Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1960 [PAGE 193]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 19

These appointments will replace Mr. Reuben G. Soderstrom, President, Illinois State Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations! Springfield, and Mr. Samuel Smith, Manager, Joint Board, Amalgamated Clothing W o r k e r s of America, CIO, whose terms have expired. Mr. Stanley L. Johnson served an earlier term on the Advisory Committee and is well acquainted with the work of the Institute. Mr. Robert Johnston is also a member of the International Union's Executive Board and is currently serving as a Vice-President of the Illinois State Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. Public ADOLPH BERGER, Regional Director, Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, Chicago, Illinois This appointment will replace Senator T. Mac Downing, Macomb, Illinois, whose term has expired. Mr. Berger is a professional in the area of labor statistics. H e has been in charge of the Chicago office for many years and has frequently assisted the Institute in some of its studies. I concur. O n m o t i o n of M r . J o h n s t o n , t h e s e a p p o i n t m e n t s w e r e a p p r o v e d . LAND ACQUISITION FOR RADIO T E L E S C O P E P R O J E C T (23) As reported to the Board of Trustees on April 17 and July 29, 1958, the University has a contract with the Office of Naval Research for $233,000 for the construction of a radio telescope. If plans proceed as contemplated, the instrument will be the largest of its kind and will result in a very valuable addition to the research and teaching facilities of the University in an important field of science. T h e cost of constructing the instrument will be borne by the federal government, but the University should acquire and hold title to the land on which it will be located. T h e Office of Naval Research contract was negotiated with this understanding. T o reduce the cost of site preparation, it was necessary to locate a natural valley with its major axis running in a north-south direction, approximately 600 feet in length, 400 feet in width, 100 feet deep at the deepest point, and of concave shape. Because this instrument will be extremely sensitive to electrical disturbances, it is also necessary to select a site remote from this type of interference and with the proper soil characteristics. It is also essential to have a site fairly close to the University. Several possible sites were considered, and after extensive tests over a six-month period, it was determined that the site meeting the requirements and closest to the campus is approximately seven miles south of Danville. Negotiations have been carried on with the owner, Mr. Milton W. Thompson, of Danville. Appraisals were obtained from Mr. Lewis V. Lane, a land appraiser in Vermilion County, who assigned a value of $75 an acre to this tract. A member of the staff of the College of Agriculture who was also consulted stated that for agricultural purposes the land has an economic value of about $50 an acre, but that at present land prices it would probably be necessary to pay about $100. T h e owner initially asked $200 an acre for the entire farm, which is more area than is required. Because of the very favorable characteristics of this site, it is the opinion of the University representatives that $100 an acre is a fair price. The owner has now agreed to accept this price for an area comprising approximately 136.8 acres and described as follows: T h e Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 36, and the Northwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 36 except approximately 1.5 acres in the northwest corner thereof presently included within a fence line and presently being a house and barn lot, and the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 35; and 9.3 acres more or less off the South side of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of said Section 35, being all of the land in said Northeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter South of the fence line presently existing. All of the above described land being located in Township 19 North, Range 11 West of the 2nd P.M., in Vermilion County, Illinois, and containing approximately 136.8 acres, the exact acreage to be determined after survey.