254 The Smithsonian Institution 



William W. Seaton, and General J. G. Totten. 1 This com- 

 mittee, having been empowered to enter into contracts for the 

 completion of the building, began its sessions February 1 7, 

 1847, and within thirty days had decided upon the materials 

 to be used, and awarded the contract for building. 



It was at first intended that the plan should be executed 

 in white marble. The quarries at Cockeysville, Maryland, 

 whence was procured the stone used in building the Wash- 

 ington Monument, were carefully examined with this in view. 

 Other quarries and materials were also considered, and about 

 twenty-five different samples were tested with reference to 

 their weathering qualities by Professor Charles G. Page. 

 Doctor David Dale Owen, of Indiana, was invited to Wash- 

 ington to make surveys of the marble quarries in Baltimore 

 County, and the sandstone quarries in Montgomery County, 

 Maryland. Doctor Owen reported that the brown freestone 

 obtained in the neighborhood of Seneca Creek, on the Poto- 

 mac river, about twenty-one and a half miles from Washing- 

 ton, was of great beauty and durability, and he strongly re- 

 commended its use. This was found to be attended with so 

 much economy that it was finally decided upon ; the offer 

 of the lowest bidder for construction having been $205,250 

 for the building in Seneca ashlar, while white marble ashlar 

 would have cost $23,000 more. 



The journal of the building committee for the year shows 

 that between February 17 and November 26 it held forty-one 

 meetings. Its transactions are reported with great minute- 

 ness in the appendix to the second report of the Board of 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 2 and also in the vol- 



1 During General Totten's absence in Mex- Smithsonian Institution, January 6, 1848; 

 ico in the early part of the year, his place Thirtieth Congress, First Session, Senate Mis- 

 upon the committee was taken by Mr. Wil- cellaneous Document, No. 23. The report of 

 liam J. Hough. the building Committee is contained in this 



2 Report of the Board of Regents of the volume and forms pages 4-156. This report 



