Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 234]

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1944]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

231

graphs of progress, taken on July 4, July 18, August 8, and August 29, 1044. Copies of these have been sent to your office. 8. Seeding and Sodding. N o new information has been secured from the C.A.A. on the seeding and sodding of the airfield except that it will be postponed until the spring of 1945. 9. Lighting. No new developments to report on field lighting by the C.A.A. 10. Army. T h e B-24 Bomber Training Unit at Chanute Field was transferred to Alabama, as of September 8, 1944. Contacts with officers of the Army Air Force have thus far failed to reveal any specific information as to how this change will affect the use of the University of Illinois Airport by the Army, as an essential part of the war effort. T h e officers assure me, however, that some form of pilot training will continue at Chanute Field. Two visits were made to the Airport by Mr. D. J. Bremer, a civilian of the Indianapolis office of the Army Air Force, on August n t h and August 18th. Mr. Bremer stated that his visits were ordered by General H . A. Arnold, Commander in Chief of t h e Army Air Force, Washington, D.C. His purpose, he said, was to report on progress and to offer assistance in expediting completion of the Airport. H e has been informed of the importance of reaching a settlement of the difficulties explained in Item 11. n . Wage Adjustment Board. At the beginning of the University of Illinois Airport project, the wage rate established by the Wage Adjustment Board for common labor was 80 cents per hour. Before bidding on the job, the contractors learned that, in spite of the ruling, the prevailing wage rate in this area is 95 cents per hour. Their bids were based on the latter rate, and consequently, they are perfectly willing to pay that rate. In order to avoid penalties, however, they asked the Wage Adjustment Board to establish the 95 cent rate. A hearing was ordered in Washington on July 26, 1944, which was attended by Mr. C. E. Cooke of the Cooke Contracting Company, Mr. Paul Greene of the Johnson-Greene Company, Mr. Sherdie Jones of the Twin City (Champaign-Urbana) Federation of Labor, representatives of the C.A.A., and myself. Evidence was presented supporting the existence of the 95 cent rate as prevailing in this area. On August 23, 1944, the request was denied by the W.A.B. Notice was received by the contractors on September 6, 1944, and they appealed the decision under date of September 9, 1944. T h e office of Senator Scott W . Lucas has been actively supporting the contention of the contractor. On September 12, 1944, the contractor posted notice of a change in rate from 95(t to 80c1 per hour. T h e following day and since, paving operations have continued with attenuated manpower and curtailed progress. Present indications are that a settlement of the controversy will be reached within a short time and normal progress will then be resumed. If an unfavorable decision is reached, the paving situation will become critical. 12. Right of Way for Power Line from University Power Plant to Airport. On August 21, 1944, the Physical Plant Department requested me to secure the necessary permits and easements for the construction of the power line along the First Street Road to the Savoy Road, thence west to Savoy and the Illinois Central right of way. I prepared the necessary instruments for execution by the two township supervisors of highways concerned, had them amended and approved by Chapman and Cutler, and submitted them to the Supervisors on September 6, 1944. T h e permits of the Township Highway Commissioners were duly executed by Mr. Samuel Lowman of Champaign Township and by Mr. Earl T. W e r t s of Urbana Township on September 7, 1944. These have been forwarded to your office. I was later informed by letter that the College of Agriculture objected to the construction of a power line along the First Street Road, because it would require the removal of certain trees. Outside of the objections of the College of Agriculture, the First Street route appears to be the cheapest and most feasible. Any change will entail considerable delay and expense in the procurement of easements from individual property owners. Some of the latter may have arguments similar to those interposed by the College of Agriculture. I am holding this matter in abeyance pending your final decision. [The difficulties mentioned in Section 12, "Right of W a y for Power Line from University P o w e r Plant to Airport," were resolved by agreement with representatives of the College of Agriculture and the Physical Plant Department