The whole of said granite is to be furnished and delivered as to quality and workmanship to the satisfaction of the said party of the first part, or such person or persons as he or his successor in office may appoint for the purpose of inspecting the same, and the certificate of such inspector shall be final and conclusive between the parties of the first and second parts as to compliance with the contracts. For and in consideration of the said granite so worked and delivered at Charleston, the party of the first part agrees to pay the party of the second part at the following rates, viz: For plain, straight, square ashlar, not exceeding eight inches bed or build, ninety-three cents per superficial foot, and for each additional inch of bed or build of said ashlar an additional sum of fifteen cents per superficial foot, and all plain work shall be considered and measured as ashlar. For the columus cut plain, in pieces not less than five feet, and not exceeding seven feet in length, and for moulded capitals and bases, four hundred and seventy-five cents per superficial foot, and for fluted columns five cents per superficial inch. For Ionic capitals, seven hundred cents per superficial foot. For cornice and its architrave and frieze, three hundred and eightyfive cents per superficial foot. For all circular or bevelled work, forty per centum additional upon the prices for straight work. For all rebates and checks, sixty cents per lineal foot. For all moulding and panelling, also all carving and ornamental work, not herein otherwise provided for, such additional sums shall be paid as the superintending architect or the duly authorized agent of the party of the first part shall ascertain to be its fair cost, increased by fifteen per cent. It is expressly agreed and understood that the term "superficial foot," under this contract, applies only to the worked surface, which will be exposed in the building as the granite work is completed, and is to be so measured in estimating the number of feet for payment. The party of the first part shall have the privilege of appointing an agent to inspect the said granite at the quarries, and on such inspection, if made, agree to pay seventy-five per centum of the contract value of the granite, on the certificate of the inspector, from time to time, showing that a quantity amounting to not less than five thousand dollars is prepared for shipment, and has been duly inspected and approved; and the remaining twenty-five per cent. within thirty days after the same shall be safely delivered at Charleston. In case of loss or damage occuring to any granite so in part paid for before delivery, said loss or damage shall be made good by the party of the second part without expense to the party of the first part. All the payments under this contract to be made by the disbursing agent at Charleston or in the city of Washington, at the option of the party of the first part. It is further expressly agreed and understood that no payment can be made under this contract except as appropriations may be made by Congress. It is also agreed by the aforesaid parties that the party of the first part shall have the privilege of changing the plan or material of said building, in whole or in part, at any time, without any claim for damage therefor accruing to the party of the second part, except in so far as the party of the second part shall have performed and executed work, or delivered material, work, &c., by direction of said party of the first part. It is also further agreed and understood that no member of Congress shall be admitted to any share or part of this contract or to any benefit to arise therefrom; and it is further understood and agreed between the parties hereto that the party of the second part shall execute, with two or more sufficient securities, a bond to the United States, in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of this agreement and covenants herein made by the party of the second part. The party of the second part further covenants and agrees to and with the party of the first part, that in case the said party of the second part shall fail to deliver within sixty days of the period heretofore specified for delivery any portion of the above granite that shall be specified in any requisition in conformity with the stipulations herein made, then the superintendent having charge for the time being of the construction of the said custom-house shall be, and hereby is, authorized to purchase from any other parties, in every such case of failure, a quantity and quality of granite that shall be in all things equal to that which the said party of the second part shall have so failed to deliver, and to charge and abate in settlement, or recover by suit, in the name of the United States, from the said party of the second part, and those persons who may and shall become sureties for his fulfilment of the agreement, the excess of price, if any, which shall be paid for the granite so purchased for the con struction of said custom-house beyond the price herein specified to be paid to the party of the second part for that particular quantity of granite which he had stipulated hereby but so failed to deliver. In witness whereof, said Thomas Corwin, Secretary of the Treas ury as aforesaid, for and on behalf of the United States as aforesaid, hath hereunto subscribed his name and caused the [L. S.] seal of the Treasury Department to be hereunto affixed, and said Edward Learned, jun., hath hereto subscribed his name and affixed his seal the date first above written. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, September 8, 1860. SIR: I have the honor to report that the appropriation of $15,000, approved March 3, 1855, (Statutes at Large, vol. 10, page 663,) for removing stone wall, &c., of the President's grounds, was (by act of Congress approved 18th August, 1856, Statutes at Large, vol. 11, page 86, which appropriated $400,000 for the Treasury extension) authorized to be expended in accordance with such plan as may hereafter be approved by the President. The plan for fencing and grading the grounds about the Treasury extension necessarily involving removal of wall and re-enclosing of grounds, I have caused the plan first to be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Buildings, not only as a matter of courtesy, but because the original act of 1855 contemplated his action in the premises, and he has approved the same. In accordance with the act of 1856, I have submitted the plan for the President's consideration, and he has certified his approval thereof in writing upon the face of the plan. I have, therefore, now the honor to request that the above-named appropriation (whose expenditure now becomes authorized under this plan) may be taken from the books of the "Treasury Interior," where it was originally placed, and be placed upon the books of the "Treasury proper," under the appropriation for the extension of the Treasury building, the work being necessarily concurrent with such extension. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. HOWELL COBB, |