Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 112]

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112

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Aug. 14,

Manifestly they serve the community excellently well as demonstration fields, and we use them also for this purpose. This fact has led to the demand for the establishment of such fields far beyond what the interests of investigation would require, and the Experiment Station recommends the acceptance of such propositions only when the field is actually needed for experimental work. Because these experimental fields serve the locality for demonstration purposes it has b^een the policy to favor such propositions as were made in connection with schools. Spring Valley comes, therefore, as an exceptionally good one, and I take great pleasure in recommending its acceptance. I may perhaps add that inasmuch as more than half the State has been surveyed the probability is that we are nearing the end as to the number of experimental fields that will need to be established, though just what that limit might be it is impossible now to say. All of this is quite independent of what might some time be done in the way of demonstration. If, under the Smith-Lever Bill, for example, it should become the policy to establish demonstration fields in every county or township in the State, that would be an entirely different proposition. It is to be noted in this connection that the University is free at any time to discontinue these experiments, and it goes without saying that when the work of the soil survey is finished, as some day it will be, then, the question is sharply up as to what extent the experimental fields of this kind shall be continued. I am not saying that they should be abandoned at once, for no doubt they should be continued for some years to come. Very truly yours, ,[The description of the land referred to in the foregoing letter is as follows: "A part of the west half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-four (34), in township sixteen (16) north, range eleven (11) east of the Fourth Principal Meridian, described as follows, to wit: Commencing at a point on the east line of the west half of the southwest quarter of said section thirty-four (34) one hundred fifty feet south of the northeast corner of the said west half of said southwest quarter section, and running thence west four hundred thirty-five and 92/100 (435.92) feet, thence south one hundred seventy-seven and 52/100 (177.52) feet, thence west one hundred thirty-three (133) feet, to a point which is three hundred twenty-seven and 52/100 (327.52) feet south of the northwest corner of Lot No. Two (2) in the southwest quarter of said section thirty-four (34), and thence south eleven hundred eighty and 61/100 (1,180.61) feet, thence east five hundred sixty-two and 92/10.0 (562.92) feet, and thence north to the point of beginning, containing seventeen and 93/1000 (17.093) acres, more or less; excepting and reserving, however, all of the underlying coal and fire-clay, together with the right to dig, mine, and remove the same, without entering upon or occupying any part of the surface. of said premises; all of said lands being situated in the county of Bureau and .State of Illinois."]

, E. DAVENPORT., Director.

On motion of Superintendent Blair, the donation of the land described above and referred to in the foregoing letter of Dean Davenport was accepted under the conditions set forth.

L A N D I N H E N R Y C O U N T Y FOR A G R I C U L T U R A L EXPERIMENTATION.

(12) A similar proposition from Mr.. Thomas McNamara of Kewanee, offering to the University a tract of twenty (20) acres near Kewanee in Henry County for use a s an experimental farm, on the usual condition that the land is to revert to the donor in case for a period of two years it is ' unused by x the University for experimental purposes; the said land being the north twenty (20) acres of the west half of the northwest quarter of section eighteen (18) in township fourteen (14) north, range five (5) east of the Fourth Principal Meridian. -

On motion of Mr. Hoit, it was voted to accept the land described above on the condition stated.

L E A V E O F A B S E N C E FOR PROF. PETTIT. (13) A recommendation from Dr. Eugene Davenport, Dean of the College of Agriculture, that Prof. J. H. Pettit, who has been ill for some time, be granted a year's leave of absence, on half pay ($1,500), for the recovery of his health, with the understanding that his return to the University • a t the end of the year be conditioned upon a degree of recovery which is satisfactory to the University.

On motion of Mrs. Henrotin, this recommendation was approved.

A D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E ON SOILS.

(14) The following letter from Dr. Eugene Davenport, Dean of the College of Agriculture, and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, with reference to the appointment of an Advisory Committee on Soils, in accordance with the plan for advisory committees recently adopted by the Board of Trustees (see Trustees' minutes, volume of 1912-1914, pages 538 and 691) : August 11, 191%. Dr. Edmund J. James, President of the University. Farmers' Institute for Soil Advisory Committees as follows: Mr. Ralph Allen, Delavan. Mr. H. E. Young, Chicago. Mr. J. P. Mason, Elgin. Mr. E. W. Burroughs, Edwardsville. Mr. C. V. Gregory, Chicago. Mr. D. M. Marlin, Norris City. Mr. P. I. Mann, Gilman. Mr. Frank S. Haynes, Geneseo. Mr. A. N. Abbott, Morrison. Mr. A. P. Grout, Winchester.

MY DEAR PRESIDENT JAMES : I am in receipt of nominations from the Illinois