Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1890 [PAGE 108]

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PROCEEDINGS O F BOARD O F TRUSTEES.

R E P O R T OF ACTING R E G E N T .

Ill

To the Honorable Board of Trustees, University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: In accordance with a leave of absence voted by you t o Dr. Selim H. Peabody, Regent of the University, he took his departure for Europe October 9, 1889, after the initial work for the present school term had been well organized. As Vice-President of the Faculty his official duties from t h a t date devolved upon me without any direct action by yourselves. November 2d the Executive Committee of your Board, acting as I understand upon the request of Dr. Peabody, appointed me Acting Regent, subject to your approval at this meeting. At the same time and in the same manner Professor G. E. Morrow was appointed president pro tern, of the Board of the Direction of the Agricultural Experiment Station. In both these cases the appointees of the Executive Committee entered at once upon the discharge of the duties assigned to them, and have to this da,te filled to the best of their ability these temporary offices. I t is of course impossible t h a t the work of the University should progress without detriment on account of the absence of the chief executive officer. No one can be more fully aware of this than he who attempts to perform the varied duties of the Regent's office, however well ordered t h a t office may have been when temporarily surrendered. But I am greatly gratified to be able to report that, so far as I am informed, the current affairs of the term have been pleasantly and profitably passed. But little friction has occurred; instructors have been zealous and successful, and students have been diligent and courteous. No serious complaint has come to my knowledge from any quarter; however, a very respectful expression of dissatisfaction is to be laid before you from one department. The number of students is now greater than ever before in the history of the University. Class cards have been issued during the term to 449 students, against 391 for the fall term last year. Of the present number 305 are in the regular University courses, and 144 are classed as preparatory. For the corresponding term last year there were respectively 240 and 151 in these divisions. This increased attendance, though encouraging from every stand-point, has made necessary some further division of classes into sections, involving more labor in instruction; and in several other cases the larger classeshave caused increased labor on the part of teachers. There are, however, no complaints on this account. The extra provisions necessary to accommodate the increased numbers have been made wherever it was within our power to act, and some requests are to be I presented to you on t h e same account. Finding it a matter of necessity, some expense was incurred, for which no provision had been made, in the gentlemens' coatroom, and some hooks for clothing have been placed in the hall of the first floor beneath the stairs, as a temporary relief to the coat-room. The condition of the walks leading to the main building has made it practically impossible to keep the floors of this building in a state of satisfactory cleanliness, during bad weather. While cinders only are used on these walks, this annoyance will probably always exist, though recoating with fresh material will be of advantage now, and is, no doubt, the best thing t h a t can»be done at present. I t was ascertained some weeks ago t h a t the part of the roof of the main building which was once blown off and recovered with tin, was in bad order, mainly owing to the quality of the paint originally used and the manner of its application. The tin was, in numerous places, very badly rusted and so exposed as to cause further injury continually. Believing that no time should be lost in making this repair, while t h e weather permitted, the work was undertaken without authority for the expenditure on the part of the Trustees. But upon reporting this and sundry other items of needed repairs to the Executive Committee sufficient money was assigned to cover the costs, which have been about as follows: