Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1896 [PAGE 190]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

193

Being unofficially informed that the appropriation for the library building would not be available until spring, our Committee addressed a letter of inquiry to the State Treasurer, and received the following reply from the Auditor :

OCTOBER 19, 1895.

Richard P. Morgan, Esq., Dwight, III., DEAR SIR : Your favor of 17th instant addressed to the State Treasurer has been referred to this office. In reply to same will say: I am of opinion that no funds for the payment of appropriation for library building of the state University will be available until about the 1st of May x next* Yours truly,

DAVID GORE,

Auditor Public Accounts, After receiving this letter the Committee wrote to Mr. Burnham, as follows, on the 23d of October: "Hitherto we have endeavored to press forward rapidly in the selection of a design for the library building, but while that is desirable, it should not be done at the expense of thorough consideration, and we think such an error would be inexcusable now that we know that our funds will not be available until about the 1st of May next." Upon notice from Mr. Burnham, on the 25th of October, that he had the plans ready for the Committee to examine, the sub-committee went to Chicago on the 28th of October to examine the same, from which place the sub-committee repaired to Springfield, and on the 30th instant again consulted Governor Altgeld as stated in the following letter:

OCTOBER 31, 1895.

Hon. Alexander McLean, Macomb, III., DEAR S I R : I have just returned from Springfield, where I met Mr. Morrison, and last evening we had a conference with the Governor with reference to the sketches that Mr. Burnham has furnished for the ground plan of the library building. Our consideration of the matter was protracted to a late hour, and the principal result that I am now able to report to you, is that it was substantially concluded that instead of having a full basement story to the building, and a main and a second floor, as hitherto contemplated, it would be better, if feasible, to have no more than a sub-basement to the building sufficient for the steam pipes, etc., and establish the elevation of the first floor at about five feet above the natural surface of the ground. The first floor to have sufficient area to contain the reading room, the stack room, and executive offices with details. The ceilings to be about seventeen feet high. The second or upper floor? to be used for the museum, art gallery, etc. The considerations were, that m this way the cubic capacity'of the building, which measures its cost, could be reduced, and the facility with which the students could reach the library, and also the executive.officers and their offices, would be greatly enhanced over any other plan yet considered. Unfortunately for us, Mr. Burnham was called to Philadelphia and could not meet with us, but I telegraphed last night to the firm to send some qualified person to Springfield to-day to see the Governor and review with him our work of last night as to feasibility, etc. Knowing you would be interested to know briefly what is taking place, I take pleasure in sending you this account of it. Yours truly,

EICHARD P. MORGAN,

Chairman Building and Grounds Committee, University of Illinois. In compliance with this letter, Mr. Weber, of Burnham & Co., went to Springfield and had further conference with Governor Altgeld, after which the work of preparing designs continued.

—13 U. I.