone in the block, and no block to con- 

 tain less than two cubic feet, at the rate of sixty cents per cubic foot, and placed on 

 the cars at the above-mentioned place ; or, by the ton, at six dollars per ton, as taken 

 from the quarry ; if the stone should be wrought at the quarry, and the carved work 

 completed there, then an addition of fifty cents per ton will be charged on all stone 

 so worked, to be delivered say in the course of three years, or as may be required. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



SAM'L WOETHINGTON. 



Messrs. Kobebt Dale Owen, and others, 



Building Committee, Smithsonian Institution. 



Mr. Hough, from the sub-committee to whom were referred the specifications of 

 the architect, (James Kenwick, Jr.,) for the building for said Institution, made the 

 following report : 



To the Building Committee of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Gentlemen : I have carefully examined the specifications of the architect, ( Ja'mes 

 Kenwick, Jr., Esq.,) for the building of said Institution, and find them elaboratelv 

 and minutely drawn, both in reference to detail of the work and permanence and 

 durability of the structure. Few, if any/ omissions can be discovered, and but few 

 alterations seem to be required for the permanence and durability of the edifice, or 

 for its better security against destruction by fire. 



It has been suggested by one of the committee, that the width and depth of the 

 foundation trenches, and, as a consequence, the foundation walls, might with safety 

 be diminished, the inverted arches and the concrete foundations be entirely dispensed 

 with, and consequently with a considerable saving of expense. 



In such a conclusion I cannot, without further information, concur. 



"Whether its foundation trenches may or may not be diminished in depth, will, in 

 in my opinion, depend upon the peculiar formation or strata of the earth, which can 

 only be determined by making the necessary borings or excavations. 



If, upon experiment, the strata shall be found to consist of firm indurated clay or 

 gravel of sufficient depth for permanence, the depth may be diminished ; otherwise, 

 not. 



But in no event could I recommend a diminution of width ; nor would I dispense 

 with either the inverted arches or the concrete foundation ; deeming both very essen- 

 tial in preventing an unequal settlement and cracking of the walls of the edifice. I 

 consider the concrete much better adapted to permanence of foundation than any 

 ordinary structure of rock alone, and in no respect more expensive ; and, in so pond- 

 erous a structure, all architects and constructors of experience concur in recommend- 

 ing inverted arches to preserve a uniformity of settling between the openings and 

 solids of the building. I would, however, recommend a reservation in the contract 

 for the construction of the building, of the right to diminish the depth of the founda- 

 tions, with a pro rata reduction of price, in case the strata or character of the earth 

 shall be found to admit of it in the opinion of the architect. It may be found, also, 

 that the thickness of the walls of some of the towers, and perhaps the walls of the 

 buildings throughout, may with safety be diminished; and I would recommend a 

 like reservation in the contract to meet this contingency also. 



The idea of constructing the principal stairs in such an edifice with wood, does not, 

 in my estimation, well comport with public opinion, either as to permanence, dura- 

 bility, and appearance, or with the character of the age in which the edifice is to be 

 erected. 



I recommend, therefore, without hesitation, if the funds will possibly admit of it, 

 that the principal stairs of both the north and south central entrances to the princi- 

 pal building be constructed of stone, as high, at least, as the museum floor. 



I also recommend that the wood tesselated floor of the museum be dispensed with, 

 and that, instead thereof, there be a single floor of 1^-inch yellow pine plank, with 

 the intention of covering it with stone or composition flagging at a future day ; or, 

 what I would deem preferable, dispense with the wood floor altogether at first, and 

 raise the deafening above so as to cover the floor-beams, upon which lay a floor of 

 stone flagging. This it is believed may be done at a small expense over the wood 

 Mosaic, be greatly more secure against fire, and require much less expense in clean- 

 ing and repairs. 



I would also recommend as a security against fire in case of the burning of the 



