Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1898 [PAGE 261]

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1898.]

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

261

possible number. We estimate that the average student who takes .exercise in the Field has rather less than one hour at his disposal. When we remember that he must take out of this time what is required for dressing and bath, we consider that the change of location would work a serious hardship to our athletic interests. Again, a convenient location is a great incentive to students to view the work of the various teams. This both encourages loyalty and enthusiasm for the teams and is also a great incentive to the teams to do their best. In its present location, a large number of students watch the work. A more remote location would very seriously curtail the number. Again, the Advisory Board is of the opinion, that a removal would very seriously curtail the receipts at the games. As now situated the grounds are «asy of access and our receipts are, we think, very largely increased thereby. These conclusions are the result of long observation of the athletic situation as it exists at the University and are so conclusive to the Advisory Board that we beg that the Board of: Trustees will give them careful consideration. The Advisory Board asks leave to make the following suggestions and petitions concerning Illinois Field: We believe that it is generally recognized that the board fence at present inclosing the Field is unsightly and not in keeping with the rest of the University's property. We t hereby petition that the fence be removed and that your honorable body will appropriate a sufficient sum to place an ornamental iron fence around the present Field and also around the University property to the north of the present Field and reaching to University avenue, and a strip 30 feet wide at the south of the Field. The limits of the present Field are quite inadequate. The track is a very poor one and is quite unfitted for our needs. The extensions prayed for would give us much needed room and make it possible to put in a good third of a mile track of proper width. The land to the north of the present Field contains eighty-five trees' By the removal of less than twenty of these, a number of them poor, the needed track extension can be secured. The land prayed for at the south of the Field is the width of 30 feet, and its addition to the Field would in no wise injure the parade grounds. The present grand stand at the Field is an unsightly building and we greatly desiie to see it removed from the grounds. We petition that it be done and that the Board of Trustees appropriate a sufficient sum to erect a tasty grand stand. The present grounds are poorly drained and the track, as we have stated, is in very poor condition. We hereby petition your honorable body to appropriate a sufficient sum to place either the present track or such track as may be built in first-class condition. As regards the fence, it has perhaps been suggested that it would not furnish sufficient protection from the public at the games and that thereby we should suffer in receipts. We are confident that good police service would go far to remove the difficulty; but if this should not be found sufficient, canvas stretched inside the fence and a short distance from it would effectually shut off the view. Should such improvements as suggested commend themselves to you, the University would then have an athletic park that'would be well fitted for its large and constantly growing athletic interests. We beg leave to express the hope that the considerations mentioned will have force with your honorable body. We further hope that you will grant us the privilege of appearing before you at your present meeting to make further brief -statements and to answer any questions, should you desire to ask them. We beg leave to submit herewith a plan of the proposed ground; also, we submit the following estimates for the improvements prayed for: