Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1894 [PAGE 212]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

213

t h a t the name of the firm had been changed to Yeager & Schultz. Yeager & Schultz presented a bond in the sum of $43,000, which your committee found satisfactory and approved. All the members of the committee, together with the president of the board, were present. The committee decided to use Berea, Ohio, blue sandstone in the construction of the exterior walls of the basement. The committee then entered into a contract with the said firm of Yeager & Schultz, in accordance with the proposal submitted by the said C. F. Schultz & Co., and a contract was made in duplicate, and one copy of the contract and the bond have both been filed with the business agent of the University. Your committee appointed Mr. I. H. Rapp inspector for the building, at a salary of $130 per month, to commence work when the work on t h e building should begin. The committee appointed Mr. George W. Billiard, architect, as general superintendent of the building at a compensation of 21 per cent of the cost of the building. Work was begun at once by the contractors, and they have shown commendable zeal in pushing along rapidly. As the work of excavation was going on, careful examination of t h e footing trenches was made; and, in order to secure a satisfactory clay foundation for the wall footings, the superintendent had part of the walls placed at a greater depth. By so doing, the ground on which the building rests is as nearly uniform "as could be had for a building the size of this. The excavation is completed and nearly all the foundation walls are finished; part of the joists are laid and t h e main walls are started. Today the corner stone was laid with fitting ceremonies, at which you were present. The weather has been favorable for work and t h e contractors propose to go forward with the building as rapidly as it will permit. The work thus far is very satisfactory. Several car loads of brick were rejected and sent away by the inspector and superintendent, but no trouble has since been experienced on account of poor material, except in unimportant matters. Your committee fixed the grade of the building as contemplated in a former report, and now, since the foundation is in place, we believe the grade will be very satisfactory. Your committee hopes to be able to present to the board for its consideration, at the next general meeting, proposals for heating the building, for electric wiring, and other minor work. The contractors were paid, on estimates of the superintendent. Nov. 1st, $2,415.44, and December 1st, $10,479.22. In the opinion of the committee, the elevator shaft in the building should have the openings closed up with brick, but so arranged t h a t they can be removed without any considerable expense at any time when it may appear best to put an elevator into the building. There will be no extra cost for this. Respectfully submitted,

S. A. BTTLLARD, ) Committee on

N. B. MORRISON, f Buildings and Grounds. The report of the committee was accepted, and its recommendations adopted. The business agent and Professor Breckinridge were given authority to dispose of the mining engineering machinery, now in the basement of the chemical laboratory, provided they could do so on terms deemed satisfactory.