Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Page 1
N. Y.
April. 17. 1844
Gov.
Swain
,
Dear Sir:
I have just had a conversation with Mr. Gill, the
stucco man, in relation to your college buildings, and he assures me that the
preparing an old wall to receive a coating of
stucco should never stand in the way of its application. Mr.
Gill will engage to prepare the surface of both of the Dormitory
buildings for 50 dolls. or 25 dollars each, and supply stucco in the best manner
at 50 cts. the square yard of surface — (being the same he gets here,
and the same he had of
Mr. Donaldson) and pay all his
own expenses of transporting materials and laborers. Now there can be no
question but that the stucco had best be applied — unless, the
irregularities,
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undulations, and bulging, is
such, as to make stucco look less like stone than it does ordinarily, and that
further bulging or settlements may cause it to crack.
I do not think it will do so,
but I would have
the
door pieces attached in brick as drawn,
buttressing up the east wall, and the whole stuccoed.
The
Committee adopted my plans, and seemed
disposed to carry through the proposed alterations in the
South Building
, such as
adding a Dome, and
fitting up
the attic:
Working Drawings for the
Dormitories, and also drawings for the
South building
I engaged to make for one hundred
dollars, in addition to what I have already received for traveling expenses, on
receiving instructions from you to that effect with intelligence of the work
being in progress. At my leisure I intend to add a plan for your botanic
garden.
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Have you seen, and what do you think of
Dr. Dewey's
Discourse on Slavery? If you have not
seen it in the papers, I will send it to you in pamphlet.
After leaving you, I passed a very pleasant time at the
Governor's
in
Raleigh, the weather
being fine and admitting of some rambles with the young ladies on sketching
expeditions. I became acquainted with several worthy persons, such as Mr. Taylor,
Mr. Manly
,
Bishop
Ives, and though last mentioned, not least, the Misses
Letitia
and
Corinna
,
1 and I
am not sure but that I came away too soon, or not soon enough for my peace. But
I have a never failing resource in
those of Helicon.
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