No. 5. IN SENATE, April 7, 1872. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW CAPITOL COMMISSIONERS. OFFICE OF THE NEW CAPITOL COMMISSIONERS, ALBANY, January 7, 1873. Hon. JOHN C. ROBINSON, President of the Senate: SIR. We herewith transmit to the Legislature the annual report of the New Capitol Commissioners, for the year 1872. Very respectfully yours, W. A. RICE, Secretary. HAMILTON HARRIS, Chairman. REPORT. To the Legislature of the State of New York; The Commissioners of the New Capitol respectfully submit the following REPORT: That, during the past season, the granite for the New Capitol has been dressed at the shops in Albany as fast as the same has been received from the quarries, and all portions of the building have progressed as rapidly as the procurement of the granite would permit. When the works were uncovered in the spring, the setting of the dressed stone in the exterior walls and the walls of the central court of the first story above the basement commenced, and was continued as the stone was dressed until stopped by the weather in December. There have been dressed for said walls since the first day of January, 1872, 39,961 cubic feet. Prior to that date, there were dressed 12,812 cubic feet, of which 6,058 cubic feet were for the two small courts; making in all dressed for the exterior walls and the walls of the central court, 46,715 cubic feet. Of this quantity, 38,322 cubic feet have been set, leaving now on hand, dressed and ready to be set, 8,393 cubic feet. The Commissioners decided to construct the walls of the main tower, the pillars and arches of the halls and staircases of the ground floor with block granite of light color, finely cut. They issued invitations for proposals therefor to the proprietors of quarries yielding such granite. About 45,000 cubic feet were required for this purpose. The proposal of John M. Masterton, proprietor of a quarry located near Keene, New Hampshire, to furnish the same for $5.50 per cubic foot was the lowest received. A contract was accordingly made with him on the 27th day of May, 1872. Under this contract, 16,734 cubic feet have been received, of which 13,675 cubic feet have been set; leaving 3,059 cubic feet on hand ready to be set. The interior brick walls of the building have been raised during the year to an average height of about fourteen feet. The brick and cement used have been furnished by contract, awarded on competition to the lowest bidder. The contract for the brick was made with C. F. Southard, of Peekskill, at $10.95 per thousand for Haverstraw brick. The contract for the cement was made with Bangs & Gaynor, of Fayetteville, at $1.32 per barrel of 300 pounds. By the provisions of the contract for granite for the exterior walls of the building, made with the New York Granite Company at Yarmouth, Maine, John R. Briggs, president, on the 15th day of August, 1871 (the particulars of which contract are stated in the last annual report of the Commissioners), the said company was to deliver at Albany 4,800 cubic feet per week. The company delivered in 1871 only 12,968 cubic feet. As stated in the |