Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1918 [PAGE 506]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 31,

SCHOOL OF M I L I T A R Y AERONAUTICS The following statement: I received under date of July 26 a communication from Captain George W. Krapf, Commandant of the School of Military Aeronautics at the University of Illinois, enclosing a telegram from Major Hiram Bingham of the United States Signal Service Corps asking Captain Krapf to confer with the University authorities and ascertain whether it would be possible to enlarge the school at the University to four or five hundred students. In a communication received on the same day from Dr. David Kinley, who is now in Washington, it appears that the W a r Department has already ordered an immediate increase of aviation schools and expressed a desire to increase the number located at the University of Illinois to four hundred by September 8, if the Women's Residence Hall can be used for that purpose, and the suggestion was made that the Government was willing to pay $1,000 rental a month, provided the hail could accommodate four hundred men. Major Bingham also states that no guarantee can be given to increase the school to four hundred at any definite date, but men will be sent gradually until the number has reached that figure, provided the above assurance is given and the above arrangement made. The whole matter is at present indefinite, but it is apparent that the Federal Government finds it necessary to increase the size of these aviation schools, and it would like to increase also the one at the University of Illinois. There are three general sources of expense in connection with these aviation schools: quarterage, instruction, and rationing. The Government has thus far expressed no willingness to provide for quarterage except in these last communications. It has made a contract with the University to provide certain sums for instruction. It looks as if we might be able to provide the instruction for the sum indicated. T h e Government has also expressed a willingness to pay one dollar a day for the rations. It seems possible to make a contract at that rate for the rationing of the men. If the Government makes no allowance for quarterage, the expense of this school becomes a very heavy burden on the University. W e have already taken over the Y. M. C. A. building, agreeing to give the Y. M. C. A. authorities $5,000, which, however, they are to expend in putting the building into first-class shape for the purpose intended. The University will furnish heat and light without charge, estimated at $1,200 a year. The Board has also authorized turning over the President's house to the Y. M. C. A. authorities to be used as offices, etc., so that they can vacate the entire building. I estimate the expense to the University of providing the Y. M. C. A. building as barracks for the School will amount to $8,000 for the first year and from three to four thousand dollars for subsequent years. T h e Y. M. C. A. authorities have taken over the contract of furnishing rations to the men who live in the Y. M. C. A. building at one dollar per day. (2)