Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1906 [PAGE 341]

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1906]

PEOOEEDINGS OF THE BOAED OF TEUSTEES.

315

"A third man would probably be required to act as general assistant to the head of the department to look after his classes in his absence. It would be wise also to give the new head of this department considerable stenographic assistance. "If the above propositions should be made for railway instruction, the University of Illinois would be very much in advance of any other institution on the continent. No institution attempts to emphasize more than one of the three lines of instruction mentioned above, and in the opinion of your committee the provisions here recommended are greater than those possessed by any one of the institutions offering any similar work. Your committee begs to express the hope that the University may vigorously enter upon the above work at an early day. "In view of the foregoing, your committee begs to make the following recommendations : "1. We recommend that a Department of Railway Engineering be established in the College of Engineering. "2. We recommend the appointment, as head of the new department, a man who has had considerable pedagogical experience on railroad lines and who has an acquaintanceship and a standing with railroad men. Your committee is unanimously of the opinion that Professor William D. Pence, a graduate of this institution, a former member of the engineering faculty and at present Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University, is abundantly qualified for this position and is the most desirable man known to any of us. For several years past he has served as editor of the publications of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, the leading association of railroad men in the United States. "3. We further recommend the appointment of an associate professor of railway mechanical and electrical engineering. "4. We also recommend the appointment of an instructor in railway civil engineering to act as an assistant to the head of the department "5. We recommend the employment of an additional stenographer and typewriter for the College of Engineering, chiefly because of the needs of the new department. "The total additional cost of the proposed innovation would be about as follows:

1. Professor of railway engineering in charge of the department 2. Associate professor of railway mechanical and electrical engineering 3. Instructor in railway civil engineering L Stenographer and typewriter Total $2,500 00 to $3,000 00 2,000 00 to 1,000 00 to 600 00 to 2,500 00 1,200 00 900 00

$6,100 00 to $7,600 00

"Respectfully submitted,

"IRA O. BAKER, "L. P. BRECKENRIDGE, "A. N. TALBOT,

"Committee" I recommend that a new department be created in the College of Engineering, to be known as the Department of Railway Engineering and Administration, and that the expense of this department be charged to the special fund for the enlargement and equipment of the Engineering College and Engineering Experiment Station; and that a sum not to exceed $7,600.00 be set apart for the payment of salaries in this department for the academic year 1906-07; and that the President be authorized to proceed with the announcement and organization of said department and to nominate incumbents for the necessary positions.

Voted that said recommendation be approved.

8. Mr. George F. Schwartz, instructor in violin in the School of Music, wishes to spend a year in Europe for further study. It is very desirable, indeed, that the members of our staff be encouraged to take a year's leave of absence now and then for the purpose of preparing themselves still better