REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 711 



satisfaction of the architect for $3,500. This sum includes hoth the finishing of the 

 large room below and the apartments of the Secretary above. 



The grounds around the building have been kept in repair under the direction of 

 the Secretary of the Interior, and it is hoped that an appropriation by Congress will 

 enable this officer to complete the design of Mr. Downing for the general improve- 

 ment of the "Mall, and the supply of specimens of our native forest trees which may 

 be used for ornamental purposes. 



The whole amount paid on account of the building during the last year, including 

 furniture and fixtures and grounds, is $19,312.87, which added to the sum previously 

 paid for the same objects as stated in the last report, (5299,414.14,) will make 

 $318,727.01. Of this sum $308,184.49 are for the building and grounds; and if to 

 this we add $4,569.10 due the contractor, and about $1,000 clue on gas fitting, fixtures, 

 <fcc, the whole amount expended on building and grounds, exclusive of furniture, 

 will be $313,753.59. The whole cost of the building was at one time limited to 

 $250,000; but this limitation was made with the intention of finishing the interior of 

 the main edifice in wood and plaster. This plan was afterwards abandoned, and one 

 in which fire-proof materials were employed was substituted. 



A statement on file from Capt. Alexander gives in detail the work done and the 

 payments made thereon from the time he took charge of the work until its final com- 

 pletion. According to this, the whole amount paid for completing the interior of 

 the main building in fire-proof materials is $79,684.17. This sum is much larger 

 than his original estimate ; the cause of the difference, as stated by himself, being 3 as 

 follows : 



" It is due in part to the rise in the prices of materials and labor, but principally 

 to the execution of many improvements which were not originally contemplated, but 

 which it was thought best to make during the prosecution of the work. These 

 improvements were the sewers for drainage ; the cisterns for supplying water ; the 

 substitution of stone for iron stairs ; the making of new sashes for many of the 

 windows ; the strengthening and in part reconstruction of the roof of the main build- 

 ing ; putting in copper gutters and leaders on the towers, besides other alterations 

 and additions tending to swell the cost of the work." 



So many changes had been made in the plan of finishing the interior, and such 

 different materials had been employed, that it was impossible to be guided by the 

 original bid of the contractor, and therefore the committee were obliged to be gov- 

 erned entirely by the estimate of the architect. They, however, took the precaution 

 to submit his award to Capt. Meigs, superintendent of the Capitol extension, who, 

 under the circumstances of the case, expressed his approval of it. 



Though the building is finished, an annual appropriation will be required for 

 repairs and the substitution on parts of the roofs of the ranges and wings, of copper 

 in place of tin. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



EICHAED RUSH, ] 



W. H. ENGLISH, | R .... n ... 



JNO T TOWEFS c-" ui ^ tn ff Committee. 



JOSEPH HENEY,' 



Report of the Building Committee for the year 1856. 



The Building Committee of the Smithsonian Institution present the following 

 report of their operations and expenditures during the year 1856 : 



At the date of the last report of the committee, the building was considered finished, 

 but it has been thought best, during the past year, to make a series of additional 

 drains from the principal windows and doors of the basement to the main sewer, 

 which passes under ground from the extreme east end of the building along the 

 middle of the cellar to the west end of the principal edifice, and thence through the 

 grounds to another sewer emptying into the canal. The length of these additional 

 drains in the aggregate amounts to about seven hundred and thirty-three feet. They 

 were necessary to carry off the water which descends through the spouts from the 

 roof, and the rain which falls into the sunken spaces exterior to the windows and 

 doors of the basement. They are constructed of brick, and supplied in each case 

 with a trap to prevent the escape of offensive effluvia. 



During the last summer, according to the statement of the Secretary, a very dis- 

 agreeable odor was perceived in the east wing of the building, which was readily 

 traced to the main sewer. It was observed to be more intense at certain times than 

 at others, and after considerable examination was found to depend on the tide wave 



