698 REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



Furnaces for warm air, registers, &c., already contracted for — 



sav $600 



$18,530 



Which amount of $18,530, deducted from the above sum of $44,750 leaves, 



applicable to other objects of the same nature, the sum of 26,220 



Two or three other small expenditures may be set down as admitting spe- 

 cific and close estimate, viz : 



Two chimneys to east wing, being extra work already done, and 



which, in the opinion of the architect, should be allowed 400 



Sodding ground near building, estimated at 100 



Deducting this total, viz : 500 



There still remains the sum of $25,720 



Some of the matters to which attention is addressed as having claims upon this 

 sum, are : the addition of other battlements to cloisters ; of a clerestory to the 

 museum ; the substitution of flights of iron for wooden steps in the towers ; other 

 hot-air furnaces ; registers for ventilation ; gateways into the grounds ; additional 

 trees and shrubs ; making roads and paths', &c, &c, &c. These objects, some indis- 

 pensable, others more or less urgent, all conducive to utility, permanence, beauty, or 

 convenience, will be decided on by the committee under the authority with which 

 they consider themselves intrusted, and as occasion shall arise, only after mature 

 deliberation on careful estimates in detail, and in a spirit of strict economy. The 

 committee, above all things, intend to keep an earnest regard upon the pecuniary 

 limits set to their operations, and to allow no transgression thereof, either by actual 

 expenditure, or by engagements, or pledges. 



A few words remain to be added in explanation of the extra work and alterations 

 of plan alluded to in the preceding statements: as to which it is due to the architect 

 to premise that these have not been caused by any omissions in the specifications of 

 the contract. One item is for facing the areas with cut-stone — the contract having 

 provided a facing of good blue Potomac gneiss. The change was adopted because it 

 was thought that a stone facing of the same material as the face of the superstructure 

 would be more harmonious with, and conducive to, the general effect of the exterior 

 of the structure. 



2. Battlements of cloisters. — After the cloisters of the east wing were completed, it 

 became evident to the architect that from the comparatively low situation of the 

 building, the roofs were too conspicuous, and should be concealed by an appropriate 

 battlement. He therefore advised, and the committee sanctioned, the expenditure of 

 $200 for the battlements of the eastern cloister. The committee has yet to act upon 

 a like suggestion as to the western range. 



3. Two extra chimneys in the east wing were added by the Building Committee 

 after the plans were made, but before the contracts were signed. Mr. Cameron 

 states that he was not aware of this addition, as it was made after he had completed 

 his estimate ; and the architect is therefore of opinion that his claim of extra com- 

 pensation is just and equitable. 



JOS. G. TOTTEN. 

 W. W. SEATON. 

 HENRY W. HILLIAED. 

 Washington, December 31, 1848. 



Report of the Building Committee for the year 1849. 



Washington, January 2, 1850. 

 The Building Committee have the honor to report as follows : 



In the great desire of the contractor to get the whole Smithsonian building under 

 roof before winter, the progress thereon during the year just elapsed has been rapid 

 — that object having been fully attained before the occurrence of severe weather. 

 The Building Committee deemed this result so important for the protection of a 

 large amount of masonry and wood work, that they participated in this desire of the 

 contractor ; and did not hesitate to permit an expenditure on the building somewhat 

 larger than the year would have been entitled to under the project of extending the 

 process of construction through a period of five years. It must not, however, be 



