Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 90]

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PROCEEDINGS O F BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

9&

being worked so t h a t it cannot be satisfactorily used in the steam-heated University buildings. 3. Some repairs to the present wood-working machines and some additional machines are very much needed, especially if the wood-work and fixtures of the proposed new University buildings are to be made in the shops. The tenoning machine will require about $100 to put it in good condition. The molding m chine will require about the same sum. A power mortising machine is a necessity, as the old foot-power machine is inaccurate, is very slow and hard to operate, has been in use over twenty-one years, and ought to be thrown aside. An improved saw-bench is also much needed, since a good one with the latest improvements is the most useful machine in a shop. A pony planer for smooth-surfacing of small pieces and thin lumber would also be exceedingly useful, as the large planer is not suited for this kind of work. In conclusion, I regret being compelled to state t h a t it will be simply impossible for me to take charge of the erection of the proposed new building for the University as architect, under present conditions, and in addition to the regular work in instruction now required of me. I t should be remembered t h a t the assistant in architecture has always been required to devote two-thirds of his time to instruction in general classes in the College of Engineering, thus being able to take but a single architectural class per term, or three classes during the entire year, which leaves all remaining special instruction in architecture to me. This work fully occupies my entire time and strength during the term, leaving very little opportunity for making improvements in the course of instruction, or to revise and extend lecture notes and text books, except during the vacations. Indeed, it is not probable t h a t there is any other school of architecture elsewhere in the United States in which one and one-third instructors are expected and required to impart all the necessary special instruction and training to at least sixty-five architectural students. Courses of study in architecture have recently been introduced in two more educational institutions, now making six architectural schools in the United States, and another will undoubtedly be opened in Chicago within a very few years. In order to maintain the present satisfactory reputation and prestige of this school of architecture in competition with the efforts of the other schools, two things are urgently required—money and hard work. Since it does not now appear t h a t abundant funds will ever be available for this purpose, the amount of hard work will necessarily be greatly increased, because done at a great disadvantage in comparison with most other schools. The entire time of two instructors ought henceforth to be devoted to the special instruction in architecture, and no better investment could be made at this time. Very respectfully submitted,

N. CLIFFORD K I C K E R .

Professor Eicker's requests when classified will be as follows:

From state appropriation for furnitureTwo cases and two desks From state appropriation for apparatusTwo computers Camera €ollection For buildings, current funds For new machinery— •Congressional fund, say

$100 00

$40 00 75 00! 100 001 215 00 1,000 00

1,000 00

1 regret the necessity of presenting to you a communication from Professor Arthur T. Woods declining re-election. Professor Woods has.