Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1910 [PAGE 155]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1909]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

117

It is the purpose of the United States Geological Survey to employ the station as a means of demonstration. To this end, mine operators, mine inspectors, and mine bosses, and all others interested in mining, will be invited to visit the station. Each Saturday will be reserved for exhibit purposes, and the balance of the week will be taken up in giving systematic training to mine representatives in 'the use of the oxygen helmets. It is my belief that the establishment of the station by the Government, under the conditions set forth, will permit the College of Engineering to render a large service to an important industrial interest of this and other states. I have the honor to be, Very truly yours, W. P. M. Goss, Dean of the College of Engineering. Voted on motion of Mrs. Alexander that the action of the president of the University in the matter be approved. MUSEUM MATERIAL. 8. Request from Dean W. F. M. Goss, in the matter of accepting material for the museum.

UEBANA, I I I . , Mar. 5, 1909.

President Edmund J. James, University of Illinois: DEAR SIR—The College of Engineering occasionally has opportunity to secure museum material of more or less significance. Such material may be in the form of machines or appliances which, having served their day and generation, will be scrapped or otherwise destroyed, unless some agency intercedes for their preservation. It occasionally happens also that such machines and appliances would, if preserved, be curiosities for the next generation, and their value as museum material would steadily increase as time goes on. By the exercise of a reasonable degree of watchfulness, such materials may usually be secured 'for the University by the payment of transportation charges, and by an agreement to the effect that the University will exercise the same care in their preservation that is given to its other property. In view of these facts, and because the collector must often act promptly if a desired result is to be accomplished, an important interest of the College of Engineering would be promoted if the Board of Trustees were to adopt a preamble and resolution somewhat as follows: WHEREAS, Rapid changes are occurring in the forms and types of machines and appliances used in the arts and industries of this country; and, WHEREAS, Many types of such machines and appliances, which have been extensively used, are in the process of disappearing from practice; and, WHEREAS, Individual machines of typical designs might properly be preserved by the University as museum material for the information and instruction of coming generations; and, WHEREAS, It may often happen that such materials may be obtained at little or no expense to the University; be it therefore, Resolved, That the Dean of the College of Engineering be, and hereby is, authorized to accept gifts of such materials as may seem to him likely to be valuable as museum exhibits, provided that in so doing he shall not involve the University in expense in excess of that which can be met by the college from funds already set apart for its use, or which may hereafter be set aside for its use, and provided that the responsibility assumed for the safe keeping of such materials shall not be greater than that imposed upon the trustees as custodians of the other property of the State. Respectfully submitted, W. P. M. Goss, Dean of' the College of Engineering. On motion of Mr. Hatch and by the following vote the recommendation was adopted: Yeas, Messrs. Abbott, Grout, H a t c h and Moore, and Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Bnsey; nay, Mrs. Alexander; absent, Governor Deneen, Messrs. Blair- Crebs, Davison and Meeker.