Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 241]

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UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS.

In accordance with requests from t h e Illinois Board of World's Fair Commissioners I prepared and submitted to them last fall a plan for an exhibit of t h e methods and results of t h e work of t h e State Laboratory of Natural History and t h e State Entomologist's office, which was accepted by them without amendment and is now in process of execution. This plan required t h e use of 1,500 square feet of floor space, and an assignment of $9,200 from the funds of t h e Commission. The opportunities for field and office work thus given by Exposition preparations will incidentally advance the natural history survey of the state much more rapidly than usual. The force of the Laboratory, chiefly engaged on this work, now comprises two taxidermists with an assistant, three professional entomologists and three assistants in their department, two ichthyological collectors, a zoologist, an amanuensis, an artist and a librarian—a staff of fifteen in all. Besides these preparations for t h e Exposition of 1893, t h e regular office work of the State Entomologist is in progress, especial attention being given this summer to an elaborate series of studies and experiments with the contagious diseases of insects. I have also undertaken, a t t h e request of t h e United States Fish Commissioner, to continue my studies of the invertebrate animal life of t h e waters of t h e United States,—a subject which can be prosecuted to very great advantage in connection with t h e natural history survey of Illinois. Two students of the University, engaged especially for this purpose, worked three weeks last month—part of t h e time with my assistance— upon two Wisconsin lakes; and I am about to take a party of three to the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado, for a similar investigation. These various lines of work, together with t h a t of the preparation of t h e University exhibit in zoology and entomology and sundry visits to t h e east, made necessary by my relations to the Fish Commission and to t h e approaching World's Congress of Zoologists, will fill my summer vacation unusually full. I have only to request of you a t this meeting t h a t t h e assignment for laboratory expenses be made in t h e same terms as last year, and t h a t t h e salaries of Mr. John Marten, Mr. C. A. Hart and Miss M. J. Snyder be continued for the next fiscal year a t t h e same rate as for this. Respectfully submitted,

S. A. FORBES, Director of Laboratory.

T h e C o m m i t t e e o n F i n a n c e presented t h e following r e p o r t :

U R B A N A , I I I . , J u n e 8, 1892.

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: Your Committee on Finance respectfully reports t h a t i t has examined t h e books of t h e Treasurer and compared them with t h e warrants drawn upon him from March 1, 1891, to August 31,1891, No. 551 to No. 1,150 inclusive; and from September 1, 1891, to February 29, 1892, No. 1 to No. 700 inclusive, and found all to be in order and correct. T h e warrants were cancelled and left in t h e hands of the Treasurer. The Committtee further examined vouchers for warrants No. 1 to No. 700 inclusive, issued from September 1, 1891, to February 29, 1892, and found t h e same correct and properly receipted. The Committee also examined Experiment Station vouchers, on which warrants No. 78 to No. 142 inclusive, have been issued, and found them correct and properly receipted. Eespectfully submitted,

N . W. GRAHAM ) Finance A L E X A N D E R M C L E A N , f *inance Committee committee.