Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1869 [PAGE 82]

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$36,698 03. The purposes for which these expenditures have been made, are submitted elsewhere. These expenditures have slightly exceeded the estimates for the year, but a portion of them has been made in anticipation of the appropriation, and are properly chargeable to it as permanent improvements. Some considerable income may yet be expected from the sale of farm produce now on hand and from rents. The Treasurer's report will give you a statement of the receipts of the year. The amount received on account of the Illinois Central Railroad freight donation, up to March 1st, is $3. The accompanying statement will show the number of trees and shrubs received from Mr. Dunlap, together with the sizes of the same. These have been taken by actual count and measurement on the ground made by the gardener. A few trees, which were mostly overgrown when received, have died, an account of which is added. Mr. Dunlap has not yet presented any written statement of the account. The officers who received these trees had nothing to do with fixing prices, those being determined by the deed of giit as at " catalogue rates." It will be necessary, therefore, for the trustees to settle the account thus far, and decide how much more is due on the donation. An application was made in due form to the Legislature for an appropriation for the several departments, and copies of the memorial prepared have already been seen by you. A bill making an appropriation of $60^00 has passed the House of Representatives and is now pending before the State Senate. Patents have already beed issued for most of our lands, and taxes have begun to accrue. Ought not some plans and terms of sale of these lands to be adopted at once ?

LIBRARY, CABINETS AND APPARATUS.

Some additions have been nyide to the library since the last meeting of the Board, but it is still wholly inadequate to our needs. If the appropriation now pending is passed, I recommend that the Library Committee be authorized during the coming summer to make such purchases as are needed. A paper relating to botanical excursions, proposed by Assistant Professor Burrill, is herewith submitted. I heartily recommend that he be furnished with the necessary materials and outfit, and that as far as practicable he and his class be encouraged to make excursions, if not in term time, at least, in the vacations. The cabinets we have in possession are here only on exhibition, and are offered for sale. Measures should be taken this present year to begin the collection of cabinets. A set of meteorological instruments ought to be provided at once, that a series pf regular observations may be opened here at an early date. I am informed that a full set will cost $100.