REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 667 



Specimens referred to in the foregoing report 



No. 26. Major Brooks' quarry, lower beds. 



No. 27. Symington's island quarry. 



No. 28. United States island quarry. 



No. 29. Beard's quarry on Eocky run. 



No. 30. TWson's Beech quarry. 



No. 31. Bobinson's quarry, owned by Galehorn. 



No. 32. Towson's quarry, near his house. 



No. 33. Peggy Norman's quarry on Jackson's branch. 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the material for the external walls 'of the building be freestone, of 

 the lilac-gray color, similar to specimen No. 19 of Dr. Owen's report on the free- 

 stones of Seneca creek, and that none be used darker than that specimen ; to be 

 taken either from Bull Bun quarry or from any other contiguous quarry furnishing 

 freestone of the same color and of equal quality. 



Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be furnished to the contractors, and that 

 specimen No. 19, above referred to, be carefully preserved for reference. 



Resolved, That if two wells be opened by the contractors, of such size and descrip- 

 tion and in such spots as may be designated by the architect, the committee will 

 allow for them, when the building is completed, whatever they may then be worth. 



Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be furnished to the contractors. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



, Twentieth Meeting, March 31, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The chairman laid before the committee the following letter, in reply to that 

 addressed by him to the President of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company : 



Frederick, March 29, 1847. 



Sir : Your letter of the 25th instant, making inquiry whether the Chesapeake and 

 Ohio Canal Company would consent to reduce the rates of toll on stone, "so far as 

 regards the buildings of the Smithsonian Institution," has been received, and I will 

 present it to the consideration of the board of president and directors at their next 

 meeting, on the 7th of April, and communicate to you their answer. 



I would here, however, merely remark, that the toll charged on stone at present 

 on the canal is 1 cent per perch per mile for twenty miles, and 1J cent per perch per 

 mile for any greater distance it may be carried; and that with'their rates and the 

 usual charge made by boatmen for transporting it, the cost by the canal would, I 

 think, be less than by the railroad, even at the reduced charge mentioned in your 

 letter. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. M. COALE, 

 President of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company. 



To the Hon. Kobert Dale Owen. 



On motion of Mr. Owen, it was — 



Resolved, That Mr. Seaton be a sub-committee to see the Commissioner of Public 

 Buildings, and endeavor to procure from him permission for the contractors to use 

 the remains of the old fence standing on such portions of the Mall between Seventh 

 and Twelfth streets as is not included in the site of the Institution. 



Mr. Owen stated to the committee that it was his intention to proceed to-morrow 

 to New York, for the purpose of making preliminary arrangements regarding the 

 preparation and publication of the work on "Public Architecture" intrusted to 

 nim as per resolution passed by this committee on the 6th instant, and that he would 

 take that opportunity of communicating with the several presidents of the railroad 

 ■companies between Washington and New York, and endeavor to procure a free 

 ticket on those roads for the architect of the Institution. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Twenty-first Meeting, April 6, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



Mr. Owen having returned from New York, made, in regard to his proceedings 

 there, the following report : 



After conversing with the principal publishers in New York, in regard to the 



