Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 255]

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258

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

The Committee on Buildings and Grounds made the following report:

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: Your Committee on Buildings and Grounds desires to report t h a t the work on Natural History Hall is progressing properly. Though the season has been unfavorable for rapid work, we still hope t h e building may be completed in the time set by the contract. I t seems to your committee t h a t the heating apparatus for the new building should be placed in the same house as that of University Hall. This can be done by enlarging the present boiler house. The heatinsr of the Chemical Laboratory should be provided for in fixing the plant for the new building. This can be done by enlarging the pipes sufficiently to justify the attachment of the heating apparatus of this building. The cost will be increased but will be very much cheaper in the end if done in this way. We append the report of the architect and make it a part of our report.

A ^ ; ™ M ; T , A V \ Commit ee on

N W. G K I H A ^ I

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Groups.

U N I V E R S I T Y OF ILLINOIS, June 6, 1892.

To the Committee on Buildings and Grounds of the Board of Tru tees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: I beg leave to make the following report on the matterscommitted to my charge:

1. T H E N A T U R A L HISTORY H A L L .

The masonry of the building is now nearly completed, with the exception of the backing of the cornice, and the chimney caps. There has been very little difficulty in regard to the quality of the bricks furnished since your last meeting, though the contractor was compelled to purchase several car loads from other manufacturers in order to keep his men at work. The galvanized iron cornices and gutters have been received, and partly delivered at the building; the placing of the cornice in its position will begin immediately, when the external walls will be carried to their full height. The roof is entirely framed, ready for erection, so t h a t a few weeks will make a very great change in the appearance of the building and make it secure against the weather. A t your last meeting I requested authority to arrange with the contractor for slated hipped roofs of steeper slope, over the mansard windowsin the roof, but have never learned t h a t any action was taken on this point. This would considerably improve the external appearance of the building, but would increase the cost somewhat. Unless instructed otherwise, it is necessary for me to carry out the work as per contract, which requires the dormer windows-to be covered by flat tinned roofs. In regard to the tinned deck roofs, I have decided to use a flat seamed roof of 20x28 tin, strongly nailed and with soldered seams, instead of t h e 14x20 tin with standing seams specified. The cost is the same, and t h e superintendent recommends the change, as it will make a better roof with the small inclination of roof used. Samples of Acme, Fitzgerald, and King's Windsor cement plastering,, submitted some time since by the contractor, have been carefully examined and tested in various ways. The last proved to be the hardest, strongest, and to stand submersion in water best, and it has accordingly been ac-