 | Board of Visitors minutes September 28, 1881 |  |
September 28th 1881.
The Board met pursuant to the adjourning order at the
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on the 19th of August last
and in obedience to the call of the Rector.
Present- the Rector, Mr. Stuart, and Messrs Bocock, Goode,
Lay, Marye & Whitehead.
On motion, Resolved, that the acts and proceedings of this
Board at the irregular meeting thereof held at the White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia, in August last as hereinbefore recorded,
be and the same are hereby ratified, approved & adopted by this
Board.
Dr. Harrison, Chairman of the Faculty was present at the
request of the Board and submitted the following papers for the
consideration of the Board, viz-
1. Report of Prof. Page as follows:
Rector of Board of Visitors
Dear Sir: I have the honor to make the following Report
in regard to the working of the School of Agriculture, Zoology
& Botany, & the Experimental Farm.
In accordance with the resolutions of the Trustees of The
Miller Board establishing three Agricultural Scholarships; and
with the orders of the Board of Visitors to carry out those
resolutions, we proceeded immediately to arrange the subjects
for the special competitive examinations; and to advertise the
fact that they would be held at the close of the first week of
the session. The Circulars of advertisement were distributed in
all sections of the State & were sent especially to Teachers &
the county Superintendents of Public Schools- Notwithstanding
this; when the time arrived we had only two candidates- Mr.
William H. Seamon from West Virginia & Mr. Samuel Porches from
Hanover County Virginia.
These gentlemen having passed the Examinations & obtained
the required standard, we accorded one of the Agricultural
Scholarships to Mr. Seamon & the other to Mr. William Porches
leaving the post graduate scholarship to be taken by Mr. Frank
Hampton, as provided and expected. Mr. Hampton did not return
to the University, and consequently that Scholarship was vacant.
The Scholars then entered upon the studies in my School, but
soon afterwards, Mr. Poches applied to me and thence to the
Faculty to be allowed to leave the School, on the ground that
he was studying Chemistry & the Engineering Course- studies
comprised in the Agricultural Department.
The Faculty referred the matter to the Executive Committee
of the Board of Visitors, & they decided that he could leave the
School. This left me with only one student in the School of
Agriculture, Mr. Seamon, & three in the Class of Botany.
Mr. Seamon has graduated in the School of Agriculture,
Zoology & Botany with high marks, and bids fair to do us great
credit. I would advise that in the future the Scholarships be
extensively advertised in the Country news-papers, in the State,
as well as by Circulars, in order to reach the class of young
men for whom they are intended as early in the vacation as possible.
The improvement in the lands of the Experimental Farm is
marked and progressive, as shown by the Crops of wheat, corn,
grass & clover now growing in the fields. For results of Experiments
in wheat, corn and grasses, see reports herewith inclosed.
I have a Vineyard of three acres and a half planted,
All the vines except the "Norton" are doing well; many of these
failed to take root in the first planting, but have been replanted
this Spring.
The fencing on the lands of the Experimental Farm - never
good - is now in wretched condition, & is a subject of very
considerable expense. Although we have a fence law in this County,
it is impossible to enforce it and to protect our crops from
depredation without proper enclosures. Where the fences are
worst I am replacing them with barbed wire and locusts posts
twelve feet apart & four strands of wire, at a cost of about
forty five cents a pannel of twelve feet. It is obvious that
this fencing must take a very considerable amount from the
specific appropriation of $500. to the farm & Experimental purposes;
and unless special provision is made to meet it, we will
inevitably be compelled to curtail our improvements and experiments.
Fencing & ditching being permanent improvements, I would
ask that one hundred dollars be allowed for the purpose of putting
the farm in thorough condition in these respects. The
labor bill alone for the past year has taken $400 out of the
$500 appropriated, and, but for the sale of hay & other crops
at high prices, we would not have been able to have put up any
fencing or to have purchased the necessary grass seeds and fertilizers
to prosecute the work. In looking over the inclosed
Inventory of Property- & Implements, you will perceive that our
wheat drill, originally and old second-hand implement, is marked
worthless. I would ask therefore & request that a specific appropriation
be made for the purchase of a new one of an improved
patent. I have in process of preparation about a half acre of
land, well suited for corn, to make "Enselage". If it is deemed
advisable to carry out this experiment it will be necessary to
provide a proper "Silo" or pit, which is also a permanent improvement
and will require a specific appropriation.
Mr. James Weannouth, our farm manager, having lately
married, finds the two (2) small rooms he has hitherto occupied,
insufficient for ordinary comfort. I would therefore recommend
that his application for an appropriation, to the amount of one
hundred dollars be granted, to make the addition of a kitchen &c.
You will notice in the Inventory of property, that we still
have the tile machine and about 5000 tiles on hand, most of these
we will require on the farm; but when used will be credited to
the tile machine as directed.
In conclusion permit me to ask that the usual appropriation
for printing our publications may be allowed, and to say that
the 500 copies of the lecture delivered before the Agricultural
Society by Assistant Professors, Dunnington & Thornton & myself
were published and distributed at my own expense; and that such
was the demand for them, that we have only some twenty copies left.
The Brooks Museum is in good condition as well as the specimens;
except some stuffed birds which have been attacked by insects.
Close attention & frequent "spraying" with carbolic acid
solution seems to prevent their injurious effects. The little
room known as the "Botanical work room" is utterly useless to
me for the want of the necessary articles of furniture. A round
table five feet in diameter & a half dozen chairs would supply
this want.
of Geology, Botany & Agriculture.
Inventory of property of Experimental farm.
June 2d 1881 - Two mules, waggon & harness, cart & harness,
plough (wood steck,[?] plough (Livingston), plough (Watts & Call)
Plough (Hill side) Plough & Gale, Plough (small Oliver Chilled)
Harrow (Scotch) Harrow (McGinnis) Harrow (seed) Double shovel
plough (Boot) Coulter, Cultivation (1 horse) Ditto (2 horse)
Grain drill (worthless) corn planter, corn sheller. Threshing
machine, Fan, Grindstone, Forks (three) shovels (two) spade (one)
Grass blades - two -Briers blade (one) saw, squse [square?] &
hatchet, Hoes - two- Ladder, Brick and tile machine, Tiles,
5000, corn 10 bushels.
John R. Page, M. D. Professor
in charge
(Note- The foregoing Report of Dr. Page was made in duplicate
to the Miller Board at the June meeting last & that copy was
seen then & considered by this Board & the Report properly belongs
to the proceedings of the last annl meeting, but as it was not
furnished then it is now spread.)
2. Correspondence of Col. T. L. Preston with reference to
his claim to additional compensation for work done by him in
preparation of synoptical Catalogue of the "Lee Papers".
3. Letter of Mr. William Wertenbaker to the Board, expressing
his thanks for honor & benefit conferred upon him by the
action of the Board at the last annual meeting.
4. Petition from Mr. Massie & the Misses Ross - ask that
the price of board be advanced to $20 per month - all of which
were placed on file.
On motion the Board adjourned to meet tomorrow morning at
9 Oclock. Test, Jas D. Jones, Secretary.
University of Virginia
September 29th 1881
The Board met pursuant to adjournment on yesterday.
Present the same members as on yesterday.
On motion,
Resolved, that sum not exceeding one thousand dollars be
& the same is hereby appropriated to be expended by the Proctor
& Superintendent of Grounds for the purpose of securing an additional
supply of water for the University, said sum to be expended
in such manner as he may deem best to accomplish the
object in view.
On motion the following was adopted; Whereas the Committee
of the Faculty who were charged with the duty of ascertaining
which of the eminent Scientific gentlemen of the country, whose
services could be obtained, would fill with most advantage the
position of Professor of Astronomy, the Director of the Observatory
now to be filled by us have partially discharged the duty
assigned them and report informally that in their opinion Professor
Gould of Cardova in the Argentine Confederation would
fill the position with distinguished advantage and next after
him that Professor Burnham of Chicago or Stone of Cincinnati
would be the most desirable appointees for the position but
the said Committee further report that they have not yet ascertained
which if any of those gentlemen would accept the position
Resolved, that the Executive Committee be and they are
hereby empowered to appoint temporarily, either one of those
gentlemen whose services, may be found to be attainable, preferring
them in the order named above.
And the said Committee be authorized to assure the gentleman
who may be appointed temporarily that he will be regularly
elected to said position at the next regular meeting of this
Board.
The Board being informed, that since the payment of two
hundred & twenty five dollars to Col. Thos. L. Preston for his
services in the preparation of a synoptical Catalogue & index
of the Lee Papers, and the direction to suspend said work, he
has voluntarily continued his labors in this matter and rendered
his bill for 40 days of this continued labor amounting to one
hundred dollars, the Board hereby authorize the payment of this
bill by the Proctor; and in view of the fact that the cost of
this work has already exceeded the expectation of the Board,
when the prosecution of it was authorized, the Board is compelled
to decline any further outlay of money in this work, and the
Secretary of the Board is directed to deliver a copy of this
minute to Col. Preston.
On motion, the following letter received from Mr. William
Wertenbaker, through the Chairman of the Faculty, on yesterday,
be spread upon the minutes of this Board.
Sept. 28th 81.
Gentlemen,
I respectfully tender my heartfelt gratitude for your kind
resolutions of June 30thpromoting me to be "Emeretis Librarian"
with a continuance of my salary of $700 a year for life. In my
present helpless condition the salary is more necessary now than
at any former period of my life.
In this connection I can not withhold an expression of my
gratification that Fred. W. Page was appointed Librarian and
Secretary of the Faculty as my Successor. I am well satisfied
that from his efficient services as my assistant during several
years, that no one could have been selected who is so well qualified
to perform the duties as he.
Your obedient servt
Resolved, that the Proctor be authorized to expend thirty
dollars in addition to the two hundred & fifty dollars appropriated
for the construction of a Porch to the Pavilion occupied by Prof.
Noah K. Davis.
Resolved, that the Board deem it inexpedient to grant the
petition of Mrs. Massie & Miss Ross, boarding house keepers for
an increase of the rate of board from $18 per month to $20 per
month. Which having already gone out to the public giving $18
per month as the price of board and the request is therefore
refused.
1. Resolved, That the Assistants allowed to Professors by
the action of the Board of Visitors shall have privileges of
free tuition in any of the Schools of the Literary and Scientific
Departments of the University on matriculating as students.
2. Resolved, That the enactment of the General Assembly
providing free tuition for Virginia academic students be so construed
as to extend to Virginian students in the Department of
Engineering the privilege under its conditions of free tuition
in all the Academic Schools named in said enactment.
3. Resolved, that the Faculty as a body be and are hereby
authorized in a limited number of cases to extend at their discretion
the privilege of free tuition or credit for tuition fees
to indigent and deserving young men when in their opinion the
best interests of the University may be promoted by such action.
4. Resolved, that the Proctor is hereby instructed to pay
the bill for advertising the Department of Civil and Mining Engineering
(amounting to about $80) incurred by Prof. Venable with
the approbation of the Rector.
Resolved, that the 5th resolution respecting the McCormick
Observatory adopted on the 30th day of June last, be amended so
that the portion thereof relating to the salary of Professor of
Astronomy shall read as follows:
"The salary of the Professor shall be the same as those of
other schools; provided that if the Endowment Fund shall produce
an income greater than will pay Three thousand dollars salary,
the Salary of the Professor of Astronomy may exceed Three thousand
dollars according to the discretion of the Board."
Resolved, that the 6th resolution be amended by striking
out the following - "This Fund shall be known as the Vanderbilt
Endowment", it being the special request of Mr. Wm. H. Vanderbilt
that his name shall not be in any way permanently connected with
his donation.
On motion the Board adjourned to the next annual meeting
in June 1882, unless sooner convened by call of the Rector.
Jas. D. Jones, Secretary
| Board of Visitors minutes September 28, 1881 | |