Annapolis July 12nd 1882
To His Excellency
Hon Wm. J. Hamilton
                    Dear Sir,
                                      Believing that
you and the Board of Public works,
are desireous of doing the work
for improving the State House grounds,
to the best interest of the state, and your
own credit, and as I am the only expert
of those who have submitted plans,
for I have practically done all that
kind of work for years, I have taken
the liberty of recommending to your
Excellency how in my judgement
it should be done, viz; It should be
done as the work is done in the Naval
Academy.  The Board should buy
the material, as they can buy it as
cheap as any contractor, and there
is a good many stone and brick
that can be used now on hand.
The stone paveing should be done by
contract by the square yard, by a
stone mason, the brick pavement
by contract, by a brick layer,
what work that is given out by
contract should be given to tradesmen
of that branch.  All gardening, sodding,
planting, and trimming of trees, should
be done by days work, and then
the Board can make changes and
have the work done to suit their own
judgement as the work goes on, for
they cannot form an opinion at
once, not being experts, let the Board
pay the workmen their wages, and
the contractors their money and do
not let the Superentendent have any
advance from the men's pay and
you will find it will give satisfaction
to all as the the time has come, that
the parties who will conduct the
affairs of the State honest will
carry the day. If my plans
are approved of the Board, and
if the Board will appoint me
the Superentendent of the work
under the Board, I will not charge
any pay for my plans and I
will garrantee to give more satis-
faction that any job that has
been done by the State,
                       Respectfully Yours &c,
[signed]                D. M. Sprogle