Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - 30 Year Master Plan (Tilton & O'Donnell) [PAGE 42]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

President Dr&per ami Campus Progress

33

later* Meanwhile, the leadership of these men who stood strongly for putting the University of Illinois abreast of the greatest in the country is easily discernible in the records. With a view toward more definite reservation of the south campus area until such time as maturer plans were presented, the Trustees in locating the minor agriculture buildings mentioned above "ordered that the plantings by the Horticultural Department in the tract lying west of Wright Street extended, should be of such a nature as not to occupy the grounds more than twelve years from this date*" This order, evidently not meeting the approval of the interests affected, was brought up a few months later, and by a vote of seven to two rescinded. The action itself was not of great importance in the later development of the areas under consideration, but as a by-product of the discussion came forth a statement from Mr. Bullard of the Board in explanation of his negative vote which well deserves complete reproduction as a typical expression of a man who was for many years thoroughly devoted to the highest ideals of the University and folly awake to its possibilities. Mr* Bullard said:

In explanation of my vote against the reconsideration of the action of this Board taken last March, and the rescinding of that action, I desire to say that it should be recognized by the members of this Board that it is sound policy to provide for the future growth of the University in a material way. The initial board of trustees, in locating University Hall, evidently placed it where it supposed the south end of the campus would always be. The grounds south of that building were set apart for gardens and experiment plots for the use of the agricultural and horticultural departments. The location of University Hall was fixed in 1870. In thirty-tour years the University has outgrown the limits fixed in 1870, and much more than double the amount of land comprising the original campus is now laid out for grounds and buildings. Again, another south end of the campus has been fixed by the Board of Trustees, this time in 1903, at the very south end of the University holdings, and it is clearly evident that the grounds will never be extended to the south beyond that limit. No one can believe the University will cease to grow. In thirty-four years its growth has almost filled the north campus with buildings and is well advanced on the new south campus* In recent