WASHINGTON, D. C., February 28, 1857.

DEAR SIR: In examining the schedule and bids we assume that the results of the calculations furnished to us are correct, and we find that the lowest bidder for marble and marble work, Mr. William Rutherford, has not complied with the conditions of the advertisement, which required the time of completion to be specified. We think that good faith to the bidders requires this bid, therefore, to be rejected.

The next lowest bidder is J. F. Connolly, whose bid amounts to $74,746 81. As the specimen of marble supplied by him appears to be of the quality required by the advertisement, we recommend that the contract be assigned to him, if, upon examination of his quarry by the architect or some proper person under the direction of the department, it appears to be capable of furnishing a sufficient quantity of the proper material.

We recommend that he be required to give $20,000 security for the entire and satisfactory completion of the contract within the time specified, which is twelve months from the time when the walls will be ready to commence setting the marble.

We also recommend that the specimen of marble submitted by him be carefully preserved to avoid dispute hereafter as to its quality.

Among the bids for granite work we find the lowest bid to be that of Gault & Brother, which amounts to $38,553 86. We think this bid too low, and that it will be impossible to complete the work for the prices named. In view of the delays which always result from entering into such contracts-delays which no security will prevent— we cannot recommend that this bid be accepted.

The next lowest bid is that of Mr. Gilbert Cameron. It amounts to $50,562 97. The specimen of material submitted is so much inferior to that offered by the next bidders, Samuel Cassidy & Co., amounting to $50,889 04, who offer to furnish the same material as that used in the wings of the building, that the difference in cost ($326 07) will be more than compensated by the difference in the appearance of the building.

We therefore recommend that the contract be assigned to Samuel Cassidy & Co., they to be required to give security in $20,000 for its entire completion of the same material as the wings, and within fifteen months from the completion of the basement.

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

CHARLES MASON,
THOMAS U. WALTER,
M. C. MEIGS,

Committee of Inspection.

Articles of agreement made and concluded this twenty-first day of April, A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, between John B. Blake, Commissioner of the Public Buildings, for and in behalf of the United States, on the one part, and John F. Connolly, marble mason and contractor for executing the marble work of the north front of

the Patent Office building, in the city of Washington, on the other part:

Whereas, by an act of Congress, approved the eighteenth day of August, A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty-six, an appropriation was made towards erecting the north front of the Patent Office building, and it is intended to use in the erection of said north front a quantity of marble and marble work;

And whereas the said John F. Connolly is willing and does hereby undertake and contract to provide marble, equal to the specimen furnished, and cut and set the same in the said north front, in the best and most workmanlike manner, according to the directions, and subject to the approval of the superintendent in charge thereof;

Now, therefore, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto, in the manner following:

On the part of the said Commissioner of the Public Buildings, it is hereby covenanted and agreed with the said John F. Connolly

That, in consideration of the materials hereby stipulated to be furnished, and work to be done, and on the conditions hereinafter specified, the said Commissioner of Public Buildings will pay, or cause to be paid, to the said John F. Connolly, as the work progresses, at periods not oftener than once a month, the value of the work as actually done and set in the wall, on the approval of the superintendent, according to the prices as hereinafter stated, reserving in all cases ten per cent. as collateral security for the fulfillment of this contract in the time and manner specified; the sum accruing from these ten per cent. reservations, as collateral security, to be afterwards paid to the said John F. Connolly only when this contract shall have been fully executed and complied with. All payments to be made by the said Commissioner of Public Buildings to the said John F. Connolly, to be upon the certificate of the superintendent in charge, or such other person as the Commissioner of Public Buildings may designate.

And on the part of the said John F. Connolly, it is hereby covenanted and agreed, as follows:

ner.

That, in consideration of the said payments to be made to him, he shall and will, at his own proper cost and expense, provide all marble required in the erection of the said north front, prepare and set the same in due time, agreeably to the designs, plans, and directions of the superintendent in charge, in the best and most workmanlike manThe said marble to be furnished from the quarries at Texas, in Baltimore county, Maryland, and to be the best white quality, fully equal to the specimen; and also, at his own proper cost and expense, provide the necessary scaffolding, rigging, tools; and also, all the materials and labor, and hauling of all kinds required or employed in transporting, removing, preparing, and setting the same; the said marble to be worked in the city of Washington. And the said John F. Connolly further agrees, under the penalty of the forfeiture of the percentage retained, to finish the marble work in twelve months after the sub-basement is ready to receive the marble work, provided he shall not be obstructed by the delays of the other departments of the work over which he has no control.