Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 732]

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730

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OF ILLINOIS.

[March 10,

MATTERS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT JAMES.

The following matters were presented by the President of the University:

PETITION OF DR. A. G. F A I R F A X .

(1) The petition of Dr. A. G. Fairfax, which was laid over from the morning session [page 724]. The President of the University was instructed to inform Dr. Fairfax that the matter was in the hands of the faculty of the College of Medicine.

L E A V E OF A B S E N C E FOR DR. K I N L E Y .

(2) A request from Vice-President David Kinley for a leave of absence from May 1 to October 10, 1914, for a trip to South America and Europe in the interests of international peace, on the invitation of the Cargenie Foundation for the Promotion of International Peace. On the recommendation of President James and on motion of Mrs. Busey, the President of the University was authorized to give Dr. Kinley leave of absence from May 1, 1914, to October 10, 1914, provided Dr. Kinley's work can be properly cared for during that time.

PURCHASE O F FORBES P R O P E R T Y AS S I T E FOR B O T A N Y A N D ZOOLOGY LABORATORIES.

(3) The departments of botany and zoology have urged very insistently for some years past the necessity of erecting some additional laboratories in the form of hothouses; the one as a vivarium for the Department of Zoology, and the other as a Plant Laboratory for the Department of Botany. The requests for appropriations for these buildings were approved by the board and put in the bill submitted to the last General Assembly. General plans of these buildings have already been approved by the board. We have not been able to find, up to the present time, any suitable site for these laboratories. It is desirable to have them as near both the Natural History Building and the power plant of the University as possible. After careful examination, the departments concerned and the Supervising Architect join in a recommendation that the two lots immediately east of Matthews Avenue, between Springfield Avenue and the interurban right-of-way,^ with the house thereon, now owned by Professor Forbes, be acquired for this purpose. I recommend that the University acquire this property for this purpose; that the question of the value of the property be referred to a special committee ; that if the committee finds the value is equal to $10,000, they be authorized to offer that price to Professor Forbes for the property, that if it be less than that and Professor Forbes will not accept less, the Counsel of the University be instructed to initiate condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of the property. On motion of Mrs. Evans, #it was voted that the board acquire the two lots and the house belonging to* Dr. Forbes. The vote was as follows-: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett, Miss Watson; noes, none; present but not voting, Mrs. Busey; absent, Mr. Dunne, Mr. Meeker. The matter of the price to be paid for Professor Forbes' property was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OF T H E UNIVERSITY.

(4) A memorandum from Dr. Eugene Davenport, Dean of the College of Agriculture, stating the reasons for commercial activity in certain departments of the University. On the recommendation of President James and on motion of Mrs. Henrotin, the memorandum was received and ordered to be printed in the minutes: [MEMORANDUM.] This University, like other institutions of its kind, is severely criticized from time to time by local business men and women for engaging in commercial activities, the contention being that the business belongs to the regular dealer who cannot compete and should not be forced to compete with State institutions supported by taxes which he himself has helped to pay. If the institution should give away its products or even sell »them at prices distinctly below the market rate, the force of this contention would be unquestioned. The objection would be equally well sustained if the University should engage In business for the primary purpose of making money, because its funds come through