partment and its buildings at a site within one-half mile of the geographical centre of the city of Chicago, the Common Council will, and hereby pledges itself, to make application to the General Assembly of the State, at its next regular session, for power to issue seven per cent. bonds of the said city to the amount of $250,000, as an endowment for said Mechanical department, and, upon obtaining such power, will, within ninety days thereafter, issue and deliver to the Trustees of said Mechanical or Polytechnic department for the purpose aforesaid, the said amount of $250,000 of seven per cent. bonds of the city of Chicago.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

CHARLES C. P. HOLDEN,

CHARLES G. WICKER,
THEODORE SCHINTZ,

Committee on Finance.

I do further certify that at the regular meeting of said Common Council, held in Chicago August 10th, A. D. 1868, the following proceedings were had, to-wit:

Report of Committee on Finance on petitions and resolutions in relation to Illinois Industrial University, laid over and published Aug. 3, 1868. Ald. Holden moved to concur in the report and pass the resolution.

Ald. S. I. Russell moved to postpone action until next regular meeting, and demanded the ayes and noes thereon.

The motion was lost by the following vote:

Ayes-Knickerbocker, Calkins, Macalister, S. I. Russell, B. F. Russell, Cas selman, Buehler, Beebe, Schmidt, Berger, Herting—11.

Noes-Cox, Donnellan, Wicker, Hahn, McRoy, Raber, Sheridan, Walsh, Keeley, Hildreth, Comiskey, Rafferty, Carpenter, Salisbury, Holden—15.

The question then being on the motion of Ald. Holden, the ayes and noes were called, and the report was concurred in, and the resolution adopted by the following vote:

Ayes-Knickerbocker, Cox, Dixon, Donnellan, Wicker, Hahn, McRoy, Calkins, Raber, Sheridan, Walsh, Keeley, Macalister, Hildreth, Comiskey, Rafferty, Carpenter, Salisbury, Holden, Buehler, Beebe, Schmidt, Berger, Herting-24.

Noes-S. I. Russell, B. F. Russell, Casselman-3.

The following is the resolution as passed :

WHEREAS. The establishment and successful operation in the city of Chicago, of a Mechanical or Polytechnic College for the more thorough education of mechanics in those sciences which are necessary for the attainment of the highest skill in the mechanical arts, would be of great value to the industrial classes, to the city of Chicago, and to the State at large, and

WHEREAS, Under the acts of Congress, and the General Assembly of this State, the Board of Trustees of the State Industrial University have desig nated Chicago as the place for the location of the Mechanical or Polytechnic department of that University, subject to the condition that the same be located as near the center of the city as possible; and

WHEREAS, The county of Champaign has donated to the Agricultura

department of said University, county bonds of said county to the amount of $100,000, and other property to the estimated value of $350,000 more, in consideration of the location of said Agricultural department in said county, and

WHEREAS, There seems to be a defect of power under the city charter for the city to issue bonds for such a purpose at this time, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Chicago in Common Council assembled, that the following proposition be, and the same is hereby made to the Board of Trustees of the Mechanical or Polytechnic department of the State Industrial University, to-wit: If, and upon condition hat the Trustees of said Mechanical department shall permanently locate said department and its buildings at a site within one-half mile of the geographical centre of the city of Chicago, the Common Council will, and hereby pledges itself, to make application to the General Assembly of this State, at its next regular session, for power to issue seven per cent. bonds of the said city, to the amount of $250,000, as an endowment for said Mechanical department, and, upon obtaining such power, will, within ninety days thereafter, issue and deliver to the Trustees of said Mechanical or Polytechnic department for the purpose aforesaid, the said amount of $250,000 of seven per cent. bonds of the city of Chicagɔ.

And that said resolution was duly approved by the Mayor of said city, and remains in full force.

[SEAL.]

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said city, this 17th day of November, A. D. 1868. A. H. BODMAN, Clerk.

Mr. Flagg asked and obtained leave to read a resolution relating to experiments to be carried out upon the University farm, and simultaneously in different parts of the State, and that the Regent be authorized to draw a warrant to meet the expenses of the same, unless the Legislature shall make up appropriations for the same; and also a resolution, that the Executive commi tee provide for a curse of lec ures and discussions, to commence about the 12th of January next, to continue two weeks; that the co operation of the practical farmers of the State be earnestly solicited to make the discussion successful, and disseminating the views in practical and scientific agriculture and in facts relating

thereto.

Laid on the table.

On motion, a recess was taken until 12 o'clock, to enable the committee on Polytechnic branch to report. Upon re-assembling at 12 o'clock, the committee on Polytechnic School reported as follows:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

Your special committee to whom was referred the resolution of the city of Chicago, proposing the donation of $250,000 to the Mechanical department of this institution, located at Chicago, and the resolution of Mr. Hayes in relation thereto, would report that we recom.nend the adoption of the resolution in the following form:

Resolved, That this Board appreciate highly the liberal proposition of the city of Chicago, by its resolution of August 11th, 1868, to appropriate $250,000 of seven per cent. bonds of said city, as soon as the requisite power can be obtained, as an endowment for the Mechanical Department of this University, upon condition that the said department and its buildings should be permanently located at a site within one-half mile of the geographical center of said city.

Resolved, That in accordance with the resolution of this Board of March 13th, 1867, establishing a Mechanical Department of the Industrial University at Chicago, as near as possible to the center of the city, the members of this Board residing in the Third Grand Division and First Congressional District be, and they are hereby, instructed to accept said proposition, and notify the said city thereof; and they are authorized and instructed to execute and deliver such contracts as may be necessary or proper in the premises. (Signed) I. S. MAHAN, Chairman of Committee.

Mr. Hayes moved its adoption, which being seconded, the ayes and noes were called, resulting as follows:

Ayes-Allen, Blackburn, Brown of Chicago, Brown of Pulaski, Cobb, Burchard, Edwards, Flagg, Goltra, Hayes, Johnson, Mahan, McMurray, Pickrell, Pullen, Quick, Scroggs, Van Osdell, the Regent-19.

Noes-None.

The subject of Legislative appropriation was then called up. Mr. Johnson moved that this subject be made the special order for 7 o'clock, and that it be discussed in secret session. After some discussion, on motion of Mr. Flagg, it was referred to the Finance Committee. Carried.

On motion the Board adjourned to 2 o'clock, P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Board was called to order at 2:30 P. M.

The following resolutions of Mr. Flagg were taken up and passed: Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Farm be instructed to report a scheme of Agricultural experiments for the year 1869, to be carried out on the University farm, and also simultaneously at other points in the State, em

bracing as great a variety of soil and climate as possible; said report to be made to the Board at this meeting if practicable, or if otherwise, to the Executive committee at its next meeting.

Resolved, That said scheme of Agricultural experiments, when revised, corrected and approved by this Board, or the Executive committee, shall be carried out by the Superintendent of the farm and the Corresponding Secretary under the direction of the Regent, and that the Regent be authorized to draw a warrant, or warrants, not to exceed the sum of $500, to meet such expenses as may be incurred in procuring material for, and carrying out these experiments, unless the Legislature shall, at the next session, make an appropriation for that purpose.

Also the following:

Resolved, That the Executive committee be instructed to provide for a course of Agricultural lectures and discussions, to commence about the 12th of January next and continue two weeks, these discussions to be held at the University and free to all persons-and that the attendance and co-operation of the practical farmers of this State is hereby earnestly solicited to aid in making these discussions successful, both in disseminating their views on the best methods of practical farming and in furnishing facts for a science of agriculture.

Carried.

The Committee on Horticulture reported plans and specifications for improvements of horticultural grounds and experimental planting, which, on motion, were referred to the Finance committee.

To the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University:

The committee on Horticulture respectfully beg leave to report. Section seven of the Act of Incorporation, among other things, authorizes the Board of Trustees to "establish and provide for the management of said model farms as may be required to teach, in the most thorough manner, such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts."

As a part of such model farm, and for the more perfect demonstration of that department of agriculture known as horticulture or garden culture, we beg leave to make the following recommendations :

The plat hereunto attached as a part of this report, marked A, exhibits the ground plan of the grounds proposed to be occupied, and the schedule shows how they may be planted, and also contains the list of forest trees recommended for trial.

No extended argument is required at this time to prove the need of teaching the cultivators of the soil the importance of forest tree planting, of orcharding, and of other departments of gardening.

In regard to the orchard proper, the most important feature that we now recommend, is the procuring and planting of samples of all the improved varieties of fruits for identification and for comparison-a sort of fruit tree museum of varieties, that will be at all times accessible for reference.

The management of the orchard, vineyard and garden will more properly come under the care of the Professor of Horticulture, or head gardener. But we would urge that the grounds reserved for the orchard, be occupied for that purpose at as early a day as possible. The estimate for the cost of trees will be found in the schedule, but that for labor and other material are combined in the ground plan, and its proportion, to some extent, must be left to the discretion of the person in charge of the improvements.

The great feature of these grounds, and what is of paramount importance at this time, to the whole people of the State, is the planting of forest trees for useful purposes. It is a new demand upon their industry and upon their lands, from which they cannot fail to reap the most valuable results.

The new condition of things, created by railroads and improved agricultural implements, present new industries, both to the cultivators of the soil and to the mechanic, in which they have a mutual interest. The forests are rapidly disappearing, or at least those useful trees that have a commercial value, and yet many of the new demands have not been met, nor is the old supply likely to hold out. But, if the forests of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana were adequate to the demand, as a matter of economy in freights, if not in the superior quality of our second growth timber, especially of the decideous varieties, it is an object to grow them at home, rather than to buy them.

Timber for railroad ties, culverts, cars, roadways and buildings, fencing, vineyard stakes, hop poles, stanchions for coal banks, soft wood, like white willow and the poplars, for berry boxes, crates and staves; hoop poles, wagon and carriage material, agricultural implements, and the multiform wants of the age, make up a demand of most surprising magnitude, that will add to our rural industry an importance that the most sanguine have not hitherto dreamed of.

If we look at this as simply the demand of agriculture, it must be conceded that it is legitimate and ought to be granted without an objection; but we have added to this the claim of the mechanic, who is also largely interested, for it will enable him to compete with those of other States in the supply that commerce demands.

The State that sells the raw products of its soil is never rich, while the States that manufacture for others do well; those that grow the raw material and manufacture it at home, are the most prosperous. No doubt the State of Illinois had these facts in view when it established this great school of the industries for the especial benefit of those two classes who create the wealth of the State.

There are in this State about eighty species of forest trees, besides the larger shrubs. With the exception of the oaks, yellow poplar and hickory, we have not drawn largely from our native forests; and to-day we purchase nearly all of our timber. Nearly all of the ash timber used for agricultural implements, a part of our fence posts, and a portion of our railroad ties come from other States. Added to these is the greater part of the material for our wagons and carriages, when not wholly manufactured in other States; timber