Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1890 [PAGE 94]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

97

The new drill hall has made considerable progress. The walls-are nearly finished, and the building will be inclosed before cold weather comes. I t will be difficult, to finish it within the appropriation made by the state, and some funds from current account will be needed. The improvements asked in the upper story of the main building were referred to the Committee on Buildings and Grounds, and with its approval have been made. The department of architecture finds itself in apartments well suited to its needs, both as to space and light. The amount of money expended has considerably exceeded the estimate. A part of this excess comes from the need of casing the girders overhead, from which the plaster was falling. This has been required from time to time in all the large rooms where the heavy girders are exposed. The whole improvement has cost $590.62. The sum appropriated at the last meeting was $430. The balance should now be assigned. The renovation of the chemical building has been done at a cost of $286.54. The sum assigned was $400. The fence around the north campus has mostly been set; the remainder being left until the work about the new building should be finished. The amount expended is $496.64. The appropriation was $500. I t will require $50 more, for painting, which should be done without delay. The general repairs, cleaning, calcimining, etc., have been larger than usual at this season, especially because of the amount of carpenter, mason, and painter's work done in the two buildings. For this purpose $400 was authorized. The cost has been $548.69, which you are asked to approve. The Library Committee presents a report of its transactions for the year ending June 30th. I t is a matter of regret t h a t the legislature should reduce the usual appropriation for this important purpose. The amount available is only $1,000, for which I ask the usual reference with authority to act.

R E P O R T OF L I B R A R Y COMMITTEE.

To the Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: At the meeting of the Trustees of September, 1888, the following order was passed: 4 'That the expenditure of the state appropriation for books and publications for the current year be referred to a committee consisting of the Eegent, the Librarian, and the Business Agent, and t h a t the list of books and the bids obtained therefor be referred to the Executive Committee of the Board for its approval." Acting under this direction the Library Committee, after conference with the members of the Faculty, prepared as usual, a list of periodicals and a list of books. Both these were submitted to and were approved by the Executive Committee. Nov. 27, 1888. Leave was given by the Executive Committee to purchase list of periodicals for year 1889 from A. H. Boffe & Co., for $273.81. Dec. 8, 1888. Leave given by same to purchase missing back numbers to complete volumes, to the amount of $15.00. Jan. 16, 1889. Leave given to pay for binding Patent Office reports $31.20. Bids were invited from A. C. McClurg & Co., and S. A.- Maxwell & Co., of Chicago, and G. P. Putnam's Sons, of New York, as to list of books, already approved by the Executive Committee. These firms had all requested opportunity to present bids. Lists were sent to each firm separately. After lapse of considerable time, Maxwell & Co. wrote declining to bid, farther than an offer to buy such books as they could fkid in market at 10 per cent, commission. Bids were received from Putnam & Co., and from McClurg & Co.; the latter were found to be the lowest, and the purchase was awarded to them by the Executive Committee, Jan. 26,

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