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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION    1526

The Secretary pointed out that Senator Anderson, as a Regent and as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Construction of a Building for Museum of History and Technology for the Smithsonian Institution, prior to the Regents meeting, had inquired into the nature of and the reasons for the delay with great care. A meeting concerning this matter was held i his office. Mr. Franklin Floete, Administrator of General Services, Mr. L. L. Hunter, Assistant Commissioner of Public Buildings for Design and Construction, Mr. Alan B. Mills, Jr., Mr. James C. Bradley and the Secretary were present. At this meeting it appeared that the reasons for the delay as explained by the General Services Administrator were as follows: Percentages of completion may at present be understated somewhat because materials and equipment stored off-site have not been included as is the custom. It was also noted that a foundations contractor was employed in addition to the superstructure contractor, thereby initiating construction earlier but requiring extra effort by the superstructure contractor to shorten the time required for awarding subcontracts, approving samples and shop drawings, and similar work usually accomplished during the excavation and foundation period. The extremely cold weather experienced in the late winter of 1959-60 and early winter of 1960-61 and the steel strike affected this project and also almost all other projects in this area. This project was especially affected because many structural sections required special rolling. The consensus was that every effort should be made to speed construction.

A construction status report being prepared by the General Services Administration will be furnished to the members of the Board of Regents and the Joint Congressional Committee.

It was pointed out that there is very close supervision by the staff as construction proceeds, and it is believed that this inspection is very effective. At the present time it