Dedicatory Exercises May 30,
1914. 357
REPORT OF LEWIS F. SCHAUS,
Chairman Building Committee.
Mr. President, and Members of the
Society: In June, 1912,
the contract for the erection of this
beautiful building was let,
at which time the plans and
specifications prepared for its
erection were placed in the hands of
your building committee
with instructions to carry out the
designs to a successful com-
pletion. How well this duty has been
performed, the building
speaks for itself. The work was carried
on as rapidly as pos-
sible. There were some unavoidable
delays for Want of necessary
material, but the building was finally
completed almost on time,
as required by the terms of the
contract. The building was ac-
cepted from the contractors and
settlement made on January
9th, 1914. A detailed account of the
various transactions re-
quired in the construction of this
building will be given by Prof.
Mills, Secretary of the Building
Committee.
This magnificent building is to be
devoted to the material
interests of the people of this
enlightened, cultured and highly
favored state. The generations yet to
come will gaze with pride
upon this noble pile, and under its
shelter, prosecute the work
appropriate to its several apartments.
The enterprise, liberality
and wisdom of the men of today will not
be forgotten. Future
generations will pay due homage to your
memory for this inval-
uable inheritance, and it will stand as
a glorious monument of
the estimate put by you upon the value
of education, in promoting
a knowledge of Archaeology and History
in this fair State, and
may the Great Architect of the Universe
shape their minds to a
still higher appreciation of your
valuable services.
And now, Mr. President, as Chairman of
the Building Com-
mittee, I take great pleasure in
returning to you the plans and
specifications intrusted to our hands at
the beginning of this
undertaking, and formally turn over this
beautiful building, com-
plete in all its parts, to your care and
keeping.