Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-22
DAILY EVENING STAR.
CITY ITEM q.

.,-b;,ec,. of no one but a combination OF several
des,uns. The main plan adopted by the committee
f,r which Robert Dale Owen was chainnan) ap-
ointed 10 receive and decide upon the proper pan
"a, the one submitted by James E"nwick IT,, arch-
,pct. The architect was induced BY the chairman
of the committee TO combine with it that oil others
against his own better judgment.
According 10 The plan then adopted was the inst-
,u,ior commenced bring altered from time to time
n the progress CT TIE building.
The contract fol the bulding oi the Institute was
male with NJ. Gilbert Cameron, to complete the
uhoIe fJr s205 900 According 10 his contract, the
ntrrar of the main building WaF 10 he made OF wood
m rest upon small pillars IL inches in diam't"r-
Thi, wooden structure was pu M, bat not covered
OYER, and the work suspended inE some time, on ac-
ronnt Of proposition to change The plan and want
of funds While the work was thus delayed, one
NJ the small pillars Il inches in diameter gave way
and all the >uperstructure in that part ot the main
hnIjjug above fell carrying with ii the inner lining
of tn wall hut did not inlure the solid part of the
vau Also about this time the Congressional Lii
brary was burnt. These TWO acct Tents determined
ih f.;.nS have the interior constructed perfectly
fire proof \ new arrangement was then made
h. bad already done and for taking all the wood
work out of the interior Of the building, and for this
ne WIS to receive Sle0O0, and Il. 3 Alexander, OF
the corps of engineers selected Is the architect
TO rIan fire proof museum, library, lecture room,
81 10 be- built in the interior of the main building
Capt. Alexander promptly submitted a design, the
carving out of which will cost abost $50 900,
curing the whole TO be built of brick and iron,
wood being allowed.
Tlr interior OF tie main building is 250 feet long
hy so feet wide in the narrowest part, and 65 feet in
the centre Upon the first floor is to be the library
and museum. This floor Is built of brick, resting
upon three rows of groin arches, 81 on each side,
and an arch over a steam chamber for warming the
building IN the centre-the arches being supported
by brick pillars three feet square, and built upou
solid stone two feet Deep and half pillars in the
walls OF the building The strength OF this flooring
Is Thought To BE- sufficient 10 support any weigh
above. the arches being nine inches thick i'll the
centre.
The second floor is to rest upon columns cores
pondinc with those in the cellar, twenty three feet
feet sin inches IN height, upon which to be Land
iron bars T shaped, the top of the resting upon
the bead of the columns Between these columns
and bar, Of iron to be sprung arches OF brick AZ
inches u ick In the centre. Both floors are TO be
covered with tile. The roof above is OF wood,
covered with slate. This it is proposed to remove
las il ought to bel and replace with roof OF iron
at cost of 1--WE or six thousand dollars.
The first floor to contain the library, and the NIL
scum is to be twenty-five feet high The second floor
will contain the lecture room. which is now in the
of he building ce,tra opJ ,,-o
large rooms fifty feet square at each end
The lecture room, in the construction of which
the people of the city are particularly interested,
will be shaped in the form of heart, one hundred
eet long, running the length Of the building, and
sixty five wide, fifteen of which back into the
recess made by the tower in front, the speakers
stand being III the centre Of the recess, the seats
rising gradually from it; and gallery running round
the whole The estimated number the room
wi hold Is 1000, and will accommodate probably
nearly al, who viii desire to avail themselves of the
lectures that will be there delivered. There will be
four openings from the hall, one each side for
egressiH OF alarm but the main entrances Into
the hall will be in front and rear the stairway the
door Ill front which will be- near the speakers stand
being III the under it. and sufficiently lar-e TO
enable the people rapidly clear the hail. All the
doors to open outward. The room Is to be
lighted with large sky-lights in the roof above for
any meetings which may BE- held there during the
day, and by gas At night.
The contractor expects finish the work in about
a year and half, and wer- the whole plan now in
his hand he says he would be able To prepare the
lecture room by rIe middle of January for the lee
lures. A it l., however, he does not expect to get
it ready TIT next
The whole the building the contractor rays
viii not be $50, 900 In this is not in
cIuied thu salaries paid 10 architects supernl"nd
eats, and others.
II has been customary to blame Professor Henry
and the contractors for not doing the work of the
Smithsonian Institution in a more substantial man
ngr As understand il, Prof Henry had nothing to
to with the original design, and that Mr.. Came
ron, IN doing the work carried out the plans
Of the architect. 1t Is 10 BIZ hoped that the new
work viii do credit both II the contractor and
present architect who is also the architect Of th
Military Asylum, and who il placing the solid ioun
darion Of the interior work in accordance with the
the sucse srions uf Professor Henry.
P.bls- Scl10l7.-The Board Gf Trustees of Public
SchsoI' net yesterday evening. Present: The
Mayor. Secretary isir Davis,) McssTs. Abbott,
Halliday, DonOho, Bacon, Pearson and Walsh.
The .nrn5 fof daily, monthly, and annual regis
IerS 10 be kept ~ TIE Teachers, were adopted,
prepared and reported b Cot Randolph. from the
Cpinnijtre on The Rules. fits+" forms appear 10 be
arranged win much judgment. and will be the means
o presenting TT The eio.e o. Ibe Year. variety of
interesting statistics in regar 10 lie Schools, well
p OF showing throughout Tie state Of each School
and the character and proficiency of each pupil.
Mrs Rodier was elected. under recent resolu-
t,un Of the CITY Councils authorizing such ap
pcinfincni. teacher Of the male primary school in
tl3e FIRST District. vice Mrs. Lindsay, resigned
II stated that during the time the boys had
been un Ter Mrs.. Robbers p,rlntendence. marked
inp-o, nn.ont h-h been shown in their attendance.
pam -, y and conduct.
lat.