Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1898 [PAGE 249]

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1898.]

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

249

P r e s i d e n t D r a p e r presented, with h i s approval, a r e q u e s t from Professor M y e r s for an a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $6000, to be used in t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e results of an investigation m a d e b y h i m of t h e light changes in a variable star, based on observations given h i m by Professor P i c k e r i n g , of H a r v a r d Observatory, a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a tion was made. P r e s i d e n t D r a p e r p r e s e n t e d a r e q u e s t from t h e S t u d e n t s ' D e m o cratic Club of t h e U n i v e r s i t y a s k i n g for t h e use of Military H a l l for a lecture to be given by t h e H o n . W i l l i a m J . B r y a n , sometime d u r i n g t h e m o n t h of M a y next. Mr. M c L e a n moved t h a t t h e r e q u e s t be not granted, i n a s m u c h as it was c o n t r a r y to t h e rjolicy of. the B o a r d to have M i l i t a r y H a l l used for other t h a n U n i v e r s i t y purposes. Mr. Morrison moved to a m e n d the motion so as to g r a n t t h e use of t h e H a l l , in accordance with t h e request. U p o n this a m e n d m e n t t h e ayes were—Messrs. Bullard and Morris o n ; t h e noes—Messrs. A r m s t r o n g , M c K a y , M c L e a n , P e a r c e , R a y mond, S m i t h , and M r s . Carriel, a n d t h e a m e n d m e n t failed. T h e motion was t h e n carried. T h e following report was received from t h e C o m m i t t e e on B u i l d i n g s and G r o u n d s :

'HEATING, LIGHTING, AND POWER PLANT.

To the Board of Trustees. Your Committee on Buildings and Grounds desires to report that M. Yeager & Son, the general contractors on the new mechanical and electrical laboratory and boiler "house, had their contract completed at the'time of the March meeting of the Board. The architects, Messrs. McLane & Temple, reported to your Committee that the work and materials had been satisfactory and that the contract had been completed according to the drawings and specifications. The time stipulation of the contract was that all the buildings were to be completed and ready for the acceptance of the Committee on December 1, 1897. The work for several reasons stated by the contractors,, which they claimed to be sufficient, was not completed on the date stated. The difference between the date of completion called for by the contract and date on which the work was ready for acceptance was. figured by the architects to be 97 days. The forfeiture clause in the contract required a deduction of twenty-five dollars per day for each and every day the work remained uncompleted and not ready for acceptance after December 1, 1897. The amount of forfeiture for the 97 days was $2,425. The Committee did not feel like assuming the responsibility of deciding whether or not the reasons set forth by M. Yeager & Son, the contractors, for the delays were sufficient to excuse them from demands of the forfeiture clause and therefore ordered that the request of M. Yeager & Son for a release from the forfeiture clause of the contract be referred to the Board for action. Your Committee feels that the contractors have done their work well and have given us a good and satisfactory building. We desire to commend the work which they have done. We desire to say also that the boiler house was turned over to us for the use of the University, though not fully completed, two days before the date required by the contract, and that the delay mentioned has occurred on the engineering laboratory. The new boiler was placed in the boiler house during the month of December and on the 28th was fired up for steam. The cold storage and coal handling machinery was put in as soon as possible thereafter. It is true, therefore, that the plans of