Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 62]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD O F TRUSTEES.

65

For the remainder, the opportunity offers to obtain certain things much desired, but hitherto postponed for want of means. Among these may be named:

A drying apparatus to cost say A. threshing machine. Cases in room set apart for a museum; in part, to cost, say., New roof and fittings for a dairy house Salary of agriculturist, 3 moDths , $50 175 60 250 00 00 00 00

$535 00 300 00 $835 00

Leaving a small balance to be closed out in the usual manner. For the next fiscal year, detailed estimates are given by the Secretary. I n a larger grouping they are as follows:

For salaries Wages and teams Printing bulletins Apparatus and books Special experiments Seeds, tools, and fertilizers Miscellaneous expenses....

$7,500 00 3,700 00 1,600 00 925 00I 400 001 275 00 600 00 $15,000 00

The salaries are estimated to absorb one-half of the appropriation. This is upon the rates now paid. Those of the older professors are entirely nominal, and in no respect apportioned to the service rendered. I t is natural and reasonable t h a t the younger men should seek to have their compensation augmented as the' quality of their service improves. I t does not seem possible to make any material changes in the salaries, while the work has its present scope, nor is it easy to say where the scope may be contracted. The temptation is strong to enlarge the work, when one sees the multitude of problems which present themselves for solution. But some of the problems seem to have been fairly wrought out, and may be dismissed. Others need repetition. Others will require, not very much work, but long time for their solution. Will it not be desirable to give the list a searching scrutiny, with a view to determine what experiments may be dropped, either as inconsequential, impracticable, or worked out, so t h a t room may be made either for intenser work on such as remain, or for the introduction of new ones t h a t demand consideration? When a new subject is prepared for experiment, which shall we ask? Will it be interesting to do this? or, Is this a matter t h a t needs to be done ? Are there not plenty of the latter ready to our hands ? We have expended $45,000 on this enterprise. Some of it is in the nature of an investment, like the planting of certain kinds of forest trees, whose returns come only after a long period of waiting. What of the remainder ? Are we sure t h a t the harvest is worth the expenditure of land and labor? If they have not been of so much worth, how can their worth be made greater ? Some day, and perhaps at an early day, the Experiment Station will find these questions to be very pertinent, and imperative. The Board of Direction presents the following papers: Paper A is a list of warrants drawn, Nos. 826 to 895, inclusive, and is accompanied with vouchers for the same. Paper B is a statement of the expenditures for t h e quarter ending December 31, 1890. Paper C is a statement of the appropriations, expenditures a nd balances for the quarter ending March 31, 1891. Paper D is a statement of appropriations asked for this and the next quarters.