# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S37
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Fifth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1887. 37

"We thought of a separate building in the yard with a single-story dining
hall, with a two-story addition on each side — on the one side utility
rooms, and on the other side living quarters, of course connected with the
bakehouse, and all the necessary storerooms. But the sketches and
estimates kindly made free of charge by architects in Chicago showed that
such a building, constructed of brick, would cost about $25,000.00. We
then planned instead an addition to the south wing of the seminary, in
which the old dining hall would remain in the "basement," with the
present kitchen added to it. On the first floor of the addition would then
be the kitchen, bakehouse, and storerooms, together with quarters for the
hired man and the baker. On the second floor would be the steward's
quarters, and on the third floor the infirmary rooms. But even that could
not be built for under $14,000.00. We now nearly lack the courage to ask
the dear congregations of the Synod for such a sum again. It is true that
over $6000.00 toward it is already on hand. For this sum, in fairness,
should also be used for the Teachers' Seminary, since it was the
congregations' gift for that purpose. If, then, the Synod were willing and
able to grant a further $8000.00 for this, we would thereby be put in a
position to meet all the needs of this institution, and this would, we
expect, be the last major building this institution will need.

"3. We further take the liberty of putting a question to the Reverend
Synod concerning repairs to the old buildings, which are now in part
already 23 years old. — § 12 of the Instructions for the Boards of Control
states: 'It is the duty of the Board of Control to see diligently to it that
all the institution's property is kept in good condition, and that it serves
its purpose as fully as possible, with due regard for the reasonable wishes
of the teachers and of the steward in this matter. In this respect the
Board may order such repairs and construction as do not in any case
exceed a cost of $500.00. In all more substantial construction it is
strictly bound by the Synod's resolutions on the matter.'

"Now three major repairs to the old seminary building have become
absolutely necessary, namely: a) The roofs must be newly covered. — b)
The outside stairways, which have until now been of wood, have become
nearly unusable. For the sake of durability they should be replaced with
stone stairways. The Board of Control has already renewed one stairway
in this way here and there. But now all the remaining stairways need it
at the same time. — c) The inner walls have already been patched so
often that scarcely a patch of the original 'plaster' remains. But this
patching no longer holds; for already in the first month of the school
year whole sections come crashing down again. If this evil is to be
remedied, the laths themselves must be removed and everything newly
covered from the ground up. Each of these repairs, however, would
exceed the sum of $500.00. We