Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 44]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OP TRUSTEES.

Recommended to Governor for Military Commissions— Edward I, Camine, Mark Fargnsson Phil A. Goodwin, Albert C. Moore, Merlon B. Waite.

R E P A I R S AND I M P R O V E M E N T S .

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Assignments for account of State appropriations for buildings and grounds have been made from time to time which have not yet been reported upon. I give a statement of sums assigned, sums used, and balances unused, or yet needed for completing the work desired. From this it appears that ,$594.90 remain assigned for items of improvement which are not yet completed, while the Business Agent's report shows that -$564.39 remain to credit of account State appropriations for buildings and grounds, 1886-7. I have no doubt that all these improvements may be completed within the amount of the appropriation about to expire. The sum asked of the legislature for this purpose for the years 1887-9 was unfortunately reduced from $3,000 to $2,000 per annum, and this reduction will' make it necessary to postpone some much needed improvements. I have to present several items which need attention, and to ask that you will direct what, in your judgment, should be done, and to what extent. 1. You have the report of the Executive Committee as to a contract for furnishing the University with water. The water company will bring its main south on Wright street and into the ;rounds at such point as you shall designate. I recommend that the line be laid parallel to the ront of the main building, at a distance of about 80 feet. That one of the hydrants be set a little west of the line of the west front of the main building, and the other opposite a point midway between the main and the chemical buildings. The connections with the buildings themselves must toe made by the University at its own expense. I suggest that a four-inch pipe be laid irom a suitable point in front of the main building, running under the main building to a point near the boiler house. That this pipe be connected with boih the inside and outside stand pipes of the main building, and that a hydrant be set in the area near the boiler house. Also, that from the end of thn company's main in the grounds, a two-inch pipe be laid to connec with the water system of the chemical building. Also, that a one inch pipe be run from the hydrant at corner of Springfield avenue and Wright street to connect with the machine shop. The estimates for this work are as follows: For connections with main building For connection with chemical building For connection with machine shop Total $197 00 63 00 i»9 00 $329 00

2. Pursuant to authority given by you, apparatus for instruction in electrical engineering has been ordered and will be received before the opening of the fall term. This apparatus is delicate in its action, and needs to be a> far'as possible from causes which induce vibration—that is, it should be brought down to the ground. The best way that 1 can see to acccmplisn this end, short of building for 4 his work an entirely new house, which is not now practicable, is to take a portion of the unoccupied basement of the east wing in the main building, sometimes called the modeling room. I have had estimates prepared for the proper fitting of this room, which amount to $703.17. This sum is evidently more than can be spared 1 therefore propose simply to erect a partition cutting off twenty feet in width from the south end of the room, and to lay a brick floor upon a properly concreted and asphalted surface of the ground. I have, therefore, selected the items that seem indispensable, which amount to $284.50. 3. Professor Forbes asks that $300 be given to put suitable cases in the middle room of the laboratory apartments in basement of west wing, to furnish accommodation for the books and specimens of the Entomologist's office. He* wishes to connect more closely the work of the Entomologist's office with that ot the State Laboratory and to vacate the room on the first floor for lecture purposes. This is doubtless desirable. 4. The fence about the old campus has been a mbjeet for inquiry for a long time. It is much •decayed and should be replaced. '! he whole distance to be fenced is 3,360 feet. The estimate for a neat board fence, with oak posts, four boards high, with two crossed ,and cap, thoroughly made and painted is $695.10. A cheaper fence could be made, but would hardly seem fitting for so conspicuous a place. I strmld prefer to wait another year rather than to put up a fence less suited to the place. These four items sum up as follows: Water connections Physical laboratory Laboratory for natural history TSTew fence Total $329 00 284 50 30J 00 695 10 $1,608 60

The total appropriation available for buildings and grounds for the year is $2,000, of which onehalf should be reserved for current care of grounds and buildings. It is evident that certain ones of the iterirs named must be omitted.