Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 31]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1906]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

3

fully up to the condition determined by my schedule, with the exeption of the steel work for the balcony and dome, all of which is much behind in deliveries. This part of the work was let by English Brothers to Thatcher A. Parker, of Terre Haute. • I had a long interview yesterday with his representative in charge of the work, who came on to meet me at my request, and have received from him satisfactory assurance that his part of the work will be pushed more rapidly and in such manner as not to delay the further progress of the building. I shall- not rely entirely on his promises, however. Dean White and I have, arranged to send Mr. Bevis to Terre Haute two or three times each week, to hasten shipments and to encourage Parker, until the whole order is filled. I received word this morning that two car loads, containing all of the gallery girders and cantilevers but four, had just arrived at Urbana, and that another carload was on the way. I do not anticipate any further delay in the steel that would interfere with completing the building on time. The parts of the building now in place include all of the foundations, the cellar piers, the steel beams of first floor, and all of the exterior walls up to the level o f balcony corridors. The exterior granite is all in place and is of excellent quality. The granite finally selected by me is a firm, close grained rock from Mt. Airy, North Carolina. It has been used with satisfactory results in the Land Title, and other large buildings in Philadelphia. Before making the selection I had a sample analyzed and tested at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was assured of its durability. The limestone used is best New York grade buff Bedford Indiana, Practically all of the stone for the Auditorium has been delivered at the site. All the blocks have been carefully inspected and a few have been rejected. These are being properly replaced by English Brothers. The stone carving has been done from models prepared in Boston under my personal direction, and is quite satisfactory. The brickwork is fully up to my requirements. The contractor has, however,' adopted an expedient of which I cannot wholly approve. At frequent intervals he has built into the inner faces of the walls blocks of wood to which the finish will later be nailed. This is not considered good practice in some parts of the country, but I am informed that it is the universal custom in Illinois and that in all first class constructions such wooden blocks are used. I should be loth to interfere with a local usage which is considered all right, and while my judgment is against it, I am willing to pass it as it does not materially impair the stability of the building as a whole. Excepting as above the" brick work seems to be perfectly satisfactory as to both workmanship and material. The style of face work was something with which the individual mechanics were not very familiar, but they have given careful attention to it. The brick selected is quite rough, requiring really more care on the part of the brick layer than a more even pressed brick. The appearance of the walls is exactly what I wanted. The copper cresting, or cheneau, which in various forms carries entirely around the building, is a very important feature of the exterior design. I had full size plaster models of all of this work prepared under my personal direction in Boston and sent to the sub-contractors in Chicago who are to do the work for English Brothers. I shall tomorrow visit the factory and shall now and later keep close watch of the work as it progresses. This copper work will not be needed at the building for several months. In the light of what we can now count upon for the steel work I have worked out with English Brothers and Parker, a schedule as follows: Last of all steel work except roof and dome to be shipped.Sept. 23d. All structural steel of every description to be shipped not later than Oct. 21st. All exterior brick and stone work to be completed by Nov. 1st. All steam and plumbing pipes, all fireproof floors, all flat roofs, in place by Dec. 1st. Dome complete and all roofs tight by Jan. 1, 1907. A'lfloorsin, rough plastering partly under way, electric wiring done by Feb. 1st. Plastering completed and building dried out by March 10th. Balcony floorings, terrazzo floors, all steam and plumbing work, bases and door frames finished by April 1st. All work finished ready for use May 1, 1907. To carry out this program will require good will on the part of the contractor and close, helpful supervision. I am quite satisfied we have the first in abundant measure. To aid in the second I propose personally to visit the work at Champaign and in the shops at Terre Haute about once a month