REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 675 



seal, and the said Building Committee, on behalf of the said Institution, have here- 

 unto subscribed their names, the day and year aforewritten. 



C. BUCKINGHAM, [l. s.] 



ROBERT DALE OWEN, ) 



J. G. TOTTEN, \ Building Committee. 



W. W. SEATOJST, J 



The chairman presented from Mr. Randolph Coyle, city surveyor, a chart of the 

 grounds belonging to the Institution, crossed with lines of equal levels marked at 

 each crossing of one hundred feet. 



Ordered, That the above chart be preserved as a record of levels, by inserting it in 

 the journal of the committee. 



The chairman stated to the committee that he had waited upon the President, in 

 accordance with the resolution of yesterday, and expressed to him the desire of the 

 committee that he would consent to lay the corner-stone of the Smithsonian build- 

 ing ; and that he, the President, has expressed his willingness to do so. 



The chairman further informed the committee that the President stated to him that 

 he (the President) would order the attendance of the marine band on the occasion. 



The chairman stated to the committee that he had waited upon the Vice President, 

 in accordance with the resolution passed yesterday, and that he (the Vice President) 

 promised, if he could so arrange his business, to attend on the occasion of laying the 

 foundation-stone of the Smithsonian building, and to deliver a brief address on that 

 occasion. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Twenty-Eighth Meeting, April 16, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The letter of Mr. Joel Downer, carpenter, dated April 8th, and submitted to the 

 committee at their twenty-second meeting, coming up for consideration, Mr. Owen 

 submitted a contract which he had prepared in accordance with the offer made by 

 Mr. Downer for the erection of a temporary fence around the grounds of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and which he stated to the committee had been submitted to the 

 superintendent and Mr. Downer, and had been approved by them. 



The said contract was approved, and signed by the committee and by Mr. Downer, 

 and is as follows : 



This agreement, made the 16th of April, 1847, between Joel Downer, of the city of 

 Washington, of the first part, and the Building Committee of the Smithsonian 

 Institution of the second part, witnesseth : 



That for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars, to be by the 

 party of the second part paid to the party of the first part, as hereinafter provided, 

 the party of the first part agrees to fence in the lot or plat of land belonging to the 

 said Smithsonian Institution, and situated on that portion of the mall which lies 

 between 9th and 12th streets, containing 19 acres or thereabout; the said fence to be 

 made in the most substantial and workmanlike manner, and to be completed in one 

 month from the date of this agreement. And the said party of the first part agrees 

 that the said fence shall be of sawed paling, of the best quality that comes to the 

 Washington market, each paling to be about three inches wide, and to be nailed on 

 the rails with three nailings, and six nails to each paling, and the pailings not more 

 than two and a half inches apart. 



And the said party of the first part further agrees, that the said fence shall have a 

 bottom board averaging twelve inches in width, firmly nailed on, and the ground 

 levelled up to the bottom of the same. 



And the said party of the first part further agrees that the said fence shall be from 

 five feet eight inches to six feet high, and that the posts shall be well and securely set 

 in the ground, and that the fence shall stand, as nearly as convenient, on the boundary 

 of the said lot, except on the north side ; on which north side the fence shall be 

 placed fifteen feet north of the boundary-line of the land of the said Institution. 

 And the said party of the first part agrees that he will furnish all the materials what- 

 ever for the said fence : Provided, however, That the posts and rails now standing on 

 12th street and on B street south may be used by the said party of the first part. 

 And provided further, That in case the Commissioner of Public Buildings consent 

 thereto, the posts and rails now standing on such portion of the mall as lies between 



