26 
Brooklyn, for use as a botanic garden and arboretum, and the 
Institute was authorized to expend the principal or interest of 
its endowment fund of $50,000 for the purchase of plants, 
flowers, and trees, or for other purposes in connection with said 
botanic garden and arboretum. (See Appendix I, p. 75. 
Building Operations 
As stated in the first annual report (Brooklyn Bot. Gard. 
RkcorD 1:26. 1912), the lowest bid received for the construction 
of the first section of our laboratory building and plant houses 
was that of Cockerill & Little Co., $55,800. This was $3,765 in 
excess of the architects’ estimate. On January 4, 1912, a resolu- 
tion was adopted by the board of estimate and apportionment 
(City Record 40: 256. 11 Ja 1912), approving of $55,800 as a 
new estimate of cost, and on January 18 the contract was 
awarded to Cockerill & Little Co. by the board of park com- 
missioners. ‘The contractors were directed to begin work on 
April 1, and to complete the same in 150 working days. On 
April 2 the site of the buildings was surveyed, and excavation 
began on April 8. 
Work progressed until the latter part of August, when 
there followed a delay lasting about four months. This was 
attributed by the contractors chiefly to the failure of subcon- 
tractors to deliver the steel work for the roof. Work was not 
resumed until December 9. On December 17 the work of en- 
closing the first section (northeast wing) of the conservatories 
was completed. 
The 150 working days originally allowed for completing the 
work expired on November 7, and the contractors were granted 
an extension of time of 90 working days. This extension, 
counting out Sundays and holidays, would bring the period to a 
close on about March 1, and with additional allowances for bad 
weather, to about April 1, 1913. 
Second Section of the Conservatories 
During the year plans and specifications for the second 
section (the central palm house) of the conservatories were 
prepared by the architects, were advertised for bidding, and bids 
were opened on October 17. The highest bid was $31,000, from 
the contractors for the first section, Cockerill & Little Co.; the 
