Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1900 [PAGE 321]

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1899 ]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

301

2 * T o t a k e care of t h e leakage from t h e stone-covered tower on t h e n o r t h side of t h e L i b r a r y B u i l d i n g , a n a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $100.00. 3. A n a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $500.00 to be used u p o n rooms in N a t u r a l History Building, University Hall and Engineering Hall. 4. F o r a c e m e n t floor a n d d r a i n a g e in t h e coal bins, $375.00. 5. F o r r e p a i r of t h e floor i n t h e A r m o r y , $250.00. 6. F o r lawn h y d r a n t s , $450.00. 7. T h r e e c e n t s a t o n additional for h a u l i n g coal t h e p a s t year.

DESTRUCTION OF THE WOOD SHOPS, TESTING LABORATORY AND GYMNASIUM.

At two o'clock Saturday morning, June 9th, the oldest building on the campus, which accomodated our Wood Shops, Testing Laboratory, Hydraulic Laboratory, Gymnasium, etc., was entirely destroyed by fire. The origin of the fire is unknown. Before we were aware that the building was on fire at all it was beyond all hope. In an hour nothing was left but the outside walls. This entails upon the University another very serious loss. While the building was an old one, it was substantial, and it was exceedingly useful. The resulting inconvenience will be great. I have already considered temporary arrangements. It seems to me that there is nothing else to do but to put the Gymnasium back into the Armory. This will cripple both the gymnasium work and the military work, but I see no alternative. We can find temporary quarters for the Wood Shops in the basement of the Electrical Building. The Hydraulic Laboratory can not be re-established in any temporary quarters. It seems as though the University repair shop will have to be abandoned. I will give my attention to making such arrangements as will enable us to go on with imperative work in the best way practicable. Money for furniture and appliances in the Gymnasium and Wood Shops will be needed. It is true that we have not the money to spare, but in such an exigency there is no way but to draw upon the general fund, and then go to the Legislature with the whole case. , I therefore recommend that the sum of $5,000.00 be appropriated for the purposes referred to in order that we may draw upon it as may be necessary. A portion of this can doubtless be paid from the special fund for engineering equipment, but the greater part will have * to come from the legislative appropriation. Action u p o n t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n was deferred u n t i l afternoon, a n d it was t h e n adopted, a n d t h e C o m m i t t e e on B u i l d i n g s a n d G r o u n d s was directed to c a r r y t h e action i n t o effect. U p o n t h i s q u e s t i o n Mr. M c K a y voted n o .

COMMENCEMENT ORATORS.

We have been accustomed to pay our commencement orators an honorarium of $100.00 in lieu of expenses and services. Heretofore we have had a way of publishing their addresses through the Illini, although the printing was always unsatisfactory. The new form of the Illini makes this impracticable. I recommend, therefore, that hereafter we pay the expenses of the commencement orators, whatever they may be, and publish their addresses in pampnlet form, giving them a suitable number of copies. T h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n was adopted.