Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938
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578 BOARD OF TRUSTEES [December 3 PATENT O F PROCESS FOR REMOVAL O F SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM FLUE GASES (17) Under its contract with the Utilities Research Commission the University is obligated to apply for patents of discoveries resulting from researches financed by this Commission. The contract also provides that such patents shall be assigned to the Commission. For several years Professor H. F. Johnstone, of the Department of Chemistry, has been working on the recovery of sulfur dioxide from flue gases, and as a result of his researches eleven applications for patents of various processes have been filed. Four patents have been issued, one application has been rejected, and six are still pending. One of these applications (Case No. 6) was filed on December 23, 1935. The Utilities Research Commission is of the opinion that a better patent could be obtained if an additional application were made in this particular field, or by attempting to have claims reinstated which have heretofore been rejected. The Faculty Committee on Patents has carefully considered this proposal and the expense which these new steps will involve (estimated from $500 to $600). It has come to the conclusion that such additional expense would not be justified since the University has already performed its contract in this instance, and recommends that if the Commission desires further protection in Case No. 6 it should finance any further patent proceedings. On motion of Mrs. Plumb, the Board concurred in this recommendation. AGREEMENT W I T H UTILITIES RESEARCH COMMISSION FOR ASSIGNMENTS OF PATENTS (18) On October 30, 1931 (Minutes, page 476), the Board adopted a report from its Committee on Patents, accepting a proposal from the Utilities Research Commission concerning the commercial development of patents resulting from researches on the elimination of sulfur fumes in stack gases. The Board also authorized the execution of a contract, as recommended by its Committee on Patents under the terms of which the University agrees to assign to the Commission for commercial development patents of such discoveries. The Faculty Committee on Patents has been studying this matter and is of the opinion that this contract and the entire situation should be examined by the Board Committee on Patents. I recommend that this matter be referred to the Board Committee on Patents for consideration and report. On motion of Mr. Mayer, this recommendation was adopted. SALE OF MARTIN FARM Mr. Mayer, for the Finance Committee, reported as follows: The Comptroller reports that pursuant to the authorization of the Board on November 10, 1937 (Minutes, page 565), he has concluded a contract with Mr. J. P. Minier, Sr., R.R. 1, Benton, Illinois, whereby Mr. Minier agrees to purchase the Martin farm for a total consideration of $5,300, of which $2,000 is to be paid in cash on execution and acceptance of the necessary legal papers, and $500 each year thereafter with interest at three per cent per annum for the first two years and four per cent thereafter until paid. The unpaid balance of the purchase price will be secured by a first mortgage on the farm. This report was received for record. SALES A N D PURCHASES O F SECURITIES Mr. Mayer also reported for the Finance Committee: The Comptroller reports the following sales and purchases of securities representing investments of endowment funds in accordance with the authorization of the Board:
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