Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 928]

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1944]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

925

a n d t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of t h i s p r o p e r t y t h r o u g h t a x f o r e c l o s u r e w a s a u t h o r i z e d ; a n d t h e e m p l o y m e n t of M r . F a r r in s e c u r i n g title t o t h e alley was authorized. REPORT O F PROGRESS ON AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION (22) The Supervising Engineer in charge of Airport construction submits the following report of progress, this being the third in the series of such reports: April 6, 1044

To: PRESIDENT A. C. WILLARD

From:

J. J. DOLAND

Subject: Report No. 3 University of Illinois Airport In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter dated January 27, 1944, I submit herewith Report No. 3 on the University of Illinois Airport. Since my last report, I have continued my investigation of the drainage plan which had been developed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. At the time of the last report, I had already realized the possibility of potential recurrent damage claims which the University might be forced to defend and pay throughout the entire life of the Airport. I, therefore, at that time recommended the construction of a detention basin which might reduce the magnitude of the claims. The practicability of the proposed detention basin was contingent upon the future plans of the Illinois Division of Highways. Since time was an essential element and it had not been possible to arrange a conference with State Highway officials prior to the date of Report No. 2, the recommendation was made in the hope that both plans would be compatible. Shortly after the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Surman of the Division of Highways sent Mr. Knight, Design Engineer, and two representatives of the Highway District office at Paris to the campus for a conference. These gentlemen pointed out that the detention basin would not be consistent with plans for widening the present U. S. Route 45. T h e latter, they said, had been designated by the U. S. Public Roads Administration as an inter-regional highway in the United States, and as such, if built on the present location, would require a 30x1 feet wide right of way. The present eastern boundary of Route 45 coincides with the west right of way line of the Illinois Central Railroad right of way, and all widening would have to go to the west. This would eliminate the major part of the storage available for the proposed detention basin. The Highway representatives also stated that the detention basin, if constructed, would not solve the problem of eliminating future potential flood damage claims against the University. An Illinois drainage law, nearly as old as the state itself, sets forth that water may not be diverted from one watershed into another. About 600 of the 762 acres of the airport site are included within the Two-Mile Slough Drainage District which finds an outlet into the Kaskaskia River drainage system. This fact is prima facia evidence that the Civil Aeronautics Administration drainage plan is in direct violation of Illinois statutes. Furthermore, from previous conferences I had with land owners on the Embarrass River, I was convinced that certain citizens were aware of the contemplated violations, but I had no direct evidence that actual legal action was contemplated. I prepared a letter to Mr. H . E. H o r n e r of the Civil Aeronautics Administration pointing out the potential dangers involved, and after consultation with you and your approval, I delivered this letter to Mr. H o r n e r in person in Chicago on March 18, 1944. After reading the letter Mr. H o r n e r remarked, "I knew that all the time, but I approved the drawing, thinking that we could get by with it." I was unable to agree inasmuch as it is my feeling that since the University of Illinois is a servant of the people of the State, it, therefore, can afford neither to trample on the rights of its citizens nor flaunt its laws. Mr. H o r n e r agreed to investigate the situation and have further surveys made. Mr. Schofield appeared during the following week, and in a conference in my office, stated that he felt that the original Civil Aeronautics Administration plan of drainage should be followed. I then took Mr. Schofield to the office of Forest Fisher, County Superintendent of Highways. Mr. Fisher expressed to Mr. Schofield in other words the same views as I had expressed in the letter I delivered to Mr. H o r n e r on March 18, 1944. I had not previously discussed the matter with Mr. Fisher.