Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 89]

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92

UNIVEKSITY OF ILLINOIS.

The agricultural and chemical show gains, the horticultural and mechanical losses. The deficiency in the shops is largest, as a little reflection would lead one to suppose. Both of the shops have earned something, and the deficit has been thereby reduced. But it also appears that one hundred and thirty students have been instructed and that everything, including tools, power and material, has been furnished them. As the number of students increases the cost of their shoptraining will continue to increase. This, as the figures show, is becoming a serious matter, and it may become a question whether these students should not pay something for the power and material they use. The total balance against the shops is $1,070. If the one hundred and thirty students had paid say $5 per term for two terms work each, it would have yielded $1,040. It will be objected to this that the State makes an appropriation of $1,500 per annum for the support of the shops and instruction therein. But careful estimates, distinguishing between the instructional and the commercial work of the shops, show that the cost of instruction, tools, material and power for students' benefit solely, is from $3,000 to $3,500 per annum—a cost which, as was before suggested, is constantly increasing. In this connection I have to request that authority may be given to Professor Woods to build by. class work an engine lathe, and to use as may be required $200 for that purpose. Also, to spend $30 at once for necessary cutters for the milling machine. Also, that $30 be appropriated to carry water across from the machine shops to the carpenter's shop, and thence up to the gymnasium. I present the following request for appropriations: From the State fund for apparatus and material: For an additional case in Professor Kicker's room For continuing his collection of architectural designs For a Thatcher's Calculating Machine for the engineering college From the State fund for cabinets: For additions to the collection in mineralogy 42 00 and that authority be given to the Regent and the Professor of Zoology to use the balance of that fund beionging to the current year for such purposes in connection with the museum as may seem to them needful. From the State appropriation for buildings and grounds: For painting fence on the west side of old campus $50 00 And that the superintendent of grounds, Professor Burrill, be authorized to expend $300, on account of buildings and grounds, on the care and ornamentation of the University park during the season ending October 31. That the Regent be authorized to use $150 for the necessary expenses of commencement. The usually quarterly report of Professor Morrow is presented herewith. The full report of the Board of Direction of the Experiment Station will explain the plans and estimates which it will bring before you. It is assumed that the Station will take in charge and carry forward the strictly experimental work that the University has hitherto cared for. That the Station will occup y and use, under the sanction and approval of the Trustees, whatever of the University facilities can be of service. There will remain, however, after the annual wants of the Station have been provided for, the larger part of the land, to be administered in such way as may best yield profit to the treasury. To this end it may be wise to rent parts of the land from time to time. It would hardly be best to rent much of it for long periods, as the Station may need in the more perfect carrying on of its work, to vary its selections of lands from year to year. If the Station can retain the opportunity to use, as maybe required, the largest variety of soil, condition, etc., it will be of obvious advantage. It will be necessarv, therefore, that suitable, and to some degree, skilled labor, be still furnished to Professor Morrow, in order that he may not be too closely confined to the details of farm management. But these claims upon his time and thought can not be entirely dispensed with. Authority to publish 6,000 catalogues is asked, at a cost not to exceed $400, All of which is respectfully submitted. S. H. PEABODY, Beqent. $45 00 100 00 32 00