Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 94]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

92

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[October 26

T h e construction of a new boulevard on Damen Avenue, two blocks west of the University's buildings, raises the question whether the expansion of the plant in Chicago should not be toward the west, rather than the east. T h e Director of the Physical Plant Department recommends that the Board reconsider its action of June 29, authorizing the purchase of the property at the southeast corner of Polk and Wood Streets, and instead authorize the purchase of the property at the southwest corner of Polk and Lincoln Streets, now owned by the University of Chicago. Pending the final purchase of this property, it may be leased immediately from the University of Chicago for use in carrying out the recreational program for students in the Chicago colleges, for a rental of $10 a year, with the understanding that the University of Illinois will pay the taxes, which amount to approximately $700 a year. If the Board concurs in this recommendation, the appropriation of $3,000 should be lapsed into the General Reserve Fund, and a new appropriation of $800 should be made to the Physical Plant Department to cover the cost of the lease and taxes for the current year. Thereafter, the Physical Plant Department will need to include in its annual budget an item for this purpose until the lease has expired or the property has been purchased by the University. O n motion of M r . Barr, the action of the Board on J u n e 29, 1936 ( M i n u t e s , page 7 8 1 ) , a p p r o p r i a t i n g $3,000 for the p u r c h a s e of the p r o p e r t y at 1759 W e s t Polk Street, in Chicago, was rescinded and the money o r d e r e d to be lapsed into the General Reserve F u n d . O n motion of M r s . P l u m b , $1,000, or so much thereof as m a y be necessary, was a p p r o p r i a t e d from the General Reserve F u n d to the Physical P l a n t D e p a r t m e n t to provide for the lease and taxes on the p r o p e r t y at Polk and Lincoln Streets, as recommended, the p r o p e r t y to be used for athletic purposes. T h e vote was as follows: Aye, M r . B a r r , M r . Barrett, M r s . F r e e m a n , M r . K a r r a k e r , D r . Meyer, M r s . P l u m b , M r . Pogue, M r . W i e l a n d ; no, n o n e ; absent, M r . H o r n e r , M r . Mayer, M r . Williams. REPORT O N P R O P O S E D P U R C H A S E O F PROPERTY IN U R B A N A (30) T h e Director of the Physical Plant Department reports on the purchase of certain property in Urbana adjoining property now owned by the University, in response to a request made at the meeting of the Board of Trustees on September 30, 1936 (Minutes, page 25), to the effect that the price asked is, in his opinion, too high. T h i s r e p o r t was received for record. REPORT ON LAW SUIT OF HAMMER VERSUS UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS (31) In January, 1934, Adolph H a m m e r commenced a suit against the University of Illinois, Dr. William F. Peterson, and Mr. T o m Jones, to recover $50,000 for the alleged conversion or appropriation of models, molds, moulages, etc., which he asserted he left in the rooms occupied by him at the time he went to Europe in August, 1930. By authority of the Board of Trustees, Mr. H a m m e r had been permitted to occupy space in the buildings of the College of Medicine for his studio or workshop. T h e University Counsel, who defended the University in this suit, reports that trial of this case began on October 14, 1936, in the Circuit Court of Cook County before Judge John P . McGoorty, and ended on October 16, when, on motion of the University Counsel, the Judge instructed the jury to return a verdict in favor of all the defendants. T h i s report w a s received for record. COURSE I N STATE FINANCES OF ILLINOIS (32) At its meeting on September 30, 1936 (Minutes, page 27), the President of the Board of Trustees presented a suggestion from the Director of Finance of