692 REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



Thirty-seventh Meeting, October, 22, 1847. 

 [Held on the site of the Institution.] 



Present, Messrs. Seaton, Totten, and Owen. 



Kepresentations having been made to the committee by sundry individuals, in 

 regard to the insufficient quality of some of the materials employed by the contractor 

 in the building, they proceeded to the building, and after carefully examining the 

 materials complained ot, they decided that, although there were some pieces of timber 

 in the east connecting range which were not merchantable, these were not of such a 

 character, nor so placed, that any practical injury would result to the structure from 

 their use ; and, therefore, the committee decided that it was not necessary to condemn 

 or remove them. They instructed the architect, however, for the future to throw 

 out every piece of timber, no matter how unimportant its destination, which was not 

 strictly merchantable. 



The committee fully approved all the other materials used in the building. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Thirty-eighth Meeting," October 26, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The chairman informed the committee that he had visited, in company with the 

 architect and contractor, the several quarries of Bull Kun from which material is now 

 getting out for the building, and had inspected the blocks prepared for transporta- 

 tion, of which a large number had accumulated in the quarry in consequence of the 

 injury done to the canal by the freshet several weeks since. He was completely 

 satisfied with the quality and color of all that had been quarried. The stone quarries 

 with remarkable facility, and with such regularity that the face, as it splits, is often 

 smooth, and regular enough to resemble stone roughly dressed for the external face 

 of a building. It resembles in this respect the granite described by Dr. Owen, 

 and is quarried in the same manner. 



As to the quantity, it seems, as the quarries open, to be absolutely inexhaustible ; the 

 representations of Mr. Dixon, former contractor, to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 The contractor proposes to open another quarry, immediately on the bank of the 

 canal, and some 300 or 400 yards nearer Seneca creek than that which has heretofore 

 furnished material ; in which new quarry the face of the rock, so far as it is dis- 

 closed, promises even a better quality and color than that in the old ; while the trans- 

 portation from the quarry to the scow will be greatly shortened. 



Nothing can be more satisfactory than the aspect of these quarries, the facility 

 with which they are worked, the grain and tint of the material they have furnished, 

 and their promise for the future. 



On motion, the committee adjourned. 



Thirty-ninth Meeting, November 1, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton, Totten, and Owen. 



The chairman submitted the first chapter of the work which, in accordance with a 

 resolution of the committee he is preparing, on Public Architecture. 



It was approved. 



The chairman, in connection with the preparation of the said work, stated to the 

 committee his intention to visit New York in a few days, as well to examine the 

 illustrations now in progress, and put others in hand, as to consult authorities not to 

 be found in this city. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Fortieth Meeting, November 9, 184 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



On motion of the chairman, it was — 



Resolved, That the architect be requested to cause to be prepared, so as to be ready 

 next summer, the furniture of the Regents' room, as set down in the specifications, 

 to wit: eighteen chairs and a table ; and that he cause also to be made, as furniture 

 for the Secretary's room, and to be ready at the same time, a desk, six chairs, and a 

 small centre table. 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the remuneration of William McPeak, messenger, be, from the 

 date of his last payment, to wit : the second of August last, seven dollars per week. 



