 | Board of Visitors minutes April 30, 1915 |  |
April 30, 1915.
Pursuant to call of the Rector, the Board met on this date at 2 o'cl
p.m., with the following members present: Armistead C. Gordon, Recto
Goodrich Hatton, J. W. Craddock, G.R.B. Michie and Dr. W. F. Drewry.
President Alderman was also in attendance. The President announced
the following gifts to the University:
$50,000 from Mr. J. B. Cobb for Chemical Laboratory.
$50,000 for Chemical Laboratory.
$10,000 from Mrs. Charles H. Senff.
$ 800 from Mr. Crane for instruments in Engineering Dep't.
$ 500 from the Seven Society for a loan fund to be known as
The Loan Fund of the Seven Society.$ 500 from University Hospital Circle for Children's Ward.
$ 235 for Oil Tank by Mr. Charles R. Crane.
$ 200 from Mr. Fairfax Harrison to be added to loan fund.
Gift of portrait of Professor Francis H. Smith.
Two books from Dr. Thomas Addis Emmett.
Walking cane of President Madison by Judge W. S. Gooch.
(Checks or cash for all of the above gifts, except the amount
donate by the University Hospital Circle which has not yet been
sent in, have been turned over to the Bursar.)
The following resolution was adopted:
RESOLVED: The Rector and Visitors have heard with gratification
the President's announcement of the recent generous gifts to the
University, and they extend to Dr. Alderman their congratulations
on this accomplishment of one of his plans for the University's development.
The Rector and Visitors wish to give renewed expression to their
pleasure at Dr. Alderman's restoration to health, and to reiterate
their appreciation of his vital influence as President of the University.
They rejoice in his return to the leadership of the University's
activities, and look forward with confidence to its increased
usefulness under his able guidance.
In connection with the Senff gift, Dr. Alderman presented
the following letter which was directed to be entered as of
record:
Whitestone, Long Island.
I am writing for my Aunt to enclose
her check for Ten Thousand Dollars. She would like this
gift to be a continuation of her former gift for the
gate to be used for the improvement of the roads,
and in memory of Mr. Senff.
We send you our best wishes for
complete success in your work.
The following resolution was then offered and unanimously
adopted:
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Visitors instruct the President
of the University to make appropriate acknowledgment on their
behalf, of the gifts above enumerated and to express to each
giver the thanks of the Visitors and of the Institution.
In connection with the Cobb gift, the President presented
the following correspondence he had had with Mr. Cobb:
101 Park Ave.,
New York.
I am very, very sorry that you cannot be with
me on Founder's Day, but I shall count most confidently on
having you in my home as my guest to see this place before many
you, but you must be with me for some portion of your time
here.
You cannot imagine how much stimulation and gratification
your letter gives me, indicating as it does your desire
and your intention, unless something intervenes, to make
the donation with reference to the chemical laboratory. You
cannot imagine what a service it would be to us just at this
time. Sometimes you know a gift if given at one moment in the
life of an institution is two or three times as effective as
the same gift would be at some other moment. Just now this
gift would clear up the whole atmosphere in the field of our
sciences, like chemistry and biology, by giving chemistry
its proper place and enabling us to immediately leap to the
front in this big economic subject. I do not think that
a delay on your part until our Finals would be a serious
thing either to the University or to the department for which
the donation is needed. There are certain circumstances connect
with getting the work under way which could be cleared up
between now and June, and which might be delayed until the
fall if the matter waits until June. that occur to me, but
they could not be described as either vital or tremendously
serious. My heart was set on Founder's Day for your sake
rather than our own, because this is an occasion of singular
dignity and simplicity, and it is the occasion upon which
great services to the University, as yours would be, are
usually announced and commented upon; but I await your
pleasure and your good will, my dear friend, and this
University and I, as its responsible head, will appreciatively
await what seems to you a proper decision as to time.
My wife joins me in the warmest regards to you, Mrs.
Cobb and your household.
Edwin A. Alderman,
President.
I have just received and read with great
happiness and satisfaction your letter of March 23. I feel
sure that I can with entire propriety and satisfaction
treat the arrangement you suggest as a donation of $50,000,
and will be most happy so to do. It would be difficult for
me to tell you how much real strength and helpfulness you
are giving to the University of Virginia by this gift, supplying,
as it will undoubtedly do, a need so urgent and acute
that I have been at my wit's end to know what to do to care
for it.
I shall have in mind most earnestly the suggestion you
make as to your interest in that branch of chemistry which has
to do with agriculture and manufacturing, and I am sure I
can so order the use of your gift as to turn a considerable
portion of its force in that direction. If there are any
other notions in your mind about the matter, will you promptly
communicate them to me?
You have done a great service to our life here, and
we shall always hold it in grateful memory.
President.
101 Park Avenue
New York
I am very glad to learn by your letter of
March 27th that my proposition to make the donation of
$50,000. in the form of a check for $25,000. and my note
for the same amount due and payable on or before January 5th,
1916, is satisfactory to you. About the 7th or 8th of April
I will send the check and note on to you. In the meantime I
will be glad if you will write me whether the whole of the gift
will likely be used for a single building and what part, if
any, will be used for laboratory equipment. I am, of course,
greatly pleased at the thought of being helpful to the University
at a time when its need is urgent.
Charlottesville, Virginia.
I note by your letter of March 31st that the
whole of my gift to the University will be applied to a laboratory
for chemistry. This is entirely agreeable to me and I
think now I shall, within two or three days, send you my check
for $50,000. instead of a check for $25,000. and a note for the
same amount.
I saw Mr. Fuller for about an hour on the afternoon
of the day he returned from Georgia and I believe he will
be with you on Founder's Day.
In compliance with my recent promise to
you I take pleasure in enclosing herewith my check # 66,
on Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, to your order, for $50,000.
This is a gift outright to the University of Virginia. I
understand it is your purpose to use the proceeds of this
check towards the erection of a building for a chemical
laboratory. In the purpose for which the donation is to be
used, in the fact that the donation is to the University
of Virginia, in the certainty that a large part of such
benefits as will come from the gift will go to the South,
my most earnest desires are fully met and under such conditions
I feel it a privilege to be able to make the donation. My
original plan was to make this gift on the occasion of your
return to the University last fall from your long illness but
the War interfered with my intentions. Your unselfish spirit
will, I know, excuse the delay.
Sincerely yours,
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED: That the President of the University be instructed
to prepare a suitable engrossed expression of thanks to be
communicated to Mr. John Blackwell Cobb for his generous gift
towards the erection of a Chemical Laboratory at the University.
The President presented to the Board the following communication
from the Miller Board of Trustees in re. to appointment
of Prof. Ivey F. Lewis:
President of the University
of Virginia.
As Secretary of the Board of Trustees under the
deed of the late Samuel Miller I am directed to say that at
a meeting of the Board held this morning Mr. Ivey F. Lewis,
of the University of Missouri was unanimously nominated
to the Board of Visitors to fill the Chair made vacant by
the resignation of Professor Albert H. Tuttle in the School
established under the provisions of the deed of Samuel Miller.
I am directed by the Board to request you to lay this nomination
before the Board of Visitors of the University of
Virginia for their action.
R. T. W. Duke, Jr.,
Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Professor Ivey F. Lewis, of the University of Missouri,
having been unanimously nominated to the Rector and Visitors
of the University of Virginia by the Board of Trustees under
the Samuel Miller deed as Miller Professor of Biology and
Agriculture to succeed Professor A. H. Tuttle, it is hereby
RESOLVED: That Professor Ivey F. Lewis is hereby elected
Professor of Biology and Agriculture in the University of
Virginia at a salary of $3,000, his incumbency to begin
September 13, 1915. The Secretary of this Board is instructed
to communicate this action to the Secretary of the Miller
Board of Trustees.
(The Rector, being a kinsman of Prof. Lewis, declined to vote.)
Judge Duke, Secretary of the Miller Board of Trustees,
transmitted to the Board, through the President, the following
resolution of said Miller Board:
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees under the deed of
Samuel Miller the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED: That this Board will at its June, 1915 meeting
make appropriation of the fund at its disposal, and in making
the nomination for the Chair made vacant by the resignation of
Professor Albert H. Tuttle it is the sense of this Board that
the Department of which the newly nominated Professor is to be
the head if elected by the Board of Visitors - should be reorganized
by the latter Board so as to carry out as far as
practicable with the fund available, the purposes of Mr. Miller,
and that this Board will hereafter proceed to appropriate the
entire net income of the Miller Fund to the support of the department
of which the new professor is to be the head.
(A copy from the minutes)
Teste:
Secretary of the Board
Trustees under the deed
of the late Samuel Mill
for the establishment of
a School of Experimental
and Practicable Agriculture
at the University
of Virginia.
The following regulations adopted by the Medical Faculty
April 5th, 1915, were presented, and, having received approval
of the President, were unanimously approved, as follows:
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Visitors approve the following
regulation adopted by the Medical Faculty at the meeting of
that faculty April 5th, 1915.
Beginning with the session of 1917-18 the entrance requirements
of the Department of Medicine will be as follows:
Applicants for admission to the Department of Medicine will
be required to furnish evidence of the completion of a four-year
course at a recognized public high school, or acceptable
certificates which represent work equivalent in amount and character
to such a high school course, and, in addition, to present
evidence of the completion at an approved institution of collegia
rank of two years of work of not less than 15 session-hours each.
This college course must include a year's work in each of the
following subjects: English (rhetoric, composition and literatur
(General) Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and either German
or French.
A student otherwise qualified may be admitted conditioned
upon one of these subjects, the condition to be removed before
admission to the second year of the medical course, but no
condition may be allowed in Chemistry, English, or Mathematics.
The modern language (German or French) course must be
based upon two years of high school work in that language, or
its equivalent; but a candidate may absolve the requirement
in this subject by demonstrating on examination the possession
of a satisfactory reading knowledge thereof.
A year's work in either general biology, zoology or botany
will be accepted as satisfying the requirement in biology;
but zoology is considered preferable to botany, and it is desirable
that the course should include the dissection of a mammal.
The President presented the following communication from
Dr. Wm. E. Hopkins, which was read, discussed and referred to
a special Committee consisting of the Rector, Mr. Michie,
and Dr. Alderman, to consider and determine the best disposition
of it.
President of the University of Virginia,
Charlottesville,
Virginia.
Some eight years ago, I notified the University that
in drafting my will I had inserted a clause bequeathing it
the sum of thirty thousand (30,000) dollars; the purpose of
the gift being the erection of a teaching building on the
grounds of the University; and that I had made this bequest
in response to a feeling of deep gratitude to the University
for the inestimable service it did for me during my student
days of long ago.
Some time later, while on a visit to the University,
I mentioned to you that it would give me great satisfaction
if the school could be placed in possession of this fund,
during my life, and so avoid any possible future complication
but I realized my moderate fortune would not permit me to
spare the quite considerable income this money would produce;
but if the University could see its way clear to guarantee
me a moderate return, I would be willing to transfer the sum
practicable, so, after some delay, I invested the money
(at the time a cash bank deposit) in bonds, chiefly
railroad bonds, (then in good standing), securing thirty-five
thousand, par value, in bonds, for thirty thousand
in cash. Since the purchase, owing to financial difficulties
in general, railroad finances in particular, the war and
other causes, there has been very considerable depreciation
in the value of these securities, the loss at one time
reaching eight thousand dollars on the purchase price,
since the beginning of the year there has been considerable
appreciation, I am glad to say, and the loss now stands
at less than five thousand dollars.
The income received from these various securities
amounts to $1420 a year.
If the University should now be inclined to reconsider
its action, I would be perfectly willing to turn over the
cash received from the sale of the thirty-five thousand
dollars (par value) in bonds, the University crediting
me with the actual cost to me, thirty-thousand dollars,
and paying me an income equal to four (4) per cent, net
on the cost price. Conditional upon such present action,
I should require the money to be used in erecting a teaching
building, bearing my name, and so placed in the general
scheme of the University that it could and would be continued
in use for similar teaching purposes should the
medical department at any time be removed to another locality.
The building to be attractive in appearance and of
such character as to harmonize with the general plan of
the University, and the construction to be such as to
insure its permanence. I desire the right to pass on the
plans before actual construction is begun.
I should also consider it a great privilege to be
present and allowed to formally present the complete
building to the University.
The transfer of the securities, or the cash received
from their sale, to be carried out in a legal way; and the
time of transfer to be decided later, so the securities
may be disposed of to the best advantage.
I would respectfully state that the above is entirely
my own tentative point of view, and it is so submitted for
your consideration and discussion.
While I have frankly stated the best I can do at this
time, or, as I believe, during my life, I do not wish to
influence the present attitude or action of the University
in any way. The Governing Board must decide whether it is
for the best interest of the institution to await the complete
cash bequest or to accept now the reduced amount with
conditions attached.
The Board being apprised of the death of Mr. Karl Bitter,
due to an accident in New York City, and that it had been his
intention to be present at the unveiling of the Jefferson
statue, on April 13, unanimously adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Visitors of the University of
Virginia desire to put on record the expression of their sorrow
for the recent death of Mr. Karl Bitter, whose genius as a
sculptor has contributed to the beauty of the University, and
whose interest in the welfare of the institution was evinced
in a very generous manner in many instances.
That a copy of this resolution be sent by the Secretary
of the Board to Mrs. Bitter.
The following, in appreciation of the services of Mr.
Henry Bacon in connection with the plans for the Entrance Gate,
was adopted:
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Visitors of the University of
Virginia desire to put on record the expression of their very
great appreciation of the generosity of Mr. Henry Bacon in his
services rendered in connection with the Memorial Gate, for which
he furnished the plans; and that the Secretary of the Board be
instructed to send a copy of this resolution to Mr. Bacon,
with the sincere thanks of the Rector and Visitors.
The matter of designating the National Bank of Charlottesvil
as a depository of the University, which was considered at the
last meeting of the Board and referred to the Finance Committee,
was favorably reported by said committee and disposed of in the
RESOLVED: That the Bursar be and he is authorized to deposit the
current funds and deposits of the University with the three banks
in Charlottesville, viz: The Peoples National, the Jefferson National
and the National Bank of Charlottesville, upon the same terms and
conditions as those now in force with the two banks now used as
depositors.
The following report was received and ordered spread:
The Rector of the University having reported to the Board that
pursuant to resolution of the Board heretofore adopted, he went to
Norfolk, Virginia, and on the 24th day of March 1914, received from
and receipted to the Norfolk Bank for Savings and Trusts, as Executor
of the late Dr. B. W. Green, the personal estate of said Dr. Green,
as listed in the settlement of said Executor by the Commissioner
of Accounts of Albemarle County; and then and there turned over
said estate to the Bursar of the University, who then and there
deposited the said estate, represented by securities and money as
stated in said settlement with the said Norfolk Bank for Savings
and Trusts, as a duly authorized depository of the University:
RESOLVED: That the Board ratify and approve the action of the
Rector and Bursar in the premises.
The Bursar presented to the Board a letter from Mr. Bentley W.
Warren, Trustee of the Austin Estate, re disposition of certain
real estate belonging to the said estate, as follows:
University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Va.
I have your letter of April 3rd and thank you
for the kind expressions, &c.
You may recall that a year ago I had some correspondence
with you respecting the two houses 414 and 416
Newbury Street, the title to which came into the estate
through foreclosure of mortgages which had been taken by
the Trustee predecessor to both Mr. Endicott and myself.
When our predecessor took those mortgages, he had reason
to believe that the section of the city was one in which
values would remain at least stable and would perhaps
improve. This has not proved to be the case, and the
value of the two houses seems pretty steadily to depreciate.
The lots back onto the Boston & Albany Railroad, which
makes the location undesirable for a good class of residences
At the same time the lots are restricted, so that buildings
on them cannot be used for business purposes, and the class
of tenants available is very undesirable. The houses
are assessed at $8,000 each. They stand the estate; # 414
about $8,175 and # 416 about $9,282. As you will see
from the account for the past year, # 416 gave us a net
income of only $240.95, while # 414 paid practically nothing
and its ownership involved considerable expense. We
spent considerable money on # 414 to put it in condition
satisfactory to a prospective tenant for a lodging house.
Shortly after she took possession it transpired that she
was not keeping the proper kind of lodging house, and we
had to terminate her tenancy. I think at the present time
it might be possible to sell the two houses together for
$12,000, or perhaps a little more. While it is always
dangerous to predict how future developments may affect
real estate values, my impression is that the University
would be better off if we sold the houses and invested
the proceeds. Securities are relatively low at the present
time, as of course you appreciate. I should like to know
whether you would approve a sale of this real estate for
$12,000, or more, of course, if we can get a better offer,
or whether you think we had better hold on to the property.
For your information, I may add that the Legislature
has, at its present session, passed an act making it possible
to register free from restrictions land which, on the record,
is subject to restrictions, if the Court thinks such action
is required by the equities of the case or by public interests.
While the constitutionality of this act is not
free from doubt, it seems to have been carefully drawn
in an attempt to meet constitutional objections to its
validity. Should you feel that we had better not attempt
a sale of the property at $12,000, I think the best course
then for us to pursue, and that which we probably should
pursue, would be to attempt to have the title to the land
registered free from the restrictions.
I enclose the twentieth account of Mr. Endicott and
myself for your examination, and a copy of the same for
your files.
Pursuant with the foregoing the following resolution was
adopted:
RESOLVED: That it is the sense of this Board that the Austin
Estate Trustees be authorized to exercise their own discretion
in the matter of dealing with the two houses, 414 and 416 Newbury
Street, either selling the property, or taking action with
reference to removing restriction on the property under the
Massachusetts statute, as they may think best.
The Bursar stated to the Board that it was his opinion that
better results could be obtained in renting rooms in the Randall
Building if the restrictions as to boarding at the Commons was
removed, especially in view of the fact that the proprietor of
the Commons agrees not to insist upon the carrying out of the
contract as now existing in that regard; whereupon the following
resolution was adopted:
RESOLVED: That the regulations heretofore existing requiring
occupants of rooms in Randall Building to board at the Commons,
be rescinded for the session of 1915-16.
Report of the Committee to whom was referred the matter of
Roanoke Rapids lot:
By an instrument in writing purporting to be a deed,
and dated May 10th, 1912, John Armstrong Chaloner states that
thereby he conveys certain real estate situated at Roanoke
Rapids, Halifax County, North Carolina, to the University
of Virginia, and the University of North Carolina, jointly,
reserving to himself a life estate therein; and this instrument
is recorded in the Clerk's Office of Albemarle
County, Virginia, in Deed Book 150, page 136.
On the 20th of January, 1915, Mr. John L. Patterson,
Secretary of the Board of School Trusttes of Roanoke Rapids,
addressed a letter to this Board, enclosing therewith copies
of several letters with reference to the acquisition by said
Board of School Trustees of two lots in Roanoke Rapids, which
are parts of the property which Mr. Chaloner refers to in the
above names instrument. And in Mr. Patterson's letter of
January 20, 1915, he states that Mr. Chaloner was willing to
donate the lots for the purposes of the Board of School
Trustees, and he asks that this Board take such steps as it
may deem necessary for the purpose of conveying to the
Board of School Trustees whatever interest the University
of Virginia may have in these lots by virtue of Mr. Chaloner's
gift.
At a meeting of the Board held on the 9th of March, 1915,
—"The question as to whether or not the University has a right
to join in a deed conveying its rights in this property was
discussed at length, and, owing to the uncertain position of
the University in the premises, the whole matter was referred
to the Rector to investigate."
The whole matter was referred by the Rector to Mr. W.
Allan Perkins, Attorney for the University, with instructions
to investigate the situation thoroughly, and make report
thereon.
Mr. Perkins at once took the matter up with Mr. Patterson,
and on the 27th of March, 1915, Mr. Patterson stated
in a letter to Mr. Perkins that after further consideration,
Mr. Chaloner felt that it would be unwise for him to
convey the lots in question to the Board of School Trustees,
and that in view of this conclusion on his part, he must
refuse to unite in a deed for that purpose.
In the mean time, however, the Board of School Trustees
of Roanoke Rapids had instituted condemnation proceedings
in the Superior Court of Halifax County, North Carolina,
for the purpose of obtaining title to the lots in question,
and Mr. Patterson now asks that instead of uniting in a
deed with Mr. Chaloner, his Board is anxious to have a
statement from the Universities of Virginia and North
Carolina to the effect that these institutions have no
objection to the acquisition of these lots by the Board
of School Trustees of Roanoke Rapids, such statements
to be used by the Board before the Court in the condemnation
proceedings above referred to.
Mr. Patterson has been advised that the situation will
be laid before this Board at its present meeting.
After full consideration of the foregoing report, it was
RESOLVED: That in view of the position taken by Mr. Chaloner
we feel that it would not be proper for this Board to take
any action in the matter, and the Secretary is instructed to
express to Mr. Patterson the regret of this Board to comply
with his request.
The President recommended the following promotions, which
were approved:
Charles Hancock from Associate to full Professor of Mechanical
Engineering.
George B. Eager from Adjunct to Associate Professor of Law.
J. H. Cline from Instructor to Adjunct Professor of Geology.
W. H. Goodwin from Adjunct to Associate Professor of Surgery.
J. Alex. Waddell from Adjunct to Associate Professor
of Pharmacology.
The President presented his annual budget for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 1915, which he discussed and explained
to the members present to their very great satisfaction,
and which was adopted in the following form:
[see page 17 for Financial Budget]
The regular annual meeting of the Board of Visitors
was held on this date with the following present: Armistead
C. Gordon, Rector, Goodrich Hatton, R. Tate Irvine, John W.
Craddock, Wm. H. White, G. B. R. Michie, Dr. W. F. Drewry,
Walter Tansill Oliver and Dr. Frank W. Lewis.
Dr. Lewis, succeeding Judge Jos. W. Chinn, resigned, presented
to the Board his qualification as a Visitor of the
University of Virginia.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
The President announced the following gifts to the University:
$1250 - Adams Research Fellowship from Columbia University -
has been given to Professor Mitchell for the second time, a
very unusual distinction. The gift is made on the condition
that he contribute 4000 hours of work to the advancement
of science.
$ 500 - from Smith Fund, National Academy of Sciences -
out of compliment to Dr. Olivier, the greatest authority
in America on meteors.
$ 250 - Draper Fund, National Academy of Sciences - for
part cost of a measuring machine.
The above gifts to the Astronomical work of the University
amount to $2000.
| Board of Visitors minutes April 30, 1915 | |