Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 296]

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1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

293

definite time limit on either a scientific research project or a commercial development program based on scientific research. The Board believes, however, that the proposed plan raises important questions of public policy as t o the proper scope of the investigations conducted by the Scientific Surveys in aid of industry. The point at which governmental experimentation should stop and industry itself take up the responsibility of adapting the results of such experimentation to commercial practice will necessarily vary somewhat with the particular circumstances involved. Usually, however, the high cost of experimentation on a commercial or semi-commercial scale with its attendant heavy burdens on the tax payer has operated to limit governmental experimentation in aid of the industries to a laboratory scale. Moreover, governmental agencies have seldom been in a position to evaluate accurately all of the commercial factors involved as distinct from technical factors or to apply the only final test of the success of a process—namely, profitable sale of products. On the whole the limitation of the State's experimental work in aid of the industries to small scale laboratory operations seems to this Board t o be a wise policy. It reduces to a minimum the costs of such studies and in particular keeps at a minimum the losses due to failures or partial failures inevitable in any active program of research. It should be noted that operation on a large scale must usually be preceded by experimentation on a small scale and that its costs therefore are wholly in addition t o the cost of the small scale experiments. It is, therefore, the opinion of this Board t h a t industry itself should provide the funds for such large scale experimental work as is usually necessary for the commercial development of plants or processes on a sound economic basis. It is the proper function of the Geological Survey to discover, record, interpret and publish scientific data concerning the natural resources of the State, and make these data available t o industry at all times. It is the proper function of industry to make such use of these scientific data as may seem appropriate in order to utilize the natural resources of the State most effectively. Departure from any policy t h a t seems sound on general grounds may of course be justifiable under certain circumstances but should not be lightly undertaken. In particular it should be realized that the inauguration of large scale testing in aid of one industry is very likely to lead t o embarrassing demands for similar aid from other industries. This Board does not see in the present situation an emergency that would recommend a radical departure from the present practices of the Geological Survey. As you were unable through other duties to attend the meeting of the Board at which this matter was discussed, we felt that you would want t o be fully informed of our discussion. You will understand of course that whatever may be the final decision concerning this project, the Board and the Geological Survey are ready a t all times t o render every possible service in the interest of the public welfare. Yours very truly,

E. S. BASTIN A. C. WILLARD W. A. N O Y E S

Committee of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation The Director replied as follows: March 24, 1939 Dr. A. C. Willard, President, University of Illinois Prof. Edson S. Bastin, University of Chicago Prof. Wm. A. Noyes, University of Illinois

GENTLEMEN:

Geological Survey Sub-Committee, Board of Natural Resources and Conservation

Permit me to thank you for your letter of February 28th containing the statement as to your attitude concerning the large scale testing programs of Illinois coal by our State Geological Survey. After reading with interest, I presented it to the Governor's Committee at its meeting on last Tuesday. It was the consensus of opinion of the Committee that the policy as outlined in