REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 699 



supposed that the expenditures have exceeded the portion of the building fund liable 

 to expenditure under existing resolutions. The portion of this fund thus liable up 

 to the 19th of March next, reckoning from the beginning, is $140,000 ; the aggregate 

 expenditure on building and grounds now falls short of that sum $10,678.83— which 

 last sum must therefore be the limit of expenditure in the interim— that is to sav 

 from the 1st of January to the 19th March, 1850. ' 



Should the Board of Kegents leave the project of a five-years course of construction 

 undisturbed, it will be necessary to lessen, for the next two years, the rate of expendi- 

 ture on the building. On the other hand, should circumstances lead the board to 

 -desire an earlier completion than has heretofore been contemplated, the advanced state 

 of the bnilding resulting from the labors of the past year will be in lucky accordance 

 with such change of policy. 



Besides carrying up the walls of the main cell of the building, and finishing its 

 roof, the central front towers and the four corner towers of the main buildin^are 

 •carried up as high as the walls of the main building — the central rear tower beino- 30 

 feet high. & 



The architect reports that the stones for the unfinished portions of the building are 

 nearly all quarried ; and that the stone-cutting for the campanile south, and two 

 north towers, is nearly completed. 



The east and west wings, and ranges, are finished, except some few matters of 

 detail, and are ready for occupation. The workmen are now fitting the west wing 

 with book-cases, for a temporary library ; and the west connecting range, for uses 

 •connected with the library. 



During the past year, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Institution, 

 and under the advice of the architect, the committee have caused the following alter- 

 ations to be made in the interior arrangement of the building : 



The original lecture-room, in the east wing, proving to be entirely too small, the 

 adjoining apparatus and laboratory rooms were removed, and the whole win"- formed 

 into one large lecture-room, provided with seats for one thousand persons. By this 

 arrangement, the apparatus rooms in the east connecting range are in close proximity 

 with the lecturers' table ; with which, also, direct and easy communication will be 

 had from the large apparatus museum mentioned in the sequel. 



This lecture-room, thus enlarged, being capable of containing as many persons as 

 the lecture-room which was originally designed to occupy about half the' lower story 

 of the main building, the latter has been dispensed with, and the space thus obtained 

 divided — giving a room of 65 X 50 feet as a depository of physical apparatus, and 

 throwing the remaining space into the library. 



Besides a manifest gain of useful room by this alteration, it tends to security against 

 fire — since the lecture-room, and the researches and experiments connected with it, 

 will be in a separate wing, easily cut off from all the other parts of the structure, by 

 iire-proof doors of iron. 



Another change of internal arrangement is as follows : The two stairways, that in 

 the original plan were carried up between the middle north front towers and the 

 main building, have been dispensed with, and the space they occupied added to the 

 library ; as also the central hall ; and, as before said, a portion of the former lecture- 

 room. By these several alterations, the library has been nearly doubled in area, and 

 a spacious museum obtained for physical apparatus. The central staircase of the 

 north front will now be carried up within one of the front towers. 



The changes above mentioned in the interior of the building will be accomplished, 

 on agreement with the contractor, at an extra cost of $100. 



It must be considered, however, that the large addition to the library room will 

 require a large addition to the library equipment and furniture. But as it must be 

 many years before the contents of the library can spread beyond its limits, as first 

 planned, and provided for in the contract, the committee would consider it unwise 

 now to incur any portion of this considerable expense. 



A clerestory to the long upper room, or museum, of the centre building, has been 

 adopted by the committee. The architect states that this was originally contemplated 

 by him, and was explained at the time the contract was made. The committee under- 

 stand that the adoption of the recommendation was left to further consideration. 

 They were satisfied, however, that it was a necessary modification ; the great length 

 of this room — nearly 200 feet— being out of all proportion to the low pitch of 27 

 feet, originally contracted for. The additional amount for which Mr. Cameron, the 

 contractor, engages to carry out this improvement, is $2,350. 



No other alterations have been made in the building, and the committee think no 

 others will be needed : none, at least, that will involve much expense 



The arrangement of the west wing and range for a temporary library and reading- 



