The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-20

rsngsmsnts for the accommodation Of an audience
number Of gsntlsnsn for their attain
ments In htenture and science have accepted the in
yitston Of tie Secretary to visit Washington to de-
liver two, three lectures each. The lectures
crowded and highly interested audiences
The amount OF the connection between this Institu-
o.ss 81 ss
rience Of three years, am fully convinced that the
true policy OF the Institution IT, to ask thing from
gle its operations little possible with those OF the
general government, and to preserve distinctly, its
own organization, while it cooperates with other nsti
buttons In the way Of promoting knowledge. On the
other hand IL Ii desirable that Congress place few
restrictions the Institution possible consistent
with judicious expenditure Of Its income aud that
this be judged Of by proper estimate OF the results
The whole amount Of the Smith sOnisp bsquest re-
The interest which had accrued the up LIST
July lsi6, was S242, 129, making In all 1857 1913.
The Regents we're authorized to expend onithe build
ing the S2t2l29, which had accrued ia interest,
together with such portions OF interest the or gns
bequsst which might remain unexpend cd In any year
They concluded hewevsr, to limit the whole expendi-
turs on the building and the grounds n not
oeedng $3.50 COO and u order that this might not
bsust the II resolved that this
penditure should not be made at once, but in the
course Of 1--WE years and that In the mean time the
huiIsns shoua Ss ;nVs.tsa ~ 70 Ss,d sn interest
which might in part to defsy the expense Of the
building To carry out this plan, the s2i200o with
the Of $3.50 600 invested in Treasury notes,
and in order that the Institution might not be loser
by possible depreciation Of those notes, the contracts
for the building made payable in them at par
lue or in specie at the option Of the Regent. Up to
this time only $4,000 Of these notes have been dispos
Cd Of They have thus been made to yield constant
interest besides increasing In value account Of the
Iie in government securities. The whole expenditure
since the commencement Of operations to the present
time Is SlS957 "a the whole Of which has been made
from the accruing interest the fund and the sale Of
$50 eco Of notes above mentioned.
From this II appears that after paying for than
oneha Of the building, carrying the operations Of
the Institution col lectipg bary and philoso phcal
apparatus the sum Originally entrusted to the Regents
las only been diminished by less than $40 900
Abs,HAer or lHE REPORT or THE nuILpiNG COMMITTEE.
The contractor mas made rapid advances with the
work during the past season, and Ia, succeeded in
placing the building under roof before the
Of weather, the committee concurrng Ia the in
creased expenditure, thus rendered necessary
The total expenditure on the building, up to date 10
about S136 0t0 leaving balance Of $4,000 liable
to be expended before 18th March next.
An earlier completion If the building than Is 10
corcance with the contract which expires In March,
1852 Is suggested.
The ,tone FOR the unfinished portions Of the work,
chilly the towers is all quarried and the stone cut
Alterations have been effected in the lecture room OF
the cast wing enabling it to hold audience Of 900
persons, instead Of eco.
The lecture contemplated in the centre build.
ing bss been dispensed with and the space is to be de-
voted 10 u museum OF apparatus
In the adjoining part OF the first floor devoted to the
library space has been reclaimed by dispensing with
main passage and carrying the staircase into the
bary rooR previously arranged to be used for this
purpose. These changes to be effected at in
cresed cost Of only $780, but the additional furniture
required for the enlarged library, viii demand in
creased appropriation pdsr this head
A clear story has been added 10 the great musuem
room IN the second story OF the centre building Th
room Is nearly 200 feet In length.
The rooms now occupied In the uilding warmed
by hot air furnaces ia the basement they have not
proved satisfactory in their operation The Of
steam heating apparatus is advised for the rest of the
building.
The work entitled " Hints on Public Architecture
authorized to be published by the Building Commit
tee, has been Issued The cost OF this exceeded
considerably the appropriation which was ordered
fer It,.
a contract made for planting and cultivating the
trees and shrubs within the Smithsonian grounds,
also for planting and cutivati'g hedges along the
margin Of the same not having been piled with
the part OF the contractor, has been annulled This
TO be regretted, entire year has thus lest
Amount applicable to the bu lding. -. $3.50 900
Amount liable, to March, 1850. .......... $4,000
Amount to be expended. ............SIO 4 900
no unforeseen expenses arise 1t IL supposed that
about $50 Ooo Of this will only be required CON-
pete the building and i'm provemen mt of grounds.