Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 174]

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172

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE.

Prof. Morrow's report contains no new requests. He asks leave of absence during the summer months, to enable him to make some observations which will be of g eat use to him in his instructions, upon the agriculture of Great Britain and France. I cordially second this request, believing it always desirable to allow our professors the widest opportunities for st idy and observation in other, and especially European countries. The paper of Head Farmer Lawrence shows the prosperous condition of the interests under his charge.

THE LIBRARY.

The Librarian reports an addition of 587 volumes during the year, and an outstanding order for some hundreds more. He asks for the authority to procure the usual summer binding of periodicals and other books. This will be necessary, 2. He asks also that the purchase of the new books provided for by the State appropriation, be made as far as practicable this summer. Our usage has been to make up full lists for the several departments and to give this order to the lowest bidder. A difficulty has been found in this plan in the delay it occasions. It is believed that a contract can be made with some respectable dealer to furnish, at a fair discount, the books ordered during the year as they may be wanted. In this case, it would be desirable to lodge with the Begent, Librarian and Business agent, as heretofore, authority to make such contract, and purchases thereon, as they may be wanted.

NEW WATER CLOSETS AND BOILERS AND VENTILATION.

The Legislature appropriated to the University the various sums asked by you, except the $500 asked for by the Military Department, and $1,000 of the $2,000 asked for the Natural History collections. An appropriation of $2,500 having been made for the construction of new water closets, and for the new ventilation of the main building, plans for such water closets and ventilation have been carefully considered and will be laid before you. The propo ed closets are designed to be used as earth closets, but they can readily be turned into water closets proper if at any time it should be deemed desirable. The ventilation will demand especial care, and it is judged desirable in order to obtain the best results, to separate the corridors and some of the large rooms of the basement and first floor from the general plan, and warm and ventilate them as a separate system. The boilers ought to be put in during vacation, so as not to hinder or interrupt our work in the autumn.

Taffi MILITARY DEPARTMENT.

I ask attention again to the requests of the Professor of Military Science and Tactics for provision for target practice. Something ought also to be done to provide the band with several new instruments, as the failure of the legislative appropriation leaves them unprovided for. Our band are doing us a daily service in our chapel assembly which asks for your favorable regard.

THE UNIVERSITY F U N D S .

I cannot forbear to ask your serious attention again to the absolute and increasing need for a larger income to support our work, and save the University from serious if not fatal harm. We are already grinding between the upper and nether mill-stones. Laying out our plans at the outset, on a scale commensurat -. with the wants we were called upon to satisfy, and with the funds we supposed would be at our disposal; we have seen those funds shrink in their interest-bearing power, till we have been crippled for ordinary expenditures; and we are obliged to confront the stern certainty of still further shrinkage, i ou have already once cut down the pay of faithful professors, and we have made up for the loss of others by increasing the work of those who have remained. To-day we need at least two more men in professor's chairs, and several assistants in departments now in operation; but instead of the aid we need to see coming to our help, we are obliged to contemplate a possible further reduction of our forces, if not also the sad relinquishment of ground we have begun so well to occupy. With limited funds, but hopeful of the future, you have reared here a University which in twelve years has attained a larger growth than the Michigan University attained in twenty-five, or than Harvard attained in two hundred. You have planted a true American State University, one that may fairly and fearlessly claim for itself a place in the first rank of State Universities of this country. But to hold this place it is absolutely essential that your treasury shall be recruited with new funds, and a more liberal income. Two sources alone seem accessible to us; first, State aid by a tax such as Michigan and Wisconsin have grated to their Universities, and second, by an increase of fees. I am compelled to recommend the increase of fees, at least until the State aid shall be given. I n this increase we shall but follow the example of all our predecessors. If notice is given a sufficient time beforehand, no serious complaint will be made by our patrons, and the attendance will not be affected unfavorably. The simple doubling of the present term fee will add about five thousand dollars a year to our income, and relieve our most pressing wants.