Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1924 [PAGE 102]

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1922]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

99

L A N D POLICY (17) Letters from Dean Mumford and former Dean Davenport concerning the future policy of the University concerning the acquisition of land. President David Kinley, University of lllinob cem er '' ' Dear President Kinley: Replying to yourrequestwith reference to the matter of acquiring land for purposes of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station, I will say that this matter has been rather fully discussed, and the question of the location of the land i covered to the entire satisfaction of the College and Experis ment Station in Dean Davenport's letter of August 28, 1922. Two questions are then left for consideration, first, the immediate needs which should be provided for not later than the coming biennium and preferably sooner, and second, the ultimate need of the College and Experiment Station. With reference to thefirstquestion, I shall, for sake of record, call attention to the fact that with the location of the Stadium, the Artillery Field, and in fact, the Drill Ground, the land equipment of the College of Agriculture has been considerably reduced. It is only proper to say that this land, because of its location, cannot be entirely replaced by land more distant from the University. I hope, that as the plans for athletic and recreationfieldsare developed, that all of those activities can be kept north of the road running south of the University Farm and west of First Street. As a matter of wise policy for the University, and particularly its agricultural interests and contacts, i i not a good thing to have the front lawn of the Univert s sity Farm occupied by a golf course and playground. I do not overlook the fact that the golf course on University land is entirely defensible, just as the drill field and baseball diamond or the football field are defensible, but i does seem a matter t of good business policy to locate thesefieldswhere it is not continually necessary to defend them. I am saying this because I am hoping that there will be no movement toward absorbing the plant-breeding plots east of the present golf course on the University Farm. It is desirable that this area be left available for agricultural purposes. It will be necessary to decide upon a location for the poultry interests, and they must be fairly convenient to the University campus, more convenient than the present location. The plant-breeding plot vacated by the Horticultural Department, with exception of a few scattered trees, would make a good location for the poultry plant, and the trees, which i will be necessary to leave for a few years, t would be an asset rather than a liability to the poultry interests. If the Rice farm can be purchased i would be desirable for agricultural purt poses, and i would seem to me that it would be a good thing to look forward to t trying to acquire it during the next biennium. Unquestionably the present is a very advantageous time to buy additional farming land. It is doubtful whether another as advantageous opportunity will come within the next twenty-five years. The farm referred to comprises something over two hundred acres. Finally, as to the question of the ultimate requirements of the Agricultural College and Experiment Station for land, there can be nothing more than an opinion expressed. The best estimate that I could make at the present time would be that the College and Experiment Station might ultimately need five hundred acres in addition to the present holdings. Very truly yours,

H. W. Mumford

Ptesident David Kinley, University of Illinois August 28, 1922 M y Dear President Kinley: Agreeable to your suggestion, as I near the end of my active service with the University of Illinois, I am writing to express a judgment upon some points which