Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1890 [PAGE 119]

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122

UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS. U N I V E R S I T Y OF ILLINOIS, Dec. 7, 1889.

To the Building Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: Since your meeting in September, work on the drill hall has been pushed as rapidly as possible. The city of Urbana raised the sidewalk and street grade more than a foot south of the drill hall, greatly improving the appearance of the grounds, and taking the earth from t h e interior of the building without expense to the University. About one thousand cubic yards of earth additional were taken out by Mr. T. R. Leal at 15 cents per cubic yard, an ample quantity for properly grading around the building, and this left roughly graded until the completion of the building. Masonry piers and wooden girders were used for supporting the floor, being less expensive than bearing walls, and more convenient for running pipes beneath the floor. As a desire was expressed by several Trustees to have a good floor, free from boards with loose fibres, quarter-sawed Georgia pine was ordered at an increase of $4 per thousand, which cost the contractor $6 additional. This is stored in the architectural shops and will make the best floor in any University building. Putting in the floor delayed the completion of the framing of the roof about two weeks after the final date agreed upon for the delivery of the iron and steel work. The last of this work was shipped from Cleveland about six weeks later than it should have been, so t h a t about one month's working time was practically lost, though a few men were employed in setting the cast iron washers and t h e joint pins, when they were received. But none of the trusses could be erected until the last lot of steel rods was received, as this contained several rods belonging to the truss first erected. The fourth and last of the large trusses is now completed, and the remainder of- the work of the erection of the framework of the roof will be much easier and more rapid, if weather favors. The sash and transoms have not yet been ordered, though I have bids of $481 for them with double-thick A-glass set, and $280 without glass. This seems too high a price, and I have asked for other prices from several manufacturers. As the erection of the framing of the roof will cost considerably more than it would have done a month ago, I have thought it best to leave the drainage of the building until spring, as it can be done just as well after the completion of the building. I understand the committee to wish the drains from the conductors carried into a main drain, which is to run south beside the avenue, and is to receive drains from the shops when required. There is no system of drains from the shops now, most of the conductors discharging on the ground. I t will be an expensive operation to put in a system of drains of proper size to serve both buildings, using salt-glazed pipes with cemented joints, and extending the main to the creek; but this is the only way to do a good and permanent job, and it would be best to make one job of both buildings. Farm tiles with open joints would probably do, but would not be so good, though they would cost much less. I hope the committee will consider this matter of drainage and give me more definite instructions before the work is to be executed. To protect the walls from rain and frost as far as possible, I have directed them to be covered with impervious building paper, which will keep out the water from the top of the wall, and reduce the injury from frost, protecting the walls until the roof and cornice are up. Otherwise, the building is not liable to serious injury, and there does not appear to be any water in the excavation beneath it yet. I believe we shall now be able to complete it without much risk or delay, excepting from bad weather.