Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 39]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1906]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOAED OF TRUSTEES.

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for the benefit of students and the general public, the various trees and shrubs which may be thought desirable for such purposes. It would, therefore be an area not only essentially parklike, but an arboretum where woody ornamental plants may be studied and to which would naturally be added an herbaceous garden comprising such varieties as should be grown for t h e courses in floriculture. It is my thought that the whole scheme should be an educational o n e and furnish information of very great value to central Illinois in regard to t h e hardiness and adaptability of certain varieties to this region. In this latter respect it may be considered an experimental area. If such a scheme as this meets with your approval, I should be glad to talk the matter over more in detail and to have you take the matter u p with t h e President and Board of Trustees at once, to the end that the work can be put under way without delay. It has caused me no little regretthat certain people within our University circles, should seek to misrepresent the department's position in regard to the fencing of the forestry and if the above scheme should be carried out, I am sure it would not only serve the purposes indicated above, but be a reminder that we are doing our best to encourage every one in the study of natural objects and especially beautiful plants and plantings. . Yours respectfully, Sept. 19,1906. J. C. B L A I R . Several times*in t h e past Professor Blair h a s m a d e a n a t t e m p t to have provided for s t u d e n t s a n d o t h e r s s o m e w h e r e on t h e c a m p u s a place w h e r e n a t u r e l o v e r s m a y s t r o l l among* t r e e s a n d s h r u b s . F o r o n e r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r h i s s u g gestion has never been adopted. Y o u a r e of c o u r s e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e a l m o s t s a v a g e a t t i t u d e of t h e s t u d e n t s a n d s o m e o t h e r s o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n of f e n c i n g the forestry. T h i s i s t h e r e a s o n P r o f e s s o r B l a i r a g a i n r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n of prpviding a place w h e r e people m a y be free to stroll. Aside from t h e fact t h a t t h e forestry h a s b e e n a r e s o r t for d i s r e p u t a b l e c h a r a c t e r , f o r m a n y y e a r s , i t is n e c e s s a r y f o r i t s o w n p r o t e c t i o n t h a t t h e a c t i o n o r d e r i n g i t t o b e f e n c e d s h o u l d s t a n d . I t h a s b e e n s e v e r a l t i m e s s e t o n fire b y p i c n i c p a r t i e s a n d b y s t u d e n t s , a n d h u n d r e d s of t r e e s h a v e b e e n k i l l e d b y t h e c u t t i n g of n a m e s o n t h e b a r k . T h e f o r e s t r y p l a n t a t i o n i s n o t a p u b l i c p a r k , a n d c a n n o t b e u s e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e if t h e f o r e s t r y e x p e r i m e n t i s t o c o n t i n u e . T h a t m a t t e r h a s a l r e a d y b e e n s e t t l e d b y t h e B o a r d of T r u s t e e s and I assume the action will stand. T h i s s u g g e s t i o n of P r o f e s s o r B l a i r ' s i s a a t t e m p t t o p r o v i d e a r e a l p a r k f o r strollers. I gladly endorse it a n d hope it will receive serious consideration by t h e B o a r d of T r u s t e e s . 3. T h e f a r m m e c h a n i c s b u i l d i n g i s n e a r i n g c o m p l e t i o n . May I ask that t h e f o r m a l a c c e p t a n c e of t h e b u i l d i n g b e p l a c e d i n t h e h a n d s of a c o m m i t t e e or such other a r r a n g e m e n t s be m a d e t h a t will enable us to occupy a n d use t h e building at once. 4. B y s o m e o v e r s i g h t t h e e s t i m a t e s f o r t h e A n i m a l H u s b a n d r y d e p a r t m e n t in t h e E x p e r i m e n t Station seem n o t to h a v e g o t t e n to y o u r h a n d s a t t h e time t h e o t h e r e s t i m a t e s w e r e s e n t over. Professor M u m f o r d ' s following distribut i o n I t h i n k c o v e r s t h e n e e d s of t h e d e p a r t m e n t b e t t e r t h a n a n y o t h e r : Live Stock Investigations. Beef Cattle Horses Sheep Swine Eespectfully yours,

E. DAVENPOET,

$14,500 00 3,000 00 1,000 00 6,500 00

$25,000 00

Dean

and

Director.

Voted that the action of the Live Stock Advisory Committee at its meeting of July 27th, so far as reported in the above communication, be approved; That the consideration of the communication from Professor Blair in regard to an ornamental planting immediately west of the forestry be deferred; That the Buildings and Grounds Committee be authorized to accept the Farm Mechanics building when the proper formalities have been complied with; That the assignment of funds for live stock investigation be approved.