Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-15
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

meeting OF the Board Of Managers of the Metro
POlitan Mechanics Institute was held last night
at the AIdermen's Room, City Hall, President
T.U Walter, in the Chair
The report Of the Superintendent, (Mr STAINS
bury;) of the late exhibition was read by Mr.
Waiter.
AMER which Mr.. J. T Mitchell made some
complimentary remarks on the unexceptionable
manner in which Mr.. Stansbury had performed
his arduOuS duties. and offered a resolution ten
dcTing the thanks Of the Association to that zen
ueman which resolution was unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. stansbury, from the building committee.
made the following report, accompanied by a
memorial proposed TO be presented to the City
To the Board Of Management of the M,tropol-
via" Institute The committee on the building
beg leave to report that Immediately after theft
appointment they proceeded to perfoTTm the dntv
assigned to them by the resolution of the Board
TO take into consideration the best mode of pro-
Mdlng the Institute with suitable building
They nave heId meeting of the members, at
which the whole subject has been freely dis
Cussed and by the kind permission of the Mayor
they nave been allowed to inspect the plans for
maIket-houSe, submitted to the Corporation,
the Institute
Without discussing the relative merits Of these
plans, the committee would observe that the one
presented by VIM. ii. Ranlett, Esq. and ap-
proved by the Councils, seems, with such slight
notifications as they could suggest as would only
enhance its architectural effect, to possess all the
tute
The committee, however, do not propose now
TO report or endorse any particular plan, but
ommend to the Board to simply test the sense Of
the incoming City Councils, by presenting for
their consideration the memorial which the COM
lnlttee appends as part Of the report. Should
the connection prayed for be granted, the commit
tee have little doubt as they state in the memo
rial, that it would be easy to devise plan which
would be satisfactory to both parties.
BY order of the Committee.
THoS. u. WALTER, Chairman.
CHAS- p SIASsBURY, Sec'y.
MEMORIAL.
To the honorable the Board of Aldermen aud
Common Council Of the city of Washington
The memorial of the undersigned officers and
directors of the Metropolitan Mechanics Insti-
tute, respectfully represents that about five wears
ago, large number of the citizens OF WASHING
ton organized themselves into an association for
the promotion Of the mechanic and useful arts,
under the title Of the . Metropolitan Mechanics
Institute - that they adopted a constitution and
bylaws, and selected a board of officers and di.
Tectors. who, with their SUCCESSORS have conduct
ed the affairs Of the association from that time to
the present.
That. shortly after the organization they an
nOunCed their intention to hold an exhibition OF
works Of American industry. in this city, which
purpose they carried into successful execution in
February and March, 1853, by holding an exhibit
ton IN the great hall Of the east wing of the Pat
ent Office. That said exhibition was not only
well attended by exhibitors but was so literally
patrOniZed by the public that 4 profit of several
thousand dollars was realized by the Institute.
That this money was principally devoted, un-
der the direction OF the predecessors of your me-
mOrialists, to the establishment of School Of
Design. which was attended by a large number
OF pupils, whose rapid progress was subject of
great congTatulation, and proved that such
school was public want, which was urgently
felt BY the community
That il was and is part of the plan of this in
stltutlOn TO establish not only school of design
In the elementary principles Of those sciences
which lay at the foundation of the practical pur-
suits OF life, and an acquaintance with which is
30 essential TO the intelligent mechanic but that
owing to the want of means this part of the origin
al plan has never been attempted. Neither was
the Institute able to succeed in the establishment
OF library and reading room, as the expense was
greater than they felt justified in mourning That
the Institute held second exhibition in 1855 at
the Smithsonian institution, but that notwith-
standing the large attendance and liberal receipts
the expenses were not met by about $1,000. That
me third exhibition was held in March of the
present year, and although the number of con-
tTloutOrS was greater than at any former period
ana inc receipts larger, no balance has been left
available for the operations Of the Institute
The undersigned state these facts to show that
they have been unable to carry out the great lead
X aims OF the institution successfully, because
they have been obliged, at all their exhibitions
thus far: 10 expend large SUMS for temporary ac-
conimOdatiOns which had to be renewed at an
equal expense at every succeeding exhibition.
They have sunk, in this way, since the orpani-
ZanOn OF the Institute, sum OF about $1,000
which, as has been already correctly observed in
the last report OF the Superintendent-s'would
have been sufficient to build library and reading
room, lecture hall and ample accommodations
Tor the various classes contemplated by the Con-
stitutiOn.'i
The undersigned are convinced from the erpe.
hence OF other cities, and from their own obser-
walton OF facts in the history of this Institute that
there IL in this District population Of the proper
character to supper; literally an institution like
the one they are now endeavOring to establish on
permanent basis
Citizens Of Washington and the District are
with them in this endeavOr; and deemng the
INSTITUTION one OF public importance and value,
closely bearing upon the prosperity Of the city,
eyIeei justified In approaching your honorable
body for the purpose Of asking Your assistance
ana cooperation in carrying out the plans which
they have formed for giving it permanence
They feel satisfied that all that is required to
give PeInlanencyt TO the agency which has already
been set in operation with such beneficial effect is
- suitable building for the accommodation Of its
schools lecture room, library, reading room, and
exhibitions Such building they believe might
be erected by the subscription of their fellow
citizens, provided the plans could he brought out
under suitable auspices and with sufficient guar
antee OF It's being promptly and properly executed
Your memOrialists, after careful consideration
and consultation, have concluded that the most
feasible plan Is To unite their interests with those
OF Tue Corporation and the public BY building
the hall of the Institute in connection with the
new market house so long and SO generally de-
sired By the inhabitants of this city
In what way this might he done, your memo
rlalIsts do not now propose to suggest, convinced
that should your honorable body deem the enter
pflSe worthy Of your patronage it would be salts
The object Of the present memorial Is simply to
ask that your honorable body will take the mat
ter into consideration, and should the general
plan meet your appreciation, authorize a con-
sultatlon on your part with committee on the
part OF the Institute for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the best mode in which the proposed object
may be accomplished.
And your memOrialists, as In duty bound will
even pray L. L. WALTER. President
CH. +. WOOD, Vice President
Nh Walters here entered into short explana-
non OF the proposed plan for new market house
by MI. Ranlett. IL was, said Mr. w, the idea
OF the Board to let the Corporation build the frst
story Of the market house which consists of five
principal divisions and then for the Institute to
come IN and build the second story for their own
purposes The plan had been decided to be too
large by the committee, and il suggested to
get the Corporation To take of the two outside
DIVISIONS OF the upper story which would greatly
reduce the cost Of building, and be a much more
BEAUTIFUL architectural composition. The group
would be more pyramidal. and suit the purposes
OF the Corporation 20 the letter let the Corpo-
TatlOn 20 and build the first story of the whole