U.S. Military Academy West Point 19 Sept: 1853.
General.
I enclose a letter from 1st Lt: Wm G Peck asking an addition to his present qrs., with a plan of the same; upon the first of which are endorsed the reasons that prevent my recommending his application for favorable consideration.
I am very respectfully. Yr. Obt. Servt:
Sigd. R E Lee Bt Col.
Supt. Mil. Acad
Endorsement on Wm Peck’s letter. “The addition within applied for can be put up in 40 days, as per following estimate.
| 18 floor planks @ | .31 | $5.58 |
| 52 boards | 19 | 9.98 |
| 1700 Shingles | 5.12 | 8.70 |
| 40 ft. Pine | 35. | 1.40 |
| 1200 Laths | 2. | 2.40 |
| 8 lbs Lime | 1.19 | 9.52 |
| 22 joists & 9 Wall Sticks | 4.00 | |
| 110 lbs. Cut Nails | 5.50 | |
| 9 Qr. White Lead | .63 | |
| labor—40 days @ | .15 | 6.00 |
| 53.61 |
Sills, posts, roofboards &c to be supplied from old lumber on hand
Sigd. R. S. Smith
Lt. 4th Art. Qr Mr.
“The house occupied by Lt. Beck is small & uncomfortable; the rooms in the 2nd story being smaller than those in the 1st. It stands out of position & is con-sidered too old & ill arranged to remove or rebuild. It is therefore in contemplation to replace it by a new building. Altho the cost (in money) of the proposed addition is but little, yet when added to the labour & material available, it will deduct so much from the means on hand, to make better & more permanent quarters—I cannot therefore recommend its construction[”]
Sigd. R. E. Lee. Br. Col:
Supt Mil: Acady.
Superintendent's Daily Correspondence United States Military Academy
Superintendent's Letter Book No. 3, p. 53. Addressed “Genl: Jos: G. Totten Chief Engineer Washington City D.C.”