Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1906 [PAGE 84]

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58

UNIVERSITY

or

ILLINOIS.

[March 14

of work in improving the wiring has been done in the Agricultural Building, University Hall, the President's House, the Electrical Laboratory, the Wood Shop, the Armory and the Gymnasium. In the last named building the transformers have been removed from the building and located in the tunnel where any defect could not cause a fire. The troubles located have been caused mostly by causes not directly connected with electric wiring. F o r example underneath the main floor of the wood shop we found t h a t a shaft hanger had been recklessly put up, the 220-volt wires being merely pushed aside, and remaining in contact wj.th the iron of the hanger. I t is a wonder t h a t a short circuit was not caused at once. Only the good quality of the insulation prevented. Such dangers can only be remedied by inspection at reasonable intervals. I desire to call your attention to the essentially defective wiring of t h e Natural History hall, of University hall, of the observatory, of the machine shop and of the boiler house. I t would be only possible to bring the wiring in these buildings even approximately up to t h e standard of the Underwriter's rules for wiring by re-wiring the buildings, and this we recommend. The Natural History hall and the University hall are particularly bad. Not a single combination fixture in these buildings has the required insulation joint for one thing. Neither of these buildings is completely wired for electricity, and if rewiring is to be ordered the work should be made to include the unfinished wiring. Also Engineering hall (fairly well wired) is supplied with but half the number of fixtures and lamps needed to light the entire building. In a letter t o President Draper, dated June 3, 1903, on this subject, I estimated the cost of completing t h e wiring of this building, including fixtures, sockets and lamps at $650. The lighting of the library building is inadequate, the rotunda suffering particularly. More light is demanded today for lighting t h a n was formerly considered necessary, 'and I feel t h a t the inadequacy of the lighting in this building is due largely to this fact. The large reading rooms need more light. Some gain could be made by lowering the fixtures, but a satisfactory solution of the problem would include heavier wiring and the purchase of a number of fixtures. I would like so to strengthen the overhead lighting as to do away entirely with t h e stand lamps •on the tables, believing t h a t the result would be to greatly enhance the appearance of these reading rooms. The rotunda, the finest interior architectural feature the University has, is positively gloomy after sunset, owing to insufficient lighting. I t may not be out of place to add here t h a t additional lighting will soon be needed on the University grounds, especially south of University hall. The present ugly pole line south of University hall along Burrill avenue will be taken down very soon\ perhaps within ten days. The circuits supplied from this line will go under ground to the south end of the Agricultural building, thence by pole line on Mathews avenue to the new agricultural buildings. Respectfully yours, Professor of Electrical FIRE PROTECTION.

MORGAN BROOKS,

Engineering.

Your committee has considered the matter of more adequate fire protection and recommends the placing of additional extinguishers in all our buildings, or until there are three, or at least two, in each corridor and each story of the smaller buildings and four in each corridor of the larger buildings. Your committee recommends that two chemical engines or trucks be purchased and installed, one north and one south of Green street, either in some rooms of buildings conveniently situated therefor or in a small building or buildings constructed for the purpose. These trucks are to be double charged and provided with sufficient hose to reach from the truck to any part of the building and with hose to reach water plugs and to be re-charged as rapidly as necessary. That the janitors be organized into brigades for handling these trucks, and that during term time a fire brigade be organized among the students, allowing the deduction of semester fees to such as join the brigade. That these brigades practice in the use of chemical engines at intervals so that the service may be efficient. Your committee believes that this would afford protection against incipient fires and that this service would either put fires out or hold them in check until the city departments could arrive. Your committee recommends that it be authorized to get proposals for such apparatus, examine more fully where the engine may be placed and advise with the superintendent of buildings with regard to the details of the organization proposed and report at the June meeting of the Board. The committee is of the opinion that it is possible to unite with the cities of Champaign and Urbana in providing a joint fire department in the vicinity of the University, and recommends that it be authorized to formulate such a plan, if such can be made with the cities, limiting the annual expense to the University to $600.00 a year, and report to the Board.

CENTRAL UNION TELEPHONE COMPANY.

Your committee reports that the Central Union Telephone Company has not yet constructed its system of wires across the parade ground of the north campus; but the materials are on the ground and we are told that the worK will be begun within a few days.