Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 640]

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Meeting of September 6, 1913.

P u r s u a n t to the a d j o u r n m e n t t a k e n a t t h e m e e t i n g of A u g u s t 26, 1913, the Board of T r u s t e e s of t h e University of Illinois m e t in t h e office of t h e Governor, at Springfield, on Saturday, September 6, 1913, beginning at 10 A.M. The following m e m b e r s were p r e s e n t : Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mr. D u n n e , Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Trevett. P r e s i d e n t J a m e s a n d Dr. E u g e n e Davenport, Dean of t h e College of Agriculture, were present.

APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF LAND.

President Abbott stated t h a t t h e first m a t t e r to come before t h e m e e t i n g was the question of t h e p u r c h a s e of land, which w a s ordered by t h e Board of T r u s t e e s a t its m e e t i n g of J u l y 23, 1913 (pp. 606 a n d 625), b u t t h e cons u m m a t i o n of which h a d been delayed a t t h e request of t h e Governor u n t i l it could be further considered. Dean Davenport was h e a r d in r e g a r d t o t h i s m a t t e r , a n d showed t h a t the piece of land in question is t h e only piece of land contiguous to t h e present campus which, in its c h a r a c t e r and in t h e way it lies, is suitable for t h e purpose for which t h i s land i s especially desired, namely, for experim e n t a t i o n in horticulture—all other contiguous land being corn land and not orchard land. I t appeared t h a t a special committee appointed by t h e Illinois State H o r t i c u l t u r a l Society, consisting of five leading h o r t i c u l t u r i s t s from different p a r t s of t h e S t a t e h a d looked over t h e e n t i r e region about t h e University w i t h i n a r a d i u s of five miles, a n d h a d u r g e n t l y recommended t h e p u r c h a s e of t h i s p a r t i c u l a r tract, even s t a t i n g t h a t if it could n o t be h a d a t t h e price which i t is proposed t o pay, i t o u g h t t o b e purchased a t double t h a t price r a t h e r t h a n to suffer t h e loss to t h e cause of scientific investigation in h o r t i c u l t u r e in t h i s S t a t e t h a t would result from the failure t o secure t h e one t r a c t of land suitable for this, purpose in t h e i m m e d i a t e neighborhood of t h e University. A n extended discussion followed. In t h e course of t h i s discussion i t a p p e a r e d t h a t by comparison w i t h t h e prices which h a v e been offered by other p a r t i e s for p o r t i o n s of t h e land in question, a n d by comparison w i t h t h e prices which have been paid for other similar t r a c t s in t h e neighborhood of t h e University, t h e prices which it is proposed to pay for t h i s land a r e n o t excessive. RESOLUTION. P r e s i d e n t Abbott t h e n offered t h e following resolution: WHEREAS,, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois on July 2, 1913, by unanimous vote referred the question of the purchase of land to the Finance Committee of the board for consideration and report; and, WHEREAS, The said Finance Committee reported to the said Board of Trustees on July 23, 1913, recommending the purchase of one hundred sixty acres of land known as the "Busey tract," lying immediately east of property now owned by the University, at the price of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per acre, and the purchase of an additional one hundred sixty acres lying immediately south of said "Busey tract," at the price of six hundred dollars ($600) per acre; and, WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees, on July 23, 1913, by unanimous vote, eight members being present, authorized the officers of the board to close the purchase of the tracts of land recommended by the Finance Committee for purchase; and, WHEREAS, Vouchers were issued by# the Comptroller of the University in payment of said purchase money, the titles for the several tracts having been 638