Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1904 [PAGE 97]

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1903.]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

73

I refer to the location of new structures for that college. I t seems well that such parts of the new agricultural construction as we would like to have seen by visitors shall be located on the south part of the University grounds, but considerations, obvious to my mind, require that if this is to be done they shall be placed south and somewhat back from the road running east and west in front of the house of the dean of the College of Agriculture, and wholly west and somewhat back from Burrill avenue. There will yet be a very large addition to the University buildings, and it is now clear enough t h a t this must be to the south of the present buildings. Our student body is more than likely to be again doubled, or trebled, in the next ten years. Buildings need room, and buildings in which people do their work are entitled to more eligible space than buildings in which animals live. Students need room without stint for recreation and play. The 'Varsity teams and the military department monopolize Illinois Meld. Indeed the military regiment has begun to go to the south campus for room for its operations. By common consent everybody keeps off the lawns between the main buildings, but every one has been assured that the lawns south of the buildings shall be free for recreation and sport. Upon the commencement of operations for the Woman's building all the space north of the road in front of the Observatory will be closed to recreation and sport. We are to encourage and promote these. Not only the health, but the happiness of students and the general quiet and peace of the University are involved. Next year all the space on the University grounds south of the Observatory and east of Burrill avenue will be needed by the human interests of the University, and this need will be more and more pressing for an indefinite time. A proper regard for the future makes it imperative that we shall not permit any permanent structures for animals or more storage to be placed anywhere north of the road running east and west in front of the present barns. Even the ' ' permanent plots'* for agricultural experimentation will in time, and as soon as possible, have to be discontinued where they are and started on the south farm. I t is the glory of this University that it is rich in land eligibly located for its uses. I t is already distinguished for this among the universities of the country. I t is a feature in which but very few if any of them can approach us. I t is upon us to make the most of this, and press the advantage to the utmost. The College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station have a great, beautiful farm of four hundred acres close at hand which has just come into their uses. The human interests of the University require that everything connected with the agricultural work shall go there save such parts as are imperatively needed in the every day instructional work, or such parts as we want to keep in shape to show every-day visitors. Again the time is upon us for a thorough consideration of plans about the south campus. We are bound to stop the use of the University grounds as a pleasant route for funeral processions. Experience shows that this can not be done except by closing the road running south of the dean's house and the gate a t the end of it. I think this should be done. The use of Burrill avenue south of the " O l d B u i l d i n g " as a carriage way is no longer necessary, and I have come to the conclusion that the University interests would be promoted by changing it from a roadway into a walk. This would tend to make all the grounds south of the buildings more exclusive and useful to the University people, and it would help on all kinds of sports and pastimes while it promoted the healthful enthusiasm of student life. On this general subject I make the following recommendations: 1. That the south gate of the University grounds and the road leading to it from the house of the dean of the College of Agriculture be closed to the public. 2. That Burrill avenue from University Hall to the dean's house be discontinued as a carriage way, and converted into a walk. 3. That the road running east and west in front of the dean's house be made permanent, and extended to the limits of the grounds.