344 



ILLINOIS. 



the Governor, on the ground that it interfered 

 with the terms of the charter of the Illinois Cen- 

 tral Eailroad Company, and was, therefore, un- 

 constitutional, since a charter, after acceptance 

 by a company, becomes a contract, and is only 

 subject to judicial control, and the Legislature, 

 in attempting to interfere with its provisions, 

 " assume judicial powers." 



The State of Illinois is noted for the care be- 

 stowed upon those persons who, from physical 

 or mental causes, are unable to provide for 

 themselves, and the legislation for the year 

 1869 showed no departure from previous cus- 

 toms. Besides making ample provision for 

 carrying on the institutions already in exist- 

 ence', appropriations were made for the exten- 

 sion of established asylums of different kinds, 

 and for the founding of new institutions. 



On the 1st of December, 1868, the number 

 of inmates of the Insane Asylum was four hun- 

 dred and six. This number of inmates was so 

 large, and the rate of increase was so rapid, 

 that, after carefully considering the matter, 

 $300,000 was given for the establishment of 

 t\vo new institutions, to be located, one in the 

 northern and one in the southern portion of 

 the State, the money to be equally divided be- 

 tween them. 



On the llth of November the State Board 

 of Public Charities met to consider the best 

 system of treating the insane, in view of the 

 alarming increase of lunatics in the State, and 

 the inadequate provision for their care. In 

 the course of the meeting the fact was elicited 

 that, notwithstanding all that has been done 

 by the State, a large number of insane paupers 

 are now kept confined in cages at the various 

 poor-houses throughout the State. The Board 

 adopted the following resolutions : 



Resolved, In the judgment of this conference, so far 

 as practicable, a combination in insane asylums of 

 the cottage system, with that at present in vogue, is 

 desirable. 



H&olvedj That there are weighty reasons to believe 

 such combination is practicable, and it would increase 

 the economy and eihciency of asylums for the insane. 



The general features of the Illinois plan are 

 as follows: 1. A central hospital, with all the 

 appliances in use at present, constructed upon 

 the present system. 2. A large farm, not less 

 than six hundred and forty acres of arable land. 

 3. Detached houses (not cottages) scattered 

 over the farm, built to resemble ordinary 

 dwellings, and without expensive heating-ap- 

 paratus or plumbing. 4. Each house for male 

 patients to be under the supervision of a man 

 and wife, assisted by one female servant and 

 two farm laborers. 6. Frequent transfers from 

 one house to another, as circumstances may 

 indicate. 6. More thorough classification. 7. 

 The organization of labor; the whole institu- 

 tion to be, as far as possible, upon an industrial 

 basis ; and the attendants employed with the 

 distinct understanding that they are not mere 

 nurses, but fellow-laborers with the patients. 

 8. Increased personal freedom, and more life 



in the open air. 9. Provision in the same in- 

 stitutions with the curables for all the incu- 

 rables in the State. 



The State Institution at Jacksonville for the 

 education of feeble-minded children, as appears 

 from its annual report, is a great success, 

 though entirely inadequate to the demands 

 upon it. It furnishes the means of education 

 to the children of the community who are not 

 provided for in any other of its public institu- 

 tions, and keeps them under the educational 

 influences which it possesses, until they are 

 sufficiently prepared for the ordinary duties of 

 life. Physical training, bathing, exercise, and 

 other details of sanitary process are applied to 

 the little patients, to awake and develop their 

 dormant mental faculties. The more apt pupils 

 are also provided with suitable occupations, as 

 far as circumstances will admit. 



There are at present 63 pupils in the school, 

 while there are 268 applications on file for ad- 

 mission to its privileges, though there is no 

 room for the applicants. The reports of the 

 other State benevolent institutions show a 

 prosperous condition of affairs. 



The Southern Illinois Normal University is 

 to be completed by the 1st of September, 1871, 

 the trustees having contracted for the erection 

 of the university building at a cost of $65,000. 

 It is to be 208 feet in length by 108 feet in 

 width, two stories in height, with basement 

 and Mansard roof. The fears which were enter- 

 tained that the decreasing flow from the spring 

 which supplied the State Prison at Jacksonville 

 would leave that institution without water, 

 have been dissipated by the success of the 

 artesian well. This well has reached a depth 

 of 513 feet, and water of good quality flows 

 from it the full size of the five-inch bore. It is 

 the opinion of the engineer in charge that by 

 reducing the size of the tube the water will 

 ascend of itself to the highest part of the 

 prison. 



The State finances are in a fine condition, 

 and, while the debt is constantly decreasing, 

 the valuation of property is constantly increas- 

 ing. From the report of the Auditor of Public 

 Accounts for the fiscal year ending November 

 30, 1869, it appears that the amount of the 

 principal of the bonded debt paid and cancelled 

 during the year was $799,411.14, and, includ- 

 ing the payments on the registered canal bonds 

 by the Canal Trustees, $864,162.87. The total 

 State debt, on the 30th of November, was 

 $5,124,995.64, distributed as follows: 



Bonded debt falling due after 1869 $67,000 00 



" " 1870 -3,142,63341 



" " " 1876 60,00000 



11 " " 1877 1,270,42623 



" 1879 564,800 00 



Amount not yet presented, called in by Gov- 

 ernor's proclamation 20,136 00 



Total $5,124,995 64 



There was in the Treasury, belonging to the 

 State Debt Fund, on the 30th of November, 

 $1,114,153.67, and it is estimated that the total 

 receipts of funds applicable to the payment of 





