Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1878 [PAGE 217]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

DESCRIPTION OF T H E N E W CHEMICAL BUILDING.

The need of an appropriate building for the pursuit of the study of chemistry in the various branches, as taught at the Illinois Industrial University, had long been felt. T h e department of chemistry had been well provided with chemicals and apparatus through liberal appropriations by the legislature and the board of trustees ; but the laboratories were fitted up in a building which was not designated or constructed for the purpose, and which could not have been remodeled in a suitable manner, even at the cost of an entirely new building. Before the meeting of the last legislature, therefore, Dr. J . M. Gregory, regent of the Illinois Industrial University, requested N . C. Ricker, Prof, of Architecture, and H . A. Weber, Prof, of Chemistry, to get up plans for a new building, which should meet all the wants of the chemical department. T h e cost of the building was not to exceed $40,000. W i t h Dr. Gregory's valuable assistance and suggestions, the plans were agreed upon. These plans, with the elevations of the building, were carefully drawn up by Prof. Ricker, and after having been accepted by the board of trustees, were laid before the legislature. The legislature at the same time received an invitation to visit the institution, to which they responded in a body. After a thorough examination of the merits of the case, the majority were satisfied of the need of the proposed building, and accordingly an appropriation of $40,000 was made, of which $30,000 were to be expended on the building, and $10,000 on furnishing the same. Several thorough revisions of the plans were made before they were finally accepted by the regent and the board of trustees. The contract was let to Messrs. N . C. Terrill & Co., of Kankakee, and the work was executed under the supervision of Prof. Ricker, as architect, and Mr. Seeley Brown, of Champaign. The working desks for students were made by Messrs. Walker & Stayman, of Champaign, and the rest of the wood work was done at shops of the University by the students of architecture. The building is 126 feet long and 74 feet wide, and contains a basement, first and second stories, and a mansard story. The basement is 12 feet high and contains the following rooms: 1st. Furnace room for assaying in the dry way and metallurgical operations. I t is to contain a large smelting furnace, a forge, and the assay furnaces. T h e necessary blast is produced by means of a Sturtevant blower. 2d. Mill room for storing and crushing ores.