Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 295]

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292

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 27

tific facts, the expenditure of public funds for such purposes appears justifiable. Where the essential facts are already known and the problem is one of commercial development, the University has taken the position t h a t it will do the work through the appropriate department, provided t h a t the interested parties will supply the funds. This policy was established by the University many years ago and is so stated in the University's Statutes. If the University were asked to undertake this project to develop industrial equipment and processes for the production on a commercial basis of smokeless fuels from Illinois coals it would be my judgment t h a t the University would be confronted with the alternative of reversing its long-time policy just referred to. At a meeting of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation on February 2I > r 939i the Chief of the Geological Survey submitted plans prepared by him at the request of a committee appointed by Acting Governor John Stelle to consider the development and production of smokeless fuels from Illinois coals. Much basic research work has already been done in this field, notably that of the late Professor Parr, of the Department of Chemistry. What remains to put into practical use the knowledge already acquired by scientists is the development of industrial equipment and processes which will make the production of smokeless fuels from coal economically profitable. This is the proper function of industry itself. Because it seemed to the Geological Survey Sub-Committee of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation t h a t the plans submitted by the Chief of the State Geological Survey involved questions of public policy, the following letter expressing the judgment of the Board was sent to the Director of the Department of Registration and Education by the Geological Survey Sub-Committee of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation: February 28, 1939 Honorable John J. Hallihan, Director, Department of Registration and Education

DEAR DIRECTOR HALLIHAN:

At the regular meeting of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation held at the University of Illinois on February 21 the following Board members were present: President A. C. Willard, Dr. W. A. Noyes, Mr. L. R. Howson, and Dr. E. S. Bastin. At this meeting Dr. M. M. Leighton, Chief of the Geological Survey, presented very fully for the Board's information the plans prepared by him a t the request of Acting Governor Stelle's committee for a program of experimentation on the production of smokeless fuels from Illinois coals. These plans were given careful consideration by the Board both before and during this meeting and it was voted that a memorandum be prepared for your information reporting the consensus of opinion of the Board concerning this proposal. In the opinion of the Board there can be no question as to the importance and timeliness of studies of smoke abatement in the larger cities and towns. It is evident also t h a t governmental agencies must take the lead in such investigations and must be responsible for the enforcement of control measures. Certain aspects of the smoke abatement problem, notably the production of "smokeless" fuels from Illinois coals, have been the object of long and searching study by the State Geological Survey, following studies previously made by the University of Illinois, with highly promising results and it is much to be hoped that this information and the cooperation of the Survey staff will be fully utilized by all groups concerned with the smoke abatement problem. The Geological Survey always stands ready to advise and counsel with representatives of the mineral industries of the State concerning their scientific and technical problems. The costs of the two year program as estimated by Dr. Leighton appear conservative for the type of work contemplated. Such a commercial development program as is here suggested, involving both technical and economic problems, almost invariably expands both in cost and in time required as the work proceeds and unforeseen difficulties are encountered. I t is practically impossible t o place a