University of Virginia Library

At a meeting of the Board of
Visitors, Thursday, January 15, 1885

Present at 1 O.C. P.M:

W. Roane Ruffin, Rector; and Messrs Bell, Hansbrough,
Barbee, Taylor and Burks

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
Present at 6 O.C. P.M.

The above named members, Capt Blair, and Genl V.D.
Groner, the latter of whom takes the place of Colo Lamb
(resigned) by appointment of the Governor.

On motion of Genl Groner, Resolved that the certificate
of his qualification as a Visitor of the University and also
his commission as such Visitor be received and filed with the
records of this Board.

The Rector announced that the election of a Professor
of General and Industrial Chemistry was now in order:
whereupon, Capt Blair nominated Dr John W. Mallet; and the
vote being called, all the Visitors voted aye, except Colo
Hansbrough, who voted no. Dr Mallet is, therefore, declared
to be Professor of General and Industrial Chemistry from the

first day of October, 1885

After the claims and credentials of all the candidates
for the vacant Law-Chair in the University were considered
and canvassed, the vote was taken by ballot and resulted
in the election of James H. Gilmore, Esquird; whereupon,
on motion, the election was made unanimous; and James H.
Gilmore is hereby declared to be the Professor of Constitutional
and International Law, Equity, and the Law Merchant,
with a salary of $3000 to begin the day he enters upon the
discharge of his duties.

Colo Barbee presented the application of Hon A.C. Gordon
for the vacant professorship in Law accompanied with a large
number of testimonials of the highest character, and had the
same placed on file, subject to Mr Gordon's order.

The subject of Wm L. Maupin's letter, addressed to Capt
Blair, is referred to the Finance Committee.

Adjourned till tomorrow morning.

W. Roane Ruffin

Friday, January 16, 1885

Present: The Rector, and Messrs Hansbrough, Bell, Burks,
Barbee and Taylor.

The minutes of the transactions of the Executive Committee
since the last meeting of the Board were read, approved
and adopted.

Resolved that the Articles of Agreement between the Rector
and Visitors of the University of Virginia and the Town of
Charlottesville made under authority of the Act of the General
Assembly of Virginia, approved March 19, 1884, to construct,
jointly, water works, with the Reservoir upon the lands of Henry

N. Carey and others, and pipes leading therefrom to the University
and to and along certain streets of said Town according to the plan
of Ernest W. Bowditch, as submitted by the Executive Committee be
approved and adopted, subject to the amendments and additions
thereto as indicated in the memorandum made by Prof Minor and filed
herewith; and that said contract be re-drafted so as to incorporate
said modifications therein, and that said contract be executed as
so re-drafted.

2. Resolved that when the said contract shall have been so
executed, the Executive Committee jointly with the Town of
Charlottesville shall have authority to let to contract to
competent and reliable parties the construction of said Water Works
according to the specifications of the plan of the said Ernest W.
Bowditch; and to require the contractor or contractors to execute
bond or bonds in suitable penalties and with approved security,
conditioned for the faithful performance of said contract or contracts
in a skillful and effective manner, according to the spirit
thereof and to indemnify the University against all personal
liability as well as against all liens on its property which may
arise, or be acquired under the law by sub-contractors, suppliers
of materials, or workmen, and further to provide for forfeitures
in case of default by the contractor or contractors.

Resolved that the order entered by this Board on the 6th day of
September, 1882, respecting the payment of professors' salaries be
and the same is hereby repealed; and that the payment of the
professors' salaries, and their communtation for rent, shall hereafter
be made in monthly instalments by the proctor on the last day
of each month during the session.

Jesse L. Maury's proposition to buy 33 acres of the University's
land at $10 an acre is referred to the Committee
on Grounds and Buildings.

The Faculty is authorized to order such ceremonies on the
formal opening of the Leander McCormick Observatory as to the
Faculty may seem appropriate, and the day suggested for these
ceremonies by the Committee in charge of the matter, to wit;
Jefferson's birth day is hereby approved.

Prof Fontaine is authorized to expend the sum of $150
earned by him from the U.S. Geological Survey last session
in fixing up cases to hold the minerals and fossils which
belong to his Department; and he will make report to
this Board how he has spent said sum. He may also let Mr.
Seamon, teacher of Natural Science in the Miller School, have
such specimens of the minerals and rocks as he, Mr Fontaine,
may pick out.

The Proctor will pay "Standard Office" the sum of
$5 for printing 500 circulars for the University on the
order of Genl Ruggles.

The Office of special agent to solicit contributions
to the University is hereby abolished.

Prof Garnett is granted 2 weeks leave of absence.

The subject of enlarging and repairing the University
grave-yard is referred to the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings.

Adjourned

W. Roane Ruffin

Following is the Contact between the University and the
town of Charlottesville in regard to the Water Works.

"Whereas, the University of Virginia and the town of
Charlottesville propose, under the authority of the Act of
the General Assembly of Virginia, approved March 19, 1884,
to construct, jointly, Water-Works, with a Reservoir upon
the lands of Henry N. Cary and others, and pipes leading
therefrom to the University and to and along certain streets
of said town according to the plan already submitted by
Ernest W. Bowditch, their Engineer: Now, therefore, the
Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, and the
town of Charlottesville, agree as follows:

1. Assuming the work to cost, for everything, Ninety
Thousand Dollars, then the University (which as used in
this contract means the Rector and Visitors of the University
of Virginia) is to pay fifteen thousand, eight hundred
dollars ($15,800) and the Town the residue, seventy-four
thousand, two hundred dollars ($74,200); and if the cost should
prove to be more or less than $90,000, then the same to be
borne by the University in the ratio of fifteen thousand,
eight hundred dollars ($15,800) to seventy-four thousand,
two hundred dollars ($74,200)

2. The University to give, for said works, the right of
way through its lands, and the right of entry to said Town for
purposes of repair of the Works.

3. The University to pay one hundred and fifty dollars
($150) a year to the Town so long as the Town elects to keep,
and does keep, in order the Reservoir and Main Pipe from the
gate-house to a point on the Staunton road opposite the
Brooks Museum; but if the Town should not make the necessary

repairs to the same, the University shall have authority
to make the same after ten days' notice to the Town through
its Mayor, and to retain from said one hundred and fifty dollars
so much as said repairs shall have cost the University.

4. Any unforseen and unestimated damages to third
persons after completion of the work (according to the plan
adopted) shall be borne by the University and the Town, the
University to pay one-seventh (1/7) and the Town six-sevenths
(6/7)

5. The University to have the free and exclusive use of
so much of the water as is drawn from the main pipe from the
Reservoir into its own pipes so as to supply all the grounds
which are now, or may hereafter become, its property as far
as to the present track of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad;
and the town of Charlottesville is to have the free and
exclusive use of the water from a point opposite the Brooks
Museum eastward with the free and unrestricted right to
dispose of the same as it pleases, except as to the grounds
of the University as aforesaid. But neither part shall so
use the water as to prevent its free and proper enjoyment by
the other.

6. The Engineer to take charge of the construction and
completion of said works shall be elected by the University
and the Town; and they shall also concurrently agree upon
the contractor or contractors and the terms of his or their
contracts.

7. This contract must be regarded as conditional
upon the Town's ability to raise upon its bonds an amount
sufficient to enable it to comply with it, of which the Town

must be the sole judge. But the Town's ability must be
determined by it within four months from the date of this
contract unless the University elects to give further time;
and as soon as the Town determines it shall make known its
determination to the University.

8. The interest of the Town and the University in the
Water-Works aforesaid shall be in proportion to the amounts
contributed by them, respectively, to their construction.

9. The University shall finish paying the whole of the
amount to be contributed by it to the construction of the
Water-Works as nearly as it can be ascertained, within two
months after the time the works are sufficiently constructed
to supply the University with water.

10. By the aforesaid plan of E. W. Bowditch the main
pipe from the Reservoir strikes the Staunton road to Charlottesville
at a point opposite Carr's Hill, from which point the
Town shall also have the free and exclusive use and disposition
of the water, always excepting the grounds which are
now, or may hereafter become, the property of the University,
so that the same shall not extend eastward beyond the present
track of the Chesapeake and Ohio RailRoad - the intent being
that all grounds of the University shall be entitled to a
water-supply as set down in Article five (5) hereof. The
works aforesaid are to include the proper connexions, not
exceeding two, with the University mains, and the establishing
at least two fire plugs: the whole cost of the connexions
and the plugs not to exceed one hundred dollars. In case
new buildings shall be erected by the University at any time
in the future on its grounds, the right is hereby reserved

to connect at any time with the main pipe from the Reservoir
in addition to the two connexions above authorized, the
expense of the same being borne exclusively by the University.

11. This contract is made by the University under
authority given by its Rector and Board of Visitors on the
16" day of January, 1885, as is shewn by the record kept by
them of their proceedings; and said contract is made by the
Town under authority given by its Council on the 20th day
of January, 1885, as appears by the record kept by it of
its proceedings. A tracing of the route through a part of
the University Grounds of the main pipe as made by E.W. Bowditch,
Esquire, is affixed hereto as a part of this contract.

In testimony of all which, William Roane

Ruffin, Rector of the University of
Virginia, and Randolph F. Harris, Mayor of
the Town of Charlottesville, have signed
their names to this agreement, and by the
authority aforesaid have affixed thereto
the seals of their respective corporations
this 20th day of January, 1885.

Executed in duplicate.