392 



ILLINOIS. 



CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD. 



Bushels. 



1873 7,961,576 



1874.' 5,805,090 



Total for two years 13,766,666 



Average per year 6,883,383 



Total length of main line and branches, 649 

 miles. 



CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC RAILROAD. 



Bushels. 



1873 4,471,323 



1874 4,015,864 



Total for two years 8,547,187 



Average per year 4,273,593 



Total length of main line and branches, 680 

 miles. 



The following is a comparative statement of 

 rates for freight on corn by canal and railroad : 



Average freight, 3.47 cents; distance, 72 

 miles. 

 Comparative railroad freight same distance : 



Per 100 Ibs. 



Eailroad commissioners' rate lie. 



Michigan Central 14c. 



Illinois Central 13.1 5c. 



Chicago & Alton 14.25c. 



Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 13.25c. 



Chicago & North western... 14.5c. 



80.15c. 



Average rate, 13.36c. per 100 Ibs., or 7.48c. 

 per bushel. 



This shows a total benefit to the producer in 

 1874 of $283,184 on transportation of corn by 

 the canal. It was estimated that the benefit 

 on all freights amounted to $509,731. The 

 total benefit of the Illinois & Michigan Canal 

 for nineteen years, since its construction, in- 

 cluding the excess of tolls over expenses, was 

 calculated at $18,322,876. 

 . A committee on charitable institutions visit- 

 ed all the institutions of the State and made 

 a special report. The Eye and Ear Infirmary 

 in Chicago was commended as a u worthy ob- 

 ject and of great benefit," for which all ne- 

 cessary appropriations should be made. The 

 Northern Insane Asylum at Elgin was pro- 

 nounced a model institution, and an appro- 

 priation of $100,000 was recommended to put 

 it in condition to accommodate 460 patients. 

 The Southern Insane Asylum at Anna was not 

 found to be in so good a condition. It had 

 138 patients, and the part completed was capa- 

 ble of accommodating 150. The Illinois State 

 Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville had 

 492 patients, and was found to be in need of 

 various improvements. The Institution for the 



Education of the Blind at Jacksonville was 

 found to be efficiently managed, but in need 

 of repairs and alterations. The Institution 

 for the Education of Feeble-minded Children 

 at Jacksonville was found to be defective in ac- 

 commodations, and the erection of a new build- 

 ing was recommended, to be located at Spring- 

 field. The Institution for the Education of the 

 Deaf and Dumb, under the charge of Dr. Gil- 

 lett, at Jacksonville, was very highly com- 

 mended. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home at 

 Normal was also found to be excellently man- 

 aged and serving its purpose well. A special 

 investigation was made into the management 

 of the Penitentiary at Joliet, and it was re- 

 ported that there had been irregularities both 

 in contracts for supplies and for employing the 

 convicts. It was also found that there had 

 been much looseness of management and lax- 

 ness in discipline. 



An act for levying a tax for the payment of 

 interest upon bonds issued in aid of railroads, 

 by counties, cities, towns, or townships, in the 

 State of Illinois, and for creating a sinking 

 fund for the payment of the principal of the 

 same, was vetoed by the Governor on the 

 ground that it provided that the local author- 

 ities might in their discretion levy a tax for 

 the payment of interest on these bonds, where- 

 as the State was pledged to the collection and 

 payment of the interest, which entered into 

 the contract with those who had purchased 

 the bonds. He regarded the proposed change 

 as impairing the obligation of contracts, there- 

 fore unconstitutional, besides injuriously af- 

 fecting the credit of the State. 



Early in the session resolutions were adopted 

 in the House, protesting against Federal inter- 

 ference in the affairs of Louisiana, and con- 

 demning the President and his Administration 

 for sustaining the government of Kellogg. 

 These appear not to have been concurred in 

 by the Senate. The following resolutions, 

 suggesting some peculiar changes in the na- 

 tional Constitution, were submitted in the 

 House, and referred to a committee from which 

 they were never reported : 



Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 

 concurring herein, That our Senators in Congress be 

 instructed, and our Representatives requested, to 

 propose and advocate the passage of a joint resolu- 

 tion by Congress, proposing to the Legislatures of 

 the several States for ratification and adoption as 

 part of the Constitution of the United States, the 

 following amendment as a substitute for section 1, 

 Article II., of the Constitution as it now is, viz. : 



ARTICLE II. Section 1. The executive power shall 

 be vested in a cabinet, the chief of which shall be 

 styled the Executive, and he shall be chosen by the 

 House of Representatives from the members thereof 

 upon the nomination of the Speaker, or of such other 

 person, not a member of the House, as Congress may 

 by law designate for that purpose. He shall retire 

 from office and give place to his successor upon a 

 vote of non-confidence by both Houses of Congress : 

 Provided, That upon such vote of non-confidence he 

 shall have power in his discretion to declare a dis- 

 solution of the House of Representatives, and there- 

 upon members of a new House of Representatives 

 shall be elected as Congress may by law provide. 



