Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 232]

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1944}

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

229

On motion of Mr. Jensen, this appointment was made as recommended.

REPORT ON PROGRESS OF AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION (47) A report of Professor J. J. Doland on the progress of construction at the Airport. September 20, 1944

PRESIDENT A. C. W I L L A K D :

Since July 13, 1944, the date of my last formal report to you, the following items represent the principal developments in the construction of the University of Illinois Airport: 1. University Right of Way on Ross Property. The University came into formal possession of the ditch right of way through the Ross property in Section 1, Township 18 North, Range 8, East of the Third Principal Meridian, on July 13, 1944. On that date, and subsequently, there was some friction between the tenant on the Ross farm and the contractors, arising out of the failure of Mr. Ross to notify the tenant. On September 6, 1944, I had a conference with Mrs. William Cole, the tenant on the Ross property, and her attorney, Mr. John Franklin, and assured her that she would be reimbursed for any resulting damage to the crops she had planted in good faith on the land now owned by the University of Illinois. T h e outside value of any damage she might suffer would be $40.00, which should be shared by the University of Illinois and the Cooke Contracting Company. Since that time, Mrs. Cole has been most cooperative. 2. University Right of Way on Howard Property. On August 23, 1944, Mr. Walter B. Riley, attorney for Mr. Hartwell C. Howard, made formal written demand on the University for compliance with the contractual agreements made in consideration for the purchase of drainage right of way across the land owned by Mr. Howard in Section 2, Township 18 North, Range 8, East of the Third Principal Meridian. On this date, September 20, 1944, all of the compliances have been completed except for the construction of the right of way fence and minor grading operations. Fencing materials are expected to be delivered by October I, 1044, and full compliance is expected to be completed by October IS, 1944, which is Mr. Howard's demand date. 3. Negotiations and Settlement of Right of Way over the Samuel Somers Property in Section 3, Township 18 North, Range 8, East of the Third Principal Meridian. T h e difficulties with both the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Somers family, attendant upon reaching a satisfactory solution of the drainage channel to the west, are briefed up to that date in my last report, dated July 13, 1944. On August 1, 1944, Mr. Somers stated that he was rejecting all offers of settlement, and that he would refuse all use of his land unless the drainage outlet were carried in a closed pipe conduit past his farm to the Two Mile Slough Drainage District ditch. President P a r k Livingston and Mr. Amos H. Watts, of Chapman and Cutler, came to Urbana on August 2, 1944, and a conference, including yourself, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Watts, Mr. Lloyd Morey, and myself was held in your office. It was there agreed that the closed pipe conduit was also best for the University, provided funds were available to finance the extra cost. Mr. Morey assured the members of the conference that funds were available. Mr. Livingston consulted Mr. Chester Davis and Mr. Frank Jensen of the Executive Committee, and the situation was explained to them. They agreed to the proposal of appropriating $15,000 in addition to the $34,200 already approved by the Board of Trustees for drainage improvements. That evening, Mr. Watts and I drew up the necessary instruments, and presented them to the Somers family and their attorney, Mr. Olin Browder, on the morning of August 3, 1944. Our terms were readily accepted by the Somers family, so that there remained only the necessary negotiations with the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the contractors, explained in Item 4. On August 1, 1944, I secured a permit for the use of the township road for right of way purposes from Mr. Willard Albrecht, Highway Commissioner for Tolono Township. This eliminated the necessity of purchasing right of way from both Mr. Somers and the Hall family. I am in agreement with all phases of the settlement, but I am not satisfied with the design made by the Civil Aeronautics Administration and built by the