708 REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



1. Finishing the necessary stairways for the lecture-room and gallery. 



2. Supporting the roof, so that the columns in the second story may he dispensed 

 with. 



3. Completing the interior finish, such as flooring, plastering, painting, &c. 



4. Fitting up the lecture-room with seats. 



The committee found great difficulty in deciding upon a proper position and plan 

 of a lecture-room, and, after much deliberation and frequent consultations, finally 

 concluded to place it in the second story, in the middle of the main building, where 

 the greatest width could be obtained. 



The original plan contemplated the placing of the large lecture-room on the first 

 floor ; but in this position it was impossible to procure a sufficient space, uninter- 

 rupted by large columns, which would materially interfere with the employment of 

 the room for the purpose intended. In endeavoring to overcome this difficulty, it was 

 at one time proposed to support the floor of the whole space of fifty feet in width by 

 means of heavy girders ; but this being considered unsafe, the idea was abandoned. 

 The only plan, therefore, at the option of the committee for providing a suitable 

 lecture-room, was that which has been adopted. According to the present income 

 and policy of the Institution, this is cheaper than any other plan proposed ; and 

 should the building ever be required for other purposes, such as an entire museum or 

 library, the division walls could easily be removed, and the whole space reconverted 

 into one large room. The plan adopted, therefore, makes the best provision for the 

 present wants of the Institution, and can readily be adapted to any proposed change 

 in the future application of the building. The whole of the first story has been 

 thrown into one large room, with arrangements for dividing it, if necessary, by 

 screens, into two apartments, with a central hall or wide passage between. 



The committee have kept constantly in view the idea of rendering the main build- 

 ing entirely fire-proof, and of constructing it in the most durable and substantial 

 manner. This they have been enabled to accomplish through the constant supervision 

 of Captain Alexander, who, as it appears to the committee, has successfully evinced 

 in this work a combination of practical skill and scientific knowledge. 



From a comparison of the work done with that which remains to be accomplished, 

 the architect is of opinion that, should nothing happen to prevent it, the building 

 will be finished during the present year, and at a cost within the estimate; conse- 

 quently, the $58,000 recommended to be set aside by the Executive Committee in 

 their last report, together with a portion of the income of the past year, will be suffi- 

 cient to defray all the expenses, and leave the $150,000 untouched. This refers, how- 

 ever, mainly to the completion of the building, and not to the furniture, which must 

 be purchased by degrees out of the accruing interest on the above-mentioned sum. 



At the last session of the Board of Eegents a resolution was adopted authorizing 

 the erection of a small building for a magnetic observatory. This structure has been 

 completed, and is now furnished with instruments, and will soon be in successful 

 operation. It consists of a small room twelve feet by sixteen, under ground, enclosed 

 by a nine-inch brick wall, within which the instruments are placed. This room is 

 surrounded by a rough stone wall, leaving a space of two feet in width on each side 

 to permit a free circulation of air, for keeping the interior apartment dry. Above 

 ground the structure is of wood, so finished as to correspond to some extent with the 

 architecture of the Smithsonian building, and consists principally of an entry and 

 one room sixteen feet square, to serve as an office and computing room for the 

 observer. The whole cost of this building is $1,578.28. The entire expenditure on 

 the building during the past year, exclusive of the magnetic observatory, is as follows : 



Pay on contracts $25,500 00 



Architect and draughtsmen ' 1,580 70 



Miscellaneous incidentals 261 84 



Furniture 471 16 





$27,813 70 



Kespectfully submitted. 



EICHAED EUSH, ) 



JOHjST W. MAURY, [ Building Committee. 



JOSEPH HENRY, J 



Report of the Building Committee for the year 1854. 



The Building Committee of the Smithsonian Institution presents the following 

 report of their operations and expenditures during the year 1854 : 



