Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 927]

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926

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

[November 29

The Secretary reported for record that action had been taken on November 13, 1947, approving the award of contract as recommended in the following matter.

Contract for Remodeling of Space for Telephone Equipment and E x c h a n g e in the Chicago Professional Colleges The President's Office submitted to the Executive Committee the following bids received November 5 for the remodeling of space for relocation of the central telephone equipment and exchange in the Chicago Professional Colleges: Mutual Contracting Company, Chicago $4 496 L. J. Graf Construction Company, Chicago 6 840 George C. Olufsen and Son, Chicago 5 300 The Director of the Physical Plant Department and the Comptroller recommended, the President's Office concurring, that a contract be awarded to the lowest bidder, the Mutual Contracting Company, in the amount of $4,496- This is a lump sum bid with percentages to be added or deducted for any variations from the original specifications. Funds are available in the special appropriation made by the Board of Trustees on August 5, 1947 (Minutes, page 491), for the relocation of this telephone system. The Executive Committee on November 13 authorized the award of the contract as recommended. MATTERS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT STODDARD

The Board considered in executive session the items on the agenda, and took action on the following matters presented by the President of the University.

PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR BETATRON (1) Construction of the new 300-million-electric-volt betatron requires: (1) backwound "A" coil; (2) core blocking; (3) transformer bank. These component parts of the betatron are being designed and specified by the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company with whom the Board of Trustees on May 27, 1947 (Minutes, page 368), authorized a contract on a cost basis for engineering services in the design and preparation of working drawings for the betatron. The items above listed are very special and must comply exactly with detailed specifications. In the opinion of University officials and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company engineers, it is not possible for any manufacturer to determine in advance what the cost of production will be. Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, while not willing to quote any definite price, is willing to undertake the manufacture on an open order with the understanding that billing will be at their cost, to be determined by their usual cost accounting methods, including manufacturer's profit. The cost to the University is estimated to be about $40,000. Professor D. W. Kerst, in charge of construction and of the betatron research program, Professor F . W. Loomis, Head of the Department of Physics, the Director of Purchases, and the Comptroller recommend that an open order be placed with the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company to produce these items at prices to be determined when they are completed. Funds are available in the State appropriation for "Completing construction of the Betatron and associated equipment."

On motion of Mr. Nickell, this matter was referred to the Executive Committee with power to act.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FACULTY COMMITTEE ON PATENTS (2) The Faculty Committee on Patents submits the following report and recommendations relating to patentable discoveries made by members of the University staff: I. "Supersonic detection of infra-red radiation" or the application of coupling effects between electromagnetic radiation and suitably chosen supersonic fields.