Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 362]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1943]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

359

President Willard commented on the importance of developing the work in aeronautics. On motion of Mr. Nickell, the revised budget as presented was approved and adopted, and the President of the University was authorized to secure the introduction of the necessary bills into the General Assembly, and to take charge of the matter from now on.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AIRPORT (3) President P a r k Livingston and Mr. Chester R. Davis of the Board of Trustees, Mr. August Meyer of Champaign, representing the Governor, and the President of the University conferred with the Administrator of the Civil Aeronautics Administration and other officials in Washington on May 15, 1943, on the program of education and research in air transportation, including an airport, at the University of Illinois, with a view to securing an allocation of federal funds to assist in the development of this project. I submit the following letter from the Administrator of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, confirming this conference: May IS, 1943 Dr. A. C. Willard President, University of Illinois Champaign, Illinois

M Y DEAR D R . W I L L A R D :

Confirming our conversation of this date, I am glad to advise you that the recent recommendations submitted to the Board of Secretaries, who must approve all projects to be undertaken under the airport construction program of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, included the establishment of a University of Illinois Airport at Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, sponsored by the University of Illinois and supported by the State of Illinois. The recommended allocation was $600,000 which would provide for two runways of 5300 feet long by 150 feet wide and of course the associated grading and drainage operations. I have no reason to doubt that the Board, consisting of the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of War, and Secretary of the Navy, will approve the recommended program since that was based on the recommendations of Army and Navy to the CAA. Upon approval we shall be glad, through consultation with Army and Navy, to determine whether or not construction can be undertaken this fall or next spring. If the recommendation from the armed forces is for immediate construction we are able to and will be glad to undertake it immediately. Under the circumstances, I believe it would be appropriate for you to confer with the Regional Office of the CAA in Chicago and work out the selection and acquistion of a final site and the plans for improvement of that site. Sincerely yours,

C. I. STANTON

Administrator

This report was received for record. At this point, Dr. Luken withdrew.

UNIVERSITY AIRPORT LEGISLATION (4) T h e 63rd General Assembly has passed and the Governor on May 8, 1943. approved Senate Bills 41 and 42. Senate Bill 41 makes available immediately $250,000 of funds already in the budget of the University for the current biennium for the purchase of land. T h e University had originally proposed in its biennial budget estimates for 1943-1945 total capital appropriations of $750,000. Since $350,000 is already available, this appropriation for the biennium of J943-I945 may be reduced to $500,000. Senate Bill 42 authorizes the Board of Trustees of the University to enter into any contracts and agreements with the Federal Government which may be necessary in the development of the airport.