Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 19]

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UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS.

whether the time is not now at hand when something shall be done to bring this into proper relationship and adjustment with the other interests of the University. But let me not be understood as saying t h a t this has been running wild. I t has rather languished for want of proper care. I wish to advise t h a t at an early day—now, if you shall see your way to approve the ideas which may be presented—there be appointed an instructor for the gymnasium. If I could, I would follow the examples of Amherst, Cornell, and other institutions, some not so important as our own, and appoint a professor of physical culture. I would put all the young men into his hands, as for another purpose all are put into the hands of the professor of rhetoric and oratory. I would make his headquarters, or his class room, at the Military Hall, which should be open in his presence and under his personal supervision a good portion of every day, so t h a t the students may have regular discipline at certain hours, each for each, as their scholastic duties may permit. This will ultimately involve some cost. There will be need of more apparatus, which may be added from time to time. At some future day, I hope not too far off, there should be erected as an addition to the Military Hall on the north side, a suitable annex for a dressing and wash room, with facilities for bathing, etc., etc. This you will say is looking into the future. I t is so,. in some respects, but the man I would have to-day, if possible; if not, as soon as I could get him. The man should be an athlete, a gentleman, and a professor. You will naturally ask what about the women? I reply I would furnish them equal facilities as soon as possible, but the opening is not now so apparent as in the other case. The great deficiency is a room suitable for the purpose. And this leads me to this remark, t h a t our buildings, large as they are, will.be filled to their last apartment, if you shall see fit to make such appointments as have been brought to your attention. The University may or may not accommodate a thousand students ; it has not apartments enough for the instructors which so many students demand. I think I ought to raise this question for your early consideration, viz : Should movements be begun preparing to ask of the legislature the means for the erection of a biological building and museum, in which may be gathered the departments of botany, zoology, geology, and physiology with their respective collections ? Such a building should be spacious, arranged on the best and most approved plans, and, if possible, fire-proof. The removal of these specialties from University Hall will furnish room much needed for the expansion of other departments; just as the Military Hall has given needed expansion to the mechanical department. Eeturning to the consideration of the new fund from the Morrill aid act, there will still remain some money unprovided for. This may lie over for another year, or be expended for the " facilities for instruction," which facilities, it must be remembered, must be such as are germane to the special subjects set down in the act. They may be books, if the books are such as relate to the sciences specified. They may be apparatus, physical, chemical; machines, engineering instruments, etc. Some intimations have been received t h a t we may receive quite soon, not only the money appropriated as of June 30, 1890, but also t h a t appropriated as of June 30, 1891. If t h a t be the case, it may be necessary to consider the $16,000, which is the latter item, as the money belonging to the current year 1890-91; and to determine what shall be done with the $15,000 belonging to the year before. There is nothing in the law itself, demanding the expenditure and accounting for each year's appropriation within the year, with a gwcm-penalty for failure to expend and report, as in the case of the appropriations for the Experiment Station. Yet I apprehend t h a t most will recognize the advisability of so providing for the use of the money for appropriate and legitimate purposes, as to permit the carrying forward from year to year of no more than is needful for proper working balances.