Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 106]

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106

EVENING

SESSION.

The Board reasembled at 7:30 P. M., as per adjournment. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Regent, Dr. Gregory, then read his report.

REGENT'S QUARTERLY REPORT.

To the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University: GENTLEMEN—Although this remains the annual meeting as far as the election of officers is concerned, it is not the proper time for the annual report, since it occurs in the midst of one of our terms, and neither permits a summary of the year's work nor a completion of the statistics r e quired by the State law. Reserving, therefore, the full showing of our labors and progress, till the proper close of the academic year, I shall only attempt to bring before you such statements a may be necessary to guide your action in providing for the present-and the coming term. Nothing has occurred since your quarterly meeting in December last to disturb the quiet or efficiency of the University. We have been visited by two committees of the General Assembly of the State, the members of which expressed their surprise at the unexpected grandeur and evident power and utility of the University and urged that more active measures be adopted to make known to the people at large the facilities provided here by the grants of Congress and of t h e State legislature. Our application for appropriations for the several objects determined on at your last meeting is still pending, and it is hoped that the most important askings will be met as you desire.

NUMBER OP STUDENTS.

The whole number of students in attendance this term is as follows: Male students 251 Female " , 80 Total 331 Whole number in attendance thus far during this year: Male students 266 Female " .. 84 Total . 350 Numbers in the several colleges and schools: I have asked reports from the chief officers in the several schools, and these reports hereto a p pended will give you fuller statements of the actual work and wants of these schools. Knowing your disposition to give to every department of the University all the aid in your power, I need only commend these various requests" to your consideration. The amounts asked are not large and I hope may all be granted. The School of Chemistry urges afresh its need of more ample and more convenient laboratories, and as it is hoped the day is approaching when this necessity will be met, the Professors in this department have prepared a plan for a building such as they deem suitable. Unfortunately there are no laboratories in this country which can be of any special service in planning a new one. Most of American laboratories, like our own, consist of old buildings fitted u p for the new purpose,, or of small buildings built to serve temporarily or designed to be enlarged as the necessities grow. In the absence of any good models, it is desirable that steps be taken to perfect a plan here for a first class and exaensive chemical laboratory, sufficient for all our work in that department, The School of Architecture, though not yet large in numbers, is steadily increasing, and by t h e spirit manifested in it, gives promise of becoming one of our most useful and popular departments. The experiment made in clay modelling has been quite successful, and I earnestly recommend that the experiment be continued through another term to test still more fully the desirability of adding it as a permanent feature of the school. The School of Agriculture has gained something in scope and thoroughness by the appointment of an Agricultural Chemist, but it will still require the services of a Professor of Agriculture as soon as a suitable man can be found for that place. The report of the Head Farmer, which I herewith transmit, gives an encouraging view of his work and prospects. Allow me to emphasize the statement that we have no need of, nor any proper business with, a farm, except as a necessary part and facility of an agricultural college, as a means of experiment and illustration. It will need careful attention to this end to make as far as practicable a true means of teaching Agriculture to the young men who come here to study Agriculture. It is already demonstrated that the farm can be made to pay its way; b u t it must be expected that some departments maintained especially for purposes of instruction will not pay their way. We shall need to maintain some animals for the illustration of breeds, which will be kept, perhaps, at an expense above their profit. But to be without them will be a loss and damage. It was a matter of regret that we were obliged to part with some of our blooded stock. It has already called forth some criticism. I submit to you the propriety of replacing the stock sold by other and better animals as soon as convenient. The Business Agent calls your attention to the condition of the tin roofs. These and the conducting spouts demand immediate attention, if our buildings are not to receive serious injury. The painting of our barns and other frame buildings ought to be provided for. Much of this work might, perhaps, be accomplished by the labor of students, if it can be done during the session of the University.