Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 576]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

573

1. House Bill No. 557, 61st General Assembly, 1939, is a Bill "For an Act making an appropriation for a two-year demonstration-test program for investigation of an experimentation with Illinois coal products, for the construction and maintenance of a laboratory and for salaries and wages." 2. This Bill originated in a special committee appointed by Acting Governor John Stelle and consisting of the following members: J. J. Hallihan, Director of the State Department of Registration and Education and Chairman of the State Board of Natural Resources and Conservation; M. M. Leighton, Chief of the State Geological Survey; James McSherry, Director of the State Department of Mines and Minerals; State Representative Cal Johnson of Belleville; State Senator R. Wallace Karraker of Jonesboro; and C. W. Woosley, Managing Superintendent of the Pyramid Coal Corporation of Pinckneyville. 3. The Bill was first brought to the attention of our Board at its regular meeting held in Urbana on February 21. At that meeting, at which Chairman Hallihan unfortunately could not be present because of the press of other duties, the proposed Bill was discussed in all its implications. 4. As an outgrowth of this discussion a memorandum was prepared and was forwarded to Director Hallihan, a copy of which is attached herewith for incorporation in the minutes. In essence this memorandum stated that in the opinion of the Board the State's experimental work in aid of the mineral industries should as a matter of general policy be limited to small-scale laboratory operations. It also stated that "whatever may be the final decision concerning this project, the Board and the Geological Survey are ready at all times to render every possible service in the interest of the public welfare." 5. In reply to this memorandum Director Hallihan replied under date of March 24, as follows: "Permit me to thank you for your letter of February 28 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 your letter was wise, but in this particular instance the Committee feels there is a critical need for such a special program at this time. "It was recommended to Acting Governor Stelle that an appropriation in the amount of $300,000 be requested to execute the program for the study of Illinois coal as outlined by the State Geological Survey." 6. In the event of the passage of this Bill responsibility for the successful carrying out of its provision will rest with the State Geological Survey under the general supervision of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation. The present facilities of the Geological Survey will be promptly augmented to meet the requirements of this Bill as completely as possible within the two-year period of the appropriation. It is self-evident that experimentation in coal preparation and utilization on a scale more closely approaching commercial practice may reduce but cannot wholly remove the hazards involved in commercial development and that industry itself must supply the final and complete test of the success of new methods. While the Board accepts, and will discharge as effectively as possible, the responsibilities implied in this legislation, the Board again calls attention to and emphasizes the following statement made in the letter of February 28, 1939, from the State Geological Survey Sub-committee of the Board to the Director of Registration and Education and Chairman of the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation: " T h e 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 unforseen difficulties are encountered. It is practically impossible to place a definite time limit on either a scientific research project or a commercial development program based on scientific research."