, 1872-12-07
SPRINGFIELD,
Reports Of the Commissioners Of the
Illinois and Michigan CanaI-The
Soldiers' Orphans Home.

Reports Of the Commissioners Of the
Illinois and michigan CanaI-The
Soldiers, Orphans Home.
Special Despatch to The Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD, III, Dec. 6.-Ihe Canal Com
missioners have submitted their annual report to
the Governor. It is exceedingly full in details
OF the operations Of the canal since the Board Of
Commissioners have controlled it. 1t shows
that during the trust from June 20, 1845, to April
! 80, 1871, the Trustees received, On account,
81, ,009, ,507.41, and disbursed On account
Of the Canal s1o,91s,765. On the
final REIMBURSEMENT Of the Canal, the
Trustees paid to the Commissioners
balance Of 1892, ,545.79. The canal property,
consisted Of machinery, tools, buildings, boats,
ETC., was estimated to be worth $157, ,80969. The
| lessees OF the water-powe at Lockport and
Joliet we're bound in their leases to pay. for any
The trustees, through their engineer, found
that the power at Lockport Increased the water
tax tax, 92.iT; at Dam No: l.. Joliet,
The lease on Daniel Nortons Lots and
$500 year, let from March 4, 1858; Norton Il
Co., surplus water at tLockport, for twenty years,
at 81, TT, let July !, 1866; q. N. Hoyde, sur
plus water, dam No. !, Joliet, twenty years, at
81 ,22o year, let April 70, 1869; ]; 6. snargen,
Nov. 18, 1872 Ottawa Hydraulic Company, sur
plus water at Ottawa, twenty years, at $3.50
year, let May !, 1872; Daniel Robinson, and
others, surplus water at Calumet dam, fifteen
}{ss1s' ISL. "' "1'' " ''AN A'A''' ''N D''' 1''
The report says the business Of the canal has
been much less this year than it will be On
average, the river having been unusually low
this season: Tho lock at Henry demonstrates
the possibility Of improving the whole Of the
river to make it naviSable for the largest steam
ers, with four more locks and dams below
Henry, which will not cost to exceed 81 100000.
Thus it will be seen that the cost of the improve
ment Of the entire river, 230 miles, being only
sige work Of its capacity IN this or any other
country.
The total receipts from all sources on the
canal from May l., 1871 to November 80. 1872,
same time, 9427, 7,2e7.9s. Of this sum 9258, ,54579
Was paid into the State Treasury
The total receiptsfrom dockage at Henry we're
58, ,484 81; disbursements on account, ga, 148.43.
OF this sum- $4,000 Was paid into the State
From the Little Wabash improvement there
81, 500.
The Commissioners have great pride in the
lock and dam at Henry, and submit, with their
report, urge wood-cut engraving Of the locks
and dam, taken from the Engineer, q scientific
paper publiahed in London, and which paper
pronounces it the largest and best constructed
lock in the world.
All. Worthen, State Geologist, who has oc~
cupied room in the Custom House for some
time, removed to the new State House, to-day,
where room has been fitted up for him in first
class style. He thus becomes the first occupant
of the new State House.
Special Deapatch TO The Chicago Tribune.
RocK ISLAND, H., Dec. 6.-The argus Of this
evening publishes an advanced statement OF the
affairs Of the Illinois Soldiers Orphans Home,
the official report having been prepared at the
Harper House, in this city, by the Trustees now
here. The report will be presented to the Gov
ernor, and through him to the Legislature.
From the report We learn that the number OF
children who have been admitted 20 the Home
since its organization is 642, OF which number,
356 have been returned to their friends, or good
hames provided for them. Number OF run
aTays, s; number Of deaths, s.; num-
ber remaining in the Institution at
present. 275. OF the original number, 642. 275
were females and 365 males. The average daily
attendance during the last two years was 200.
The cost of maintenance per capita per annum
has been 814.63, or S12.05 per month, or 40
cents per day. This includes sustenance,
clothing, salaries OF officers, and expenses Of
the Home. The President Of the Institution is
Major J. n. Beardsley, OF this city, who takes
deep interest in all that concerns the welfare OF
the children entitled to it's benefits.