BMilding and Grounds 257 



building-, and the perfect security that would be afforded to 

 the valuable collection that would be preserved in that por- 

 tion of the building". It was hoped that the towers would 

 be finished and roofed in during the winter, but this unfor- 

 tunately proved impossible. 



The construction of the interior of the main building was 

 continued during 1852, and the materials used were fire- 

 proof. 



It was during this year that the contract between the 

 Board of Regents and the builder was declared completed by 

 the architect. This included the finishing of the exterior of 

 the entire building, the interior of the exterior wings and 

 connecting ranges, and the interior of the towers, leaving 

 the whole interior of the main building to be finished. This 

 covered a space 200 feet long by 50 feet wide and about 60 

 feet hieh, to be divided into a basement and two stories. The 

 valuable services of Mr. Renwick were discontinued, and 

 Captain Barton S. Alexander, of the United States Engineer 

 Corps, was detailed to take charge of the construction. Cap- 

 tain Alexander promptly prepared plans for the completion 

 of the work. The consideration of these and the procuring 

 of estimates required some time, so that the new work did 

 not begin until June 13, 1853. 



In the Report for 1853 the building committee reported that 

 the roof had been temporarily secured, the wooden frame- 

 work which had occupied the interior of the building re- 

 moved, and that an excavation had been made for a cellar. 

 It was further reported that the foundation walls, piers, and 

 arches of a large basement had been completed ; piers built 

 in the main story, and, in fact, about nine-tenths of the brick- 

 work finished as well, leaving as unfinished work the neces- 

 sary stairways for lecture-room and gallery, the supporting 

 of the roof in such a manner as to do away with the columns 



