Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1896 [PAGE 246]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

249

U p o n r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of t h e C o u n c i l of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , p r e s e n t e d b y P r e s i d e n t D r a p e r , t h e following a p p o i n t m e n t s to fellowships were made: In the College of Literature and Arts— Mary Maude Cole, In the College of Engineering— James Harry McKee, In the College of Science— George David Hubbard,

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Charles Hunter Garnett, Walter Gilbert Campbell. Edward Lawrence Milne.

The following communication from President Draper, with regard to the agricultural departments of the University, wTas referred to the Farm Committee. Later in the session the paper was returned by the Committee, and, after discussion, was adopted.

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AND EXPERIMENT STATION.

To the Board of Trustees. During the past year I have given such attention and thought as I have been able to the agricultural interests which we are endeavoring to promote in the University. The situation at the farm has been somewhat improved, and yet it is far from satisfactory. I think a good beginning has been made, but little more than that can be said. There is serious need of a more perfect system of management. I am not certain but that this is contingent upon a somewhat radical modification of the plan of organization. When I have advised with the Dean of the College of Agriculture about matters which I supposed were wholly subject to his direction, he has claimed that these matters were in charge of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and therefore under the direction of the Board of Direction of the Experiment Station, and that he had no more to do with them than have professors in other departments of the University who have no relation whatever to the work of the Station. Technically the plan of organization for the management of the Experiment Station, adopted by the Board of Trustees on the 21st of March, 1888, affords ground for this claim. It seems to me that it should be removed. Our plan of managing the affairs of the Experiment Station, through the Board of Direction, is at variance with that of practically all the leading Experiment Stations of the country. I think, also, that it is at variance with sound principles, because it devolves executive duties upon the Board of Direction which can only be properly discharged by a single individual who has full authority and is charged with entire responsibility. ' I am exceedingly anxious that not only should there be no hindrance in the way of the fullest and most rapid development of this work, but that everything which we can do to aid such development shall be done, and I recommend : 1. That the position of Director of the Experiment Station be created and that the Dean of the College of Agriculture shall fill such position ex officio; that such Director shall have immediate charge of all property belonging to the Agricultural Experiment Station; that he shall be the executive officer of such Station, vested with full authority and charged with entire responsibility for attaining the purposes of the law and for carrying out the directions of the Board of Trustees or of the Advisory Board concerning said Station; that he shall have general supervision of the work of all its departments, shall employ such assistance and laborers as he may be authorized to do by action of the Board of Trustees; that he shall keep the President of the University generally advised of all matters appertaining to the work of the Station, and shall make formal written reports at the first of each month covering the work of the Station, and that he shall act under the direction of the President in the absence of special directions from the Board of Trustees or the Advisory Board.