deviated from these requirements in having extended the said brace
through the entire length of the building and placed the plates that
were specified for the north wall of the center room on the
respective sides of the extreme north wall of the building. While
this deviation adds nothing to the security of the south wall, it is
doubtless as effective as it would have been had it been placed as
contemplated in the plan. It may in some degree strengthen the north
wall, and I recommend that it be accepted as in compliance with the
terms of the contract. The two iron rods called for in the
specifications are of wrought iron 1½ inches in diameter, secured by
boiler-iron plates three-eighths of an inch thick and 12 inches in
diameter, securely fastened as required in the specifications. There
was a necessary deviation from the plan as to the place the rod
nearest the east side of the building should be placed. Early in the
prosecution of the work a portion of the debris in contact with the
eastern wall was removed. During the night following this a section
of the south end of the east wall fell, carrying with it that
portion of the wall between the south and east rooms to which the
plan required said rod to be attached. In consequence the
contractors placed the rod so as to connect it with the portion of
the wall still intact. As a brace to the south wall it is placed
advantageously. In excavation, underpinning, and filling in the
contractors have exceeded the limitations prescribed in the
contract, and have therefore performed an amount of work for the
remuneration of which there is no provision. The following table
shows the amount of work authorized in each of the four items with
reference to which the contract was drawn and the amount actually
performed by contractors:

Item |1. Excavating and clearing out débris.