UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 166]

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NEW BUILDINGS

151

. . . neither the young men nor the young women will take the pains they owe themselves, and the social status of our students will continue low." Of the two buildings in which Burrill was interested, the Natural History Building was completed in the fall of 1892, but was not fully furnished till a year later. The Engineering Building was commenced the fall of the former year upon plans drawn by George W. Bullard, an alumnus in the West, and with a Pacific Coast contractor—f or the architectural graduates of the University had no sooner learned that the money for it had been granted than they had petitioned that the competition for designs be restricted to them, and this was done. The building was urgently needed, for the number of engineering students had been increasing for some years at the rate of 25 per cent, annually; and the Trustees repeatedly reminded the contractors of their engagement to have it ready the fall of 1894. When Burrill went out of office, he left a list of the new buildings that he and the Trustees agreed were needed and must soon be asked for—a library, museum, auditorium, agricultural and law buildings, and an observatory. Of these the library was considered the most urgent, for that neglected part of the University, cramped in its dark quarters in University Hall^was now the recipient of $5,000 a year, and in the last days of Burrill's term steps were taken towards the appointment of the first full-time librarian. The acting Regent's general spirit of enterprise was exhibited in a number of ways. Under him the University subscribed for 400 copies of the Illini, distributing them as an advertisement, and he asked the students to write on University happenings for their home papers. He suggested that the University buy sites for