Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 729]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1914]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

727

Mr. Hoit; noes, Mrs. Busey, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett, Miss Watson; absent, Mr. Dunne, Mr. Meeker.

LETTER FROM GOVERNOR DUNNE.

Superintendent Blair presented the following letter from Gov. E. P. Dunne to President James:

March 7, 1914. Dr. Edmund J. James, President, University of Illinois, Vroana, III. DEAR DR. JAMBS : Yours of the 6th instant is before me. Before receiving notice of the meeting, I had promised to attend the celebration of the centenary of the creation of Belleville as the county seat of St. Clair County, and have made all arrangements to be present and deliver an address at that celebration. It gives me much pleasure to know that the teaching faculty of the University has shown with such practical unanimity their confidence in your administration of the responsible position of President of the University of Illinois. Every citizen of this State, including myself, as intensely interested in the continued success of this great University, and it is my earnest hope and desire that all personal considerations and ties of preference among the trustees should give way to the great object of making our University the greatest State University in the United States. Politics must not enter into consideration in the management of the University, and whatever may be our affiliation with political parties, they should be forgotten in the execution of our business as trustees of the University. In reference to yourself, as I have heretofore publicly stated, I believe you to be a most efficient and competent executive and educator. Under your administration, the "University has developed in the most wonderful manner, and in my judgment, the State University is fortunate in possessing such an able and forceful executive at its head. Kindly present to the Board of Trustees my regrets at being unable to be present. Wishing you and the University continued success, I am, Very truly yours,

E. P. DUNNE.

On motion, it was voted unanimously that this letter be received for record and printed in the minutes.

BUILDING PLANS.

At this point President James and Prof. James M. "White, Supervising Architect, joined the board, and Professor White presented the following report on the status of the plans for new buildings:

ENDS OF ARMORY.

1. The contract for the completion of the ends of the Armory, which was let by order of the board to Mr. N. H. Shields, on the basis of completion September 1, 1914, has been properly signed.

LIBRARY STACK ROOM.

2. Bids were received on March 7, 1914, for the completion of the addition to the Library in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the Supervising Architect. A summary of the bids is submitted herewith. I recommend that contracts be awarded as follows: General contract on the basis of completion by September 1, 1914, to A. W. Stoolman, the low bidder, for $11,172. The contract for the hook stacks to the Snead & Company Iron Works of Jersey City, New Jersey, (who are the low bidders) for the sum of $7,208, on the basis of open design and shelf supports and 6-inch steel plate book supports. Professor Windsor concurs in recommending this award. It is impossible to obtain any competition on the stone work for the building as there is only one quarry from which the stone can be obtained. The stone work was not put in the general contract because it seemed best for the University to assume the risk due to the uncertainty of the possibility of tearing down the present structure without damage to the stone work. I recommend that the proposition from the Kettle River Company of $3,888 be accepted. It is a very reasonable figure. The total of these bids is $22,268. The estimated cost of this addition was $27,000, and that amount was included in the building budget for this biennium. In our estimate, however, we included, in addition to the work included in the above contracts, a new elevator, a vacuum cleaner, the heating and lighting, and the cost of plans, specifications, and the necessary walks and grading, which will bring the cost up to just about the amount of the estimate. Since these remaining contracts will all be minor ones with no questions of policy involved, I request the board to authorize me to award the lemaining contracts necessary for the completion of the work, with the understanding that the original estimate of $27,000 shall not be exceeded.