Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1896 [PAGE 159]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

162

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

part, so that should you decide to continue the privilege to you of maintaining a track on Green street all of the work, including that devolving upon you, may be carried forward simultaneously and completed on the earliest practicable date. Kindly advise me as promptly as practicable of your decision, and oblige. Yours very truly,

R I C H . P . MORGAN,

Chairman Buildings and Grounds Committee, University of Illinois. The correspondence succeeding this letter, between Mr. Harris and the Chairman, is herewith submitted as the result of the action of the Committee, nothing further having been accomplished. Second. In regard to the construction of the walks, careful investigation has been made by the Committee and proposals for their construction invited. Bids have been received from Simpson Bros. & Co., of Chicago.; P . E. Taintor, of Springfield, and W. McDonald, of DuQuoin. Also a letter has been received from Hon. Nelson W. Graham, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, in regard to brick walks, all of which are herewith presented. Third. Further complying with the instructions of the Board, a plan for the machine shop was prepared by Professor Ricker, and proposals for its construction were invited, Bevis & Co., of Urbana, being the lowest and best bidder, that firm was awarded all of the work, excepting the roof. By the terms of the contract the building is to be ready for the roof on the 3d day of September, 1895. The contract for the roof was let to the well-known constructor of roofs, C. L. Strobel, of Chicago. The work to be completed as quickly as the obtaining of the iron work would permit. The plans and contracts for erecting the machine shop are herewith submitted, together with the correspondence. Payments on account of the contracts have been made aggregating $4,607.84. Fourth. The contract with Geo. L. Batchelder, of July 12, 1894, for wiring and conduiting for incandescent lights in Engineering Hall, was claimed by him to have been completed August 20, 1895. His final statement in detail, and a copy of the contract and correspondence are herewith presented, showing a balance due to him of $1,566.39, including extra, $56.91. Fifth. The improvements made in the Chemical Laboratory, for which $1,000.00 was appropriated, have been done by day labor under the personal supervision of Professor Palmer and the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and a statement of the cost of the labor and material is herewith presented. Sixth. The construction of the glass addition to the laboratory for vegetable physiology has necessarily been in the care of Dr. Burrill, and his report of progress is herewith submitted. Seventh. The bond for the new arms for the military department was made by Trustees Raymond and Morgan and delivered to Mr. Pillsbury for transmission to the Secretary of War. Eigth. Immediately after the adjourned meeting of the Trustees June 27, 1895, at which the library building was located and instructions as to the character of the building were given, President Draper and the Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee visited Chicago and Minneapolis for the purpose of acquiring as full information as practicable in regard to library buildings for universities. Much valuable knowledge was obtained, and it was deemed best to recommend to the Trustees that the building be entirely of fire-proof construction. Therefore the Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee wrote to each member of the Board upon that subject, and received approval of the recommendation from all excepting one. Therefore the invitation of the Buildings and Grounds Committee to architects for competitive plans for the library building, which was issued July 20, 1895, provided that the building should be fire-proof throughout. The invita-