 | Board of Visitors minutes December 5, 1893 |  |
At a called meeting of the Board of Visitors held here
this day, called by the Rector and held in pursuance of notice.
Present, The Rector, Dr Randolph, and Messrs Kean, Parrish,
McCabe and Patteson, of the Visitors.
The Chairman of the Faculty presented the Faculty's report
and other documents, for the consideration of the Board.
Resolved, that the dormitory on the West Lawn now occupied
by Profr W. M. Lile as an office be and the same is hereby
assigned to him for that use.
A petition of the students attending the School of Modern
Languages asking that French and German shall be regarded each,
as a Separate School for the M. A. degree was read and on motion
for consideration and report to the Board.
The Committee on the Conduct of Schools etc submitted
the following report, which, together with its recommendations,
was approved and adopted by a unanimous vote=
In answer to the petition of a number of Students in
the "School of Modern Languages" that French & German should
be regarded each as a separate school for the M. A. degree,
resolved, that, after mature consideration, the petition be
denied, it being the sense of the Board that, while it is
proper that French & German should count each as a separate
course for the B. A. degree, it is important that the applicant
for the higher, (M.A.), degree, should have successfully
passed examination in the "School of Modern Languages"(both
French & German), should he elect Modern Languages as one of
his subjects for that degree.
on Conduct of Schools etc.
The Board after considering the recommendation of the
Faculty to authorize the building of a Hospital at the University
unanimously adopted the following resolutions in regard
thereto=
Resolved I. That in the opinion of the Board the funds
of the University are not in condition to authorize the building
of a Hospital as suggested by the Faculty.
II. That it is the sense of the Board that the
interests of the University will not be promoted by taking it
Richmond are now engaged before the Legislature in relation
to establishing a State Hospital.
Resolved that in the place of appropriating $1275.00
for the purpose of making card catalogues of the Library,
this amount is hereby appropriated to be expended in making
purchases of periodicals and books.
Resolved that the sum of $500.00 be appropriated as a
guarantee fund for the purpose of establishing a quarterly
University Bulletin to be edited under the Supervision of
the Faculty of the University of Virginia.
Resolved that the application of Morton W. Baker for
appointment to the "John Y. Mason Fellowship" to begin with
the session of 1894-5, to enable him to pursue a graduate
course in Latin, & Greek, be granted.
Mr Charles H. Read, Jr, Architect who was engaged to
make an examination of the Medical Hall which was thought
to be unsafe, appeared before the Board and submitted his
report in regard to its condition, which report is in the
following words and figures, to wit=
Decr 15th, 1893.
In response to a call from the Superintendent
of Grounds & Buildings, Profr W. H. Echols, I have today
visited and inspected the Medical Building on West Range,
regarding which some questions have been raised as to its stability
& safety; & would hereby make my report as to the condition
opinion on the points in question.
With the assistance of Mr Echols, two lines of levels
were run around the Building with an accurate field instrument
about Eight ft apart & through that part of the building
to which attention had been called as showing weakness in the
external walls. Sight lines were also taken on brick courses
at lower levels, & in both cases by both instruments & Eye the
walls were found to be exceptionally true for a building of
this character, & no indications whatever were found either in
the exterior, or interior basement walls of settling. No cracks
were discovered that seemed to indicate that the walls were not
abundantly able to safely carry all floor & roof weights that
it is probable they will ever be called upon to bear.
The front, rear, & side walls are practically plumb, as
well as absolutely level on joint beds, up to the offset from
an 18 inch to a 13 inch wall on the level of the second story
floor. Above the point on the Front (or East side) of the
Building, the wall dishes inward towards the top, & had done
so when the roof was put on, as is shown by the thickening of
the wood casing at the center & bottom of the Freize.
At the rear (or west side) of the building, there is an
outward bulge about the level of the Third story floor, but
both of these deflections from vertical planes have been known
to exist for some time, the former Superintendent Maj. Peyton
having noticed them twenty five years ago & had a careful examination
by competent experts made, which resulted in a favorable
exactly true in their lines.
The present Supt Mr Echols, on having his attention
called to these deflections about a year ago, took accurate
observations with a plumb bob & has recently repeated them
without being able to find that the slightest change had
taken place.
The face of the north wall shows also some departure
from a true vertical, but there is no sign that this is of
recent date.
The above stated facts would seem therefore to agree
that the upper part of the building was not built to true
lines when originally constructed about sixty years ago, &
the fact that there are no interrior brick walls above the
Basement, nor any pilasters on the outside or inside to
stiffen the long reaches of about forty ft.& help to keep
them true; would itself account for the present condition
the walls are in. As there are no external signs of any
changes in the position of the walls since it was erected
that can be detected, I am of the opinion that the Building
is as safe now as it has ever been, & that with the proper
amount of care & looking after needful to the preservation
of all building property; can be kept so for an indefinite
number of years.
I would recommend the pointing of the joints that have
come out, & the filling & grading at north rear corner so as
to divert all surface water away from the foundation walls.
Having found no just cause for any apprehension from
an external examination of the building, attention was next
turned to the interior construction with the following result.
Above the basement floor the entire interior of the Building
is of frame construction, the middle portion of the floors
being carried by joists resting on strong girders of short
spans, which are supported by stout wooden columns, the lowest
series of which rest on brick partition walls in the Barement.
These columns were tested and found to be in true vertical
lines over each other, thereby answering any questions as
to the shifting of floor timbers and floor [wads?] from their
proper supports so as to have had any part in producing the
departures from plumb lines in the brick walls heretofore referred
to.
The Girders running north and south, & carrying the
floor joists were found to rest square on their beds, nor was
any "twisting" found to exist except that of some light ¾
inch warped casing, which on being taken off exposed the girder
in good order & proper position.
The roof construction is a simple deck and hipped roof
sufficiently tied together to keep from spreading. Four stout
posts resting almost directly on the line of column & girder
construction below act as auxiliary supports for the deck portion
of the roof. I advise that these four posts be braced &
trussed together as a stile from their protection against any
unusual wind pressure or snow load.
The chimney that has been built for the Furnace flue from
the Basement up through the roof, was built independent of the
heel course of the rear wall of the building.
When it began to settle, as all new brick work may be
expected to do, it parted away from the rear wall, cracking
the plaster in the corners where it adjoined the rear wall
through each of the three upper stories & shows a settlement
on these floors of from 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch.
In the basement a rotation & sliding away from the rear
wall shows itself until the chimney & rear wall have become
entirely separated. The rear wall of the building does not
appear to have suffered in any way from the settling of _____
Chimney.
This chimney should be taken down & rebuilt on a foundation
entirely independent of the walls of the building.
The foundation should be of concrete of sufficient size
to carry, not more than two to two & one half tons to sq. ft
bearing surface.
The bricks now in this chimney are of inferior quality
& should be replaced with first class hard brick, laid in
strong cement mortar and well hammered down with close joints
to reduce any settling to a minimum.
The cracks shown in the joints between stud & brick walls
(as shown in the plastering), are nothing more than what might
be expected at the unions of old well settled brick walls &
new frame studd partitions. These cracks should be pointed
up, as they have in all probability by this time reached their
extreme limit.
In closing my report, it is, I think, proper that I should
call your attention to the fact that—"The Life of a Building"—
applies not only to replacing from time to time what is worn
out on the inside by use of it.
The elements are always on the watch to get in their work
of disintegration on the outside of some neglected opening or
crevices from the highest coping to the lowest foundation stone,
& a careful supervision that will foresee & prevent it will not
only lessen the "Expense of Repairs", but tend also to preserve
& prolong the Life, Safety & Stability of the old University
Buildings.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Architect.
On motion it was ordered that the report be received and
recorded.
Mr Read having stated that in his opinion the sum of $150.
would cover the expense of the improvements suggested in his
report, to the Medical Hall. On motion it was,
Resolved that a sum not exceeding $150.00 be appropriated
to be expended for the purpose of repairing the Medical Hall,
in the particulars set forth in the report of Mr Chas H. Read,
Jr, which has been submitted to the Board and filed.
At this stage of the proceedings Mr Parrish was called
away by a business engagement in the City of Richmond, leaving
the Board without a quorum. Business was suspended for a very
short time, when Dr Martin arrived and took his seat in the
Board thus restoring the quorum.
On motion of Mr Patteson, Resolved, that the sum of
three hundred dollars be appropriated as the annual salary
of the Secretary of the Board and of the Executive Committee
of the Board and that this resolution is take effect
from June 1893, the date of the annual meeting of the Board.
Resolved, that in accordance with the recommendation of
the Faculty, Mr E. L. Woodward be awarded his M. A. degree
upon the conditions named in his letter of Sep 11th, submitted
this day to the Board, the conditions being that he
is released from passing the examinations in B. A. Greek,
the lectures of which he has already attended.
Resolved, that the consideration of so much of the Faculty's
report as relates to Fellowships be postponed until
the adjourned meeting on January 5th 1894 and that the Faculty,
in accordance with a previous resolution passed by the
Board on July 20th 1893 submit to the Board a scheme of awarding
Fellowships as a reward & encouragement for work done in
the Academic Schools of the University.
Resolved, that the sum of ($11000) One hundred and ten
dollars is hereby appropriated to procure specimens of chemical
products from Germany, as recommended by the Faculty in
their report.
Resolved, that the Proctor be charged with the duty of
looking after the safety, and collection of all legacies, or other
funds given to the University in any form of donation, and
whether payable at once, or after an intermediate estate or
interest, and that he communicate the state of each such donation
to the Board, in his annual report.
Resolved, that the consideration of so much of the Faculty's
Report as relates to the appropriations for necessary
extension of the Mess Hall, for examination of the instalation
of Electric wires, for addition to salary of Instructor in
Mechanical Engineering, for repairs to arcade roofs, for additional
public lights, & for increase in the number of Miller
Scholarships, & for the readjustment of the fees in the Medical
Department, be postponed until the adjourned meeting on
January 5th 1894.
Mr Camm Patteson moved to reconsider the action of the
Board taken to-day in relation to the establishment of a hospital
at the University, and that the Chairman of the Faculty,
and the Medical Faculty, who had notification of the action
of the Board and had expressed a wish to appear before the
Board and be allowed a hearing on the question. Whereupon
the Board decided to accord to these gentlemen the opportunity
they desired, and they were invited and came before the
Board and were heard at length. After which the following
was adopted.
On the motion of Mr Patteson to reconsider the action of
this Board taken this day relative to the erection and establishment
of a hospital at this place the Board doth entertain
the same and doth postpone any action on the said motion to
reconsider until the fifth day of January 1894, to which date
this meeting is adjourned.
Resolved that the members of the Board who are present
make an earnest appeal to each of their colleagues to attend
the adjourned meeting to be held on the 5th of January 1894.
On motion the Board then adjourned to meet on the 5th
of January 1894, at 6 P. M.
W. C. N. Randolph
Rector
Teste,
Jas D. Jones,
Secretary.
January 5th 1894.
The Rector was the only member of the Board present in
pursuance of adjournment on the 15th ult.; and he having information
that no other member would likely attend adjourned
the meeting to the 9th of the present month at 12. M. and instructed
the Secretary to notify the members of the Board
thereof and urge upon them the importance of attending.
Rector
Secretary.
| Board of Visitors minutes December 5, 1893 | |