The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-06

Repotto The houses of Congress from the Board of
regents Su6mnng 10 nat body e operations, erpe'i-
ditures, and condition. Of the Smithsonian Institution
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives. of the United
States
In obedience the act of Congress 50 establish the
Smithsonian Institution Tor the increase and diffusion OF
knowledge among men, the Board Of Regents herewith
and condition OF the Institution, with sundy accompany
ing documents.
These documents embrace complete record as well of
the operations of the institution since the date OF the last
annual report 70 ooaEre,s as OF y, expenditures and oil Its
No l. Report of the Building Comittee the Board Of
Regents accompanied by copy OF their Journal from the
date ofthe appointment OF the committee to the Ii. De-
No q Copy of the journal of the Building Committee,
No. 8. Report of the Executive Committee, containing
statement OF The expenditures OF the institution from the
No. A. Proceedings of the Board OF Regents from the
date of the last annual report to the 22d of December,
No g. Report the Executive Committee to the Board
OF Regents, dated December 49, 1917, embodyng state
nent the present condition OF the funds of the institution
and the proposed scale of annual expenditure until The
completion OF the building.
No g. Report of the Secretary of the institution the
Board OF Regents, containing programme OF organization
OF the Smithsonian Institution, presented to the board De-
Document No will be found to contain a condensed
statement OF the proceedings of the Building Committee,
in the discharge Of their duty they lad occasion to collect
and have carefully recorded variety OF Information OF
much practical value, especially tue subject of building
materials The actual result, in their case has been
that they have obtained for the institution building free
to amy heretofore used in the public buildings this city,
yet costing less than onehaf much that employed in
Buiding and Patent Office Attention srespeculy in.
yed to these results as they can hardly fail to be mpor-
time hereafter should add to the number of its buildings in
this metropolis.
Document No gives in minute detail the results above
referred to- contains reports from an experienced geoo-
gst on the marble and granite quarries OF Maryland on
the materials for the principal structures in this city and
on the feesone quares OF the upper Potomac in the Vi
gray rees,one employed by the committee for the ns,u
ton building. 1t contains also report by chemist of
caused be instituted todetemne the duabil-
W of various building materials when exposed the action
This document contains further copy of the contract
made for the erection of the institution building together
that the contract taken less by about thirty
thousand dollars than the apart by Con-
gress for the erection of the building
In this document will also be found several other
tracts made by the committees among them one with
publication treatise on Public Architecture be
illustrated with plans and designs OF the institution build
which been foot by the institution determine
the economical value OF the principal building materials
throughout the United States.
also address by the Chancellor of the
tuton delivered the occasion of laying the cornerstone
ecs and the general proceedings the institutions together
with some details touching the style and dimensions OF the
building then about TO be commenced.
Document No gives table of the expenditures of the in
sIituon under the various heads since its
thirds spent for the building incidentas there
with connected and onethrd for other objects among the
sophical apparatus about thousand dollars for salaries
OF officers thirteen hundred for premiums for designs Tor
board and its committees This last item has been con-
sideraby sweled in consequence Of the provision in the
be in September, when Congress in session. and
when consequently the travelling and other expenses Of
great dstance had to be paid those of two members only
excepted who residents of this city To prevent the
reference to its Journal has arranged its regular meetings
take place during the sessions OF
members Of the board except four become residents of the
CITY, mourning no additional expense by attending to their
the expense board win hereafter be
very small compared to what has been cannot reason
ably be estimated beyond $500 ST. 900 annually.
This item of expenditure has also been increased by the
necessary expenses OF committee appointed to visit and
Union, and to confer with architects with view to the
selection OF convenient plans based upon the act OF Con-
gress, and of suitable style of architecture The board
believe that, when the institution building shall be com
peed Congress and the public will be satisfied with the
Some expense win annually be incurred by the Building
Committee until the completion of their task But as two
ngton, that expense will be large, and will the board
believe be greatly oye5paid by the amount Of information
much interest the builder and mechanic now preparing
for publication
Il
ceedngs Of the Board of Regents extracted from their
Journal and continued from the close Of their proceedings
given in the last report of the board Congress, down
to the end of their last meeting. There will be found,
among other resolutions passed by the board making
appropriations for the expenses OF the institution
throughout the coming years also the action OF the board
upon the series of resolutions establishing scale OF expen
dture for the next four years.
Document No. is important In the Executive
Committee propose to the board plan of financial opera
and scale Of expenditure for four years from and after
18th of March that is, during the last four
of the building According to which pan the
of fifteen thousand dollars annually, throughout that
term be appropriated for the current expenses OF the ns
tuition and the building may be completed and furnished,
and grounds laid and fenced without withdrawing
from the amount of socaled accumulated nteres-to wit
S242, l29specaly made applicable by Congress to the
building more than $lO2 thus leaving $4,000 Of
that sum added the original principal bequest
a investment
Document NO. is also of importance. The programme
of the organization of the institution given therein
well the general considerations which have served
guide in adopting that organizaton the details both
OF the plan and of the plan dfe knowledge
The report OF the secretary eucdates and explains the
and also contains statement of the
made the preparation OF the first volume OF the Transac
tons of the institution.
The board respectfully express the hope that Congress
will be published along with this report these sew
eral documents.
All which is respectfully submitted,
G.. M. DALLAS, Chancellor
JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary.
December 81, 1S47
OFFICIAL.