Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1878.djvu/50

VLVIII for the north and south wings; also, for a structure connecting the north and south wings through center of court-yard.

Six hundred dollars were offered for the design deemed best and recommended by the skilled architects acting as a commission for the examination of the plans submitted.

The commission consisted of James K. Wilson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard M. Upjohn, of New York, and H. W. Hartwell, of Boston, Mass.

These gentlemen entered upon their duties on the 22d of July, and after a careful examination and earnest consideration of the various plans before them submitted a unanimous report on the 9th of August, recommending the design which had been submitted by J. A. Vrydagh, of Terre Haute, Ind. All the plans were examined by the commission without knowledge on their part of the names of the competing architects. The award was thereupon made to Mr. Vrydagh, and $600 paid to him in accordance with the terms of the circular and the act authorizing the payment. He was invited to visit Washington for the purpose of conferring with the department in relation to the work, and was subsequently authorized to complete the detailed drawings and submit estimates of the work in detail; also, the total cost of the reconstruction.

This labor was performed, and the detailed drawings, together with the estimates, were received at the department on the 14th of the present month. The total cost of the reconstruction upon the plan recommended by the commission is estimated at $973,931.90. The reconstruction of the building upon this plan would secure an addition of at least seventy commodious rooms and other conveniences not now possessed, and would make the entire structure practically fire-proof.

In view of the short time intervening between the completion of the detailed drawings and the meeting of Congress, and the further fact that no obligations can be incurred beyond the amount of money appropriated, I have deemed it proper to delay further action until the plans and estimates shall have been submitted to Congress, and such additional legislation had as will provide for the prompt prosecution of the work. While I recognize the absolute necessity of providing more room for the growing wants of the department, I have not felt authorized to begin a work the completion of which would so materially change the style and architectural proportions of the building as it now stands.

The plans, estimates, and all facts necessary to a thorough understanding of the work will be transmitted to Congress at an early day, with the recommendation that, in the event of the design being approved or other direction given, a sufficient appropriation be made to cover the estimated cost of the improvement, so that the reconstruction of the building be no longer delayed.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. SCHURZ, Secretary of the Interior.
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