Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1910 [PAGE 83]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1908]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

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new physics building. Indeed, this is the one great menace to the use of the building for certain important classes of physics experiments. The vibrations produced by a street car pounding along the street are of the worst sort for our work, and should by all means be eliminated. While the electrical and magnetical disturbances may not be so serious as these mechanical disturbances, yet they do more or less limit the work that we can do. The removal of the direct current electrical lines to twice the distance will cut the disturbances down to a fourth and so on according to an inverse square law. Hence, we respectfully urge that you do all you can to secure the removal of this car line from Green street, in the interest of the high efficiency of the work for which the State is putting so much money in a physics building. Respectfully submitted,

A. P. CABMAN, CHAS. T. KNIPP, F. R. WATSON,

Professor and Assistant Professors of Physics.

UBBANA, I I I . , Oct. 14, 1908.

President Edmund J. James, University of Illinois: DEAE SIR—In a conversation which we had a few days'ago you asked me to write you a note concerning the disturbances caused by the street car traffic on Green street.These disturbances are first, noise, and second, vibrations. The noise affects recitations in class rooms facing on the street. At times it is very great, particularly when a car goes by with worn gearing and wheels which are out of round (or "flat"). This affects a number of the recitation rooms in the Engineering building, and in the new Physics building, all of the recitation rooms face Green street. In reference to the mechanical vibrations, I quote from a note, which Doctors Knipp and Watson and myself sent you last March. We wrote: "The street car traffic on Green street is the greatest menace to the use of the building for certain important classes of physics experiments. The vibrations produced by a street car pounding along the street are of the worst sort for our work, and should, if possible, be eliminated/' That these mechanical disturbances are not a mere possibility but a reality, Dr. Knipp and myself have found by experiments made within the. last few days on the walls and piers in Engineering hall, and on the foundation and an experimental pier in the new Physics building. The magnetic disturbances are not so serious but would be decreased by removing the cars to a greater distance. Yours respectfully,

A. P. CABMAN,

Professor of Physics.

There was also received, a protest by'citizens living; on Green street against the removal of the car line from that street.

SHELVING FOR THE LIBRARY.

11, Communication from supervising architect, recommending that shelving be placed in the west basement room in the Library all the way around the outside and to the full height of the wall. He estimates that this will take 1676 lineal feet of shelving, and that the cost will probably be in the neighborhood of twenty-one hundred and sixty dollars ($2,160). Voted on motion of Mr. Madden t h a t the supervising architect be directed to erect said shelving and t h a t a necessary sum to defray the cost is hereby appropriated.

PEDESTAL FOR LONGFEIXOW BUST.

12. A recommendation that m pedestal be made for the Longfellow bust which was presented to the University by the senior class of 1907.