reputable builders to submit proposals for constructing, jthe 
building in continuation of the work already done last-vear;4he j 
bids to specify the cost of separate sections of the'edif^/^h'e^stf _ 
including the setting of the beams of the museum floor; the 
second , the first gallery; the third , the second gallery of the 
museum; the fourth , the walls up to the cornice, and the fifth, 
inclosing the building with the roof; and in like manner to in¬ 
vite separate proposals from four iron manufacturers for the 
iron work required in the construction of floors, roof, etc. 
April 21st the Committee considered the several proposals 
received and awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders. 
Some of the piers which had been constructed late in the 
season last year had to be taken down and rebuilt, because the 
mortar had frozen. This circumstance somewhat delayed the 
commencement of new work this year. 
June 2d, a contract for the iron-work required in construc¬ 
tion up to and including the beams for the museum floor was 
made with the Phoenix Iron Company for $20,735 52. And, 
June 10th, a contract to continue the construction up to and 
including the setting of the beams of the museum floor was 
made with William Armstrong for $21,250. The aggregate of 
these contracts is $41,985 52, or $1014 48 less than the amount 
appropriated by the Board of Trustees. 
The walls have been built twenty feet above the water table. 
The iron beams of the first or library floor, of the entresol floor, 
and of the museum floor have been laid, and the structure 
covered for the winter. The walls have to be built twenty- 
nine feet higher before they will be ready to receive the roof. 
To inclose the building with a fire-proof roof will cost, ac¬ 
cording to the lowest bids made, $77,664 48, or in round num¬ 
bers $78,000. And to complete the interior of this wing will 
require, it is estimated, $76,500 more, or in round numbers a 
total of $154,500. 
If the work can be resumed early in the coming spring the 
edifice can be completed and ready for the reception of the 
collections by the first of May, 1875. To transfer them from 
the old building and properly arrange them in the new one will 
