Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1936 [PAGE 7]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1934]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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the project by any cooperating agency shall be given the other parties to the agreement. In support of his recommendation the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station submits the following statement: July 5. '934 President Arthur C. Willard, 355 Administration, West

M Y D E A R PRESIDENT W I L L A R D :

I am transmitting herewith Memorandum of Understanding between the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Illinois, and The Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, and The Soil Erosion Service, United States Department of the Interior, relative to Maintenance and Operation of the Cooperative Field Station to be known as the Dixon Springs Experiment Station, located north of Dixon Springs, Illinois, within the extended boundaries of or adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest. Memoranda of this general nature with Federal research agencies have, with the knowledge and consent of the President, been executed by the Director of the Experiment Station without submission to the President or to t h e Board. However, this memorandum covers a more extensive project than we have ever had with Federal agencies, and I wish your approval before undertaking so extensive a program. The project contemplates research into one of the most obstinate land use problems in the state. It will be conducted on land representative of approximately 3,000,000 acres in southern Illinois and representative of three times that area in adjoining portions of the southern Corn Belt. Under normal conditions the majority of farmers in this area were able to eke out a bare existence. Under prevailing conditions they are not able to do this and a surprisingly large number are on relief rolls. Destructive erosion is increasing rapidly and the rate is accelerated as the organic content of these soils is decreased by cropping. Sheet erosion has removed the surface to a depth of more than three feet in many portions of the area, and gulley erosion is now rapidly making the land permanently unfit for any agricultural use. We have long recognized the seriousness of this problem, but have not felt able to cope with it because of the cost in such an undertaking. After nearly a year's negotiations with the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of the Interior, we have assurance of $87,000 through the sub-marginal land committee of the Surplus Relief Corporation for purchase of the land and removal of a portion of the inhabitants. The acquisition of land and the social problems involved will not involve the University but will be handled by agencies of the Surplus Relief Corporation. The Department of the Interior, through the Soil Erosion Service, agrees to make available $27,000, and the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, $40,000 to $50,000, during 1934-35 for securing equipment, establishment of pastures, fencing, erection of buildings, and otherwise putting a suitable portion of this area into shape for research work. The Illinois Experiment Station is not obligated by this memorandum to put any money into the project other than one-half of the salary of the Superintendent and the time of research men on our regular staff who may from time to time have temporary assignments on sub-projects conducted at the Dixon Springs Station. The Illinois Experiment Station is, however, obligated to hold inviolate receipts from the sale of surplus animals and the products of the Dixon Springs Station, and to use such receipts in the operation of t h a t Station. While the Illinois Experiment Station is not obligated by this memorandum to put any other moneys into this project, we recognize that it is very unlikely that the experiment station can participate in a project of this sort without financial contributions to the work from time to time. To meet this situation we contemplate retrenchment in other work to make available funds for necessary expenditures to expedite or round out work on critical problems. However, as we see the situation now this will not necessitate additional appropriations of state funds to the Experiment Station. In this connection it is only fair to say that we are anticipating modest appropriations from the United States Department of Agriculture for the support of this work. The attached memorandum has been submitted to Judge Johnson and to Professor Morey for criticisms and suggestions and modifications have been made accordingly. The modified copy has not yet been submitted to the Federal agencies in-