Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1878 [PAGE 79]

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79

T H E PARIS EXPOSITION.

Letters have been received from Hon. John Eaton, the commissioner of education, and from Hon. J. D. Philbrick, superintendent of educational exhibit at Paris, asking us to participate in the exhibition. Articles designed for exhibition are required to be in Washington by the last of this month. It is however quite possible that a later shipment will have to be made, by the commissioner. W e can with little expense, send some documents, some photographs of the university, some sets of the shop-practice work, and some portfolios of drawings from our school of design, and the schools of architecture and engineering. W i t h the approval of the board, I will see that some worthy and proper representation of the University shall be made. Some weeks ago, I received a telegram from the governor requesting my presence in Springfield, and on going over, was asked by him to accept an appointment as one of the commissioners to the Paris exposition, allotted by the act of congress to this state. The post is wholly without compensation, but the wish of the governor is to send some who will be able to make a report of such facts as may be of interest and value to the people of Illinois. The object is certainly an important one, and after consulting with such of the trustees as I could reach in person, or by letter, in agreement with their advice I signified my acceptance, and commissions both from the governor and the president have been sent me. I do not wish to go without the explicit approval of the board, as my first duty is due to you and to the University. I shall not expect to leave till after commencement, and shall hope to be back by the opening of the fall term, or at least within two or three weeks of that time. I have proposed to the governor the preparation of a handsome pamphlet containing a sketch of the history of the state, together with full statistics and descriptions of its situation, extent, resources, agriculture, manufactures, commerce and educational institutions. Such a pamphlet, freely circulated at the exposition, will do much to make the state and its institutions known to the world. In this connection, I may, without impropriety, state that my service upon the state board of health, during the last quarter, has occupied but two days of time, and has taken me but twice from my post and work here. It is true that I have failed to attend two of the meetings of the board, but these meetings were for the examination of physicians, and I declined to leave my work, believing that these examinations are more properly the duty of the medical members of the board. I have sent the Smithsonian Institute, a request in your name, for the specimens of Indian fabrics, implements, and other collections due the University from the Powell expedition. No reply has as yet been received. I have also prepared the application authorized by you to the signal service bureau, for the establishment of a station at this point, but I have delayed to send it till I can make some communications with our member of congress, who promises to aid us in securing the desired result. The application will now be forwarded immediately. J . M. G R E G O R Y , Regent.