These variations in the quantities of material are accounted for as follows: CORNICE. There having been no change in the plan of the building, as authorized by Congress, the reason of the excess of this item above the synopsis is owning to an error in the computation of measurement in the synopsis of 1855. ARCHITRAVES OVER COLUMNS AND ANTE. The increase in length in these items is owing to the fact that no plans for the three portico ceilings existed at the time the schedule of 1855 was made, it not having been determined whether they were to be of iron or granite; and an error in estimate of length of some 400 feet. COLUMNS, BASES, AND CAPITALS OF COLUMNS. The number of columns, with their caps and bases, was reduced by the change of plan in the south portico, authorized by the Secretary. PLAIN STEPS AND PLATFORMS. These are reduced by a proposed change of plan for steps, on which the estimate of amount required to complete the south wing is based. ROUGH STOCK NOT EXCEEDING THIRTY CUBIC FEET. This item does not contain the stock used in the interior of the building-such as steps, well-hole, plates in stairways and inside architraves, which were not included in the quantities furnished by the synopsis of 1855, but the increase is caused by using backers. fillers, and bonds in basement, and larger stones in the upper stories. ROUGH STOCK NOT EXCEEDING THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY CUBIC FEET. The large increase in this item was caused by increasing the thickness of antæ from "two feet six inches" to two feet ten inches, by introducing the scotia and moulding on the shaft, and by twelvecorner antæ, which are much larger than those on which the synopsis of 1855 was made. HAMMERING NUMBER ONE. This item now contains the quantities furnished by the synopsis of 1855, under the head of hammering No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. The quantities of hammering in that synopsis were calculated from the small plan furnished by Mr. Walter, the architect. drawn on a scale of thirty feet to one inch. BEDS. The decrease in this item is owing to the decrease of beds and builds, caused by substituting single stones in place of ashlar around the doors and windows, as supposed in making the synopsis of 1855. BALUSTRADE. The length of balustrade, as given in the synopsis of 1855, included the blocking courses on the rear front, which have no need of a balustrade. N. B. It will be seen from the foregoing statements that if the schedule or synopsis of bids for granite had been made from the actual quantities instead of the estimated or relative quantity, the result would not have been altered in making Beals & Dixon the lowest bidders. Cornice.. Architrave.. ALTERATIONS AND CHANGES OF PLANS. 1. In style of cutting: Estimated in schedule of 1855. Capitals of antæ.....As hammering No. 3. Capitals of columns... Estimated as No. 2. These items have all been cut with hammering No. 1, and the capitals of antæ enlarged and ordered with elaborately carved necks. These changes have caused an increase of cost as follows: Change of hammering from Nos. 2 and 3 to No. 1 Capitals of antæ Increase in large-sized saddle stones from bevelled course on raking pediment cornice, from carved dentals, carved groins of middle course with extra sinkages to admit top groins, and from peculiar cuttings of 380 feet longitudinal of top course Total cost of change $2,359 25,449 2,138 Deficiency or error in estimate Original estimates as follows: Cornice and architraves. Column caps and bases..... Less architrave caps short... 7,169 37,015 24,411 2. Alterations in size of stone: Ante. The forty-nine antæ estimated in schedule of 1855 were in three stones, but a plan was submitted to your predecessor, in October, 1856, proposing to make the shafts of antæ in one piece, with scotia moulding, with a statement of cost, and by him approved. The antæ were estimated in the synopsis of 1855 as follows: 16,000 cubic feet, of 330 feet average 9,400 cubic feet, of hammering Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Total cost as originally estimated The change authorized by your predecessor from No. 3 to No. 1 stone, increased depth of stone, finer cutting, &c., cost as follows: $43,040 5,610 48,650 21,765 cubic feet of 412 cubic feet stone average, being increase of 3,650 cubic feet, at increased price.. $28,893 Change of hammering 9,400 superficial feet from 1,910 Work on scotia moulding, &c.. 42,342 Total cost of change. 73, 145 Error in original estimate in not estimating rightly for amount necessarily involved in this work, viz: for hammering 9,400 superficial feet, 5,722 feet beds.... 8,550 81,695 Total cost of antæ. 130,345 Base and belt course of basement story window and door sills, posts, lintels, moulded blocking courses forming the panels between the antæ in first, second, and third stories, and sunk work and rebates in rear front: In the plans submitted by the architect (Mr. Walter) all these stones were represented as plain ashlar, and were estimated accordingly in the synopsis of 1855, and as being hammered-No. 1, in basement and entrance stories; No. 2, in second story; No. 3, in third story. These alterations were submitted to your predecessor in 1855 and 1856, and by him approved, when the substitution of highly-finished moulded stone for plain ashlar was adopted. The whole exterior of the building was originally estimated as follows: 8,000 cubic feet of 50 feet and 100 feet stock. Total cost as originally estimated.. Increase by base and belt courses of basement by washers, bevelled work, rebates, sinkages in same story... Increase by rebates, window sills, and lintels on $10,560 6,220 49,416 $10,160 rear 3,032 Columns, capitals, and arhitraves in basement; stairways, plates, and steps in interior; balcony, plates and ceiling plates in east and west porticos: The whole of these items in fourteen large columns and caps with architraves, and all stones of very large dimensions, were not included in the synopsis of 1855. There was no plan of basement at the time the synopsis was prepared. Inside architraves, sills, columns, and caps. $30,893 82 36,907 29 Balcony and ceiling plates for east and west portico. 5,823 08 1,927 36 75,551 55 CHANGE IN VESTIBULE OF SOUTH PORTICO. This change of plan, with its estimate of cost, was submitted to you in December, 1859, and approved. This change dispensed with four columns, with their caps and bases, and the architraves and ceiling over the same. Decrease in cost thereby, $15, 230. In addition, there is dispensed with, by reason of this change, $3,898 work of architraves, which may be used in other wings. These stones, with others, amounting to $2, 102, have been ordered and paid for on account of south wing, and appear in the tables, but will be transferred to other wings, amounting to $6,000. RECAPITULATION. From increase of quantities in the table... $24.410 From increase of quantities not in the table... 75,552 99,962 Less architraves and other stones that may be used in the other wings... 6.000 93,962 $36,763 Columns with caps and bases, and caps and bases of antæ 70,800 107,563 Antæ in three stories. ... 48,650 Work in basement and between antæ 49.416 Steps and platforms ... 7,746 Cost of buttresses, $12,031; balustrade, $18,150.. 30,181 Estimated amount of granite per south wing by relative quantities.... 243,556 Changes, alterations, and additions, as follows: Cornice, architraves, and columns with caps and bases, and bases of antæ-cost of change... |