The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
Smithsonian Institution.


SIR The undersigned, appointed by the board of re-
gents of the Smithsonian Institution, committee to pro-
cure the introduction into Congress, if they deem il ex-
pedient of bill amendatory of the act organizing the
sttution have in dischagng the duty assigned them.
had brought under their consideration the subject treated
of in an editorial published in the Union of February
And they beg leave to Offer in reply few remarks and
a brief statement of their intentions, in the premises.
| The building committee of the Smithsonian Institution
have already exonerated the board from all responsibility
connected with the selection OF site the mall pref
erence to in the pOpulous portion OF the city;
choice being in fact left to the board since suitable
unoccuped square is be found the entire plan of the
city this side of the canal and, with other powers
than those contained in the act organizing the institution,
no site already occupied cou be purchased by the nst
tuition.
There is site the most eligible, probably in the city,
for our institution that OF the present City Hall 1t has
been represented TO the undersigned, that it would be
most desirable the of public convenience, if it
could be procured. They concur in this opinion In the
immediate vicinity OF the principal hotels and board
ing houses comprising emnence whence the ground
gradually falls OF in all directions in healthy portion of
the city, utility and appearance would be equally
suited in selecting it. But it the occupation of the
city, and while the present building remains upon il, il
can properly receive no other public edihce. Without
the concurrent action of Congress and of the city copor
alton it cannot be obtained site for the Smithsonian
Institution.
The undersigned however, having had their attention
called this subject only by the article which they
replying but by other similar representations, after
tuey considering the subject have resolved to endeavor
obtain such concurrent action. They examined the plan
of the present City Hall, the same of which model
stands in the corridor of that hail. and of which the build
ing now erected but small part and that too, unfnish
ed announcement and unsghty They ascertaned that this
fraction of the plan, bald and gloomy is adapted
G p ho amG b on ef OF Its
fury has stood, have been atempted) has cost ninety
thousand dollars and they found the estimate for Its
completion be three hundred and ten thousand dollars
That it will ever be completed, no one believes
Congress will not and the city cannot furnish the means
To give the fraction that now stands decent
reputable fnsh would cost fifty sixty thousand dol
lars and though its present diapdated condon-most
dscreditable both to the city and the governmenmay
seem loudly to demand some action, yet il is doubtful
whether Congress will ever expend that amount
unpromising and expensive an object.
Nor the present SHE'LL great has been its cost prof
table any more than ornamental It brings little or no
undersigned came to the CONCLUSION that sum, say OF
fifty thousand dollars, would probably be sufficient in
ducemen to the city authorities to abandon building
they can hope to complete, and which, unfinished
as It stands is eyesore and reproachinasmuch as
with that sum- they could put up, on the Centre Market
space, plain building sufficient to Afford in its upper
story, the accommodations required well by the Uni
ted States circuit court and its officers as by the city
horities while its lower story might furnish market
stalls and stores that would rent Tor many thousand dol
lars annually.
The undersigned were also Of opinion, that, consider
ing the advantages OF the City Hall site the Smithso
Man institution SO far regards its usefulness in con-
nexon with Its library its collections and Its lectures the
institution might properly and prudenty give for the
materials of the City Hall, Their full yalue-say fifteen
thousand dollars.
II these views be correct the only remaining difficulty
regards the hrtyve thousand dollars necessary to make
up 10 the city the full of fifty thousand dollars
And this the undersigned believe to be just and
pedient that Congress should appropriate provided the
corporation will bind itself to furnish, in their new build
ing, sufficient accommodation for the United States cir
c, court officers and records just because the gem
era has already for the sum Of ten thousand
ago had the use of nearly half the City Hall for its
courts throughout all that term OF years, and therefore
ought to furnish further means to procure the
commodation necessary for that purposes and expe-
dent because the present City Hall, which cannot for
very shame, be left without repair finish much
longer, will from the necessity of the case, while it
stands, remain permanent ground OF claim the gov
eminent; and because any repairs worth making on ii
at ALL would exceed the here proposed TO be appro
prated The cheapest thing that can be done with the
City Hail. both regards the city and the government
is, the undersigned believe, to get rid OF it. And If, on
its site building arise, reputable, to say nothing
of architectural beauty, and commenced with funds, and
upon scale that nsures its speedy completion should
count for something it only the score OF appearance
and national reputation that gloomy and meaninsless
and sloyeny pile has been replaced by object that will
strike pleasantly the eye OF the traveller as he ap
proaches this metropolis
Governed by considerations such as these the under
signed in view of the fact that whatever is done in this
matter must be done at this session of Congress,
have decided in discharge OF the duty assigned them by
the board to introduce into Congress, without delay,
bill, of which the following is a copy
AN ACT to authorize the regents of the Smithsonian ns-
tuition, purchase for the use of said institution of
the eorpefaton Of the city of Washington, the City Hail.
BE ID enacted By the Senate and House of Representatives.
Of tho United States Of Anricn in Congress assembled That
the regents of the Smithsonian Institution be- and they
city Of Washington alt the right tile and interest Of the
said corporation in and the City Hall of the said city,
subject however, 10 the conditions and provisions herein
ter specified; Provided That the corporation SHALL
before the tenth day OF March next enter into bond, with
sufficient sueties to be approved by the Attorney General
of the United States, that they will the Market
space, between 7t and 9th streets west and between
| Pennsylvania avenue and street north suitable and
conmodious building, in which there shall be included
such apartments may be necessary for the
mediation of the circuit of the United for the county
of the grand and petit jurors of the said county,
for offices of the clerk of the said court and the marshall
of said district, and for the preservation and security of the
books papers, and records OF the said and that they
may contain the apartments and accommodations aore-
said and shall prepare the for the said and of
fees before the tenth day of March, S4S And upon
such purchase being completed the said corporation shall
release and forever quit claim the said Smithsonian
institution all the right and title of the sai ton mn
to the said City Hail. an mo ssion and occupation
49,, or square which the same now stands. -,
SEC g. And be ii further enacted, That so soon us the salo
bond and release shall be executed by the said
and sufficient evidence thereof be laid before the President
of United States, the President be- and he Is hereby a
thorzed grant the said corporation the right 70 oc
cupy and improve for public purposes, all or any portion
including the market space, lying between Seventh ana
Ninth streets and bounded the north by the ouh
line of Pennsylvania avenue and the south by the north
line of b north. And them and in that casc there
shall also paid the corporaon towards the erection OF
the building provided the first section oil tins act ue
ann of thirty thousand dollars which sum hereby appo-
pated Of any money in the treasury not Otherwise
pronr,,ed and the said of thy-iive thousand dol
lars il hereby declared to be full of the apartments ana
accom- modaons specified in the first section this act
and the said apartments and accommodations shal forever
remain subject the occupation OF the courts ana 'he
offices aforesaid 49,
ssrc 3 And be IL further enacted That Of the ex-