The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-10

river. Believing that the most JudlClOus
Expenditure Of this appropriation would DC IN
aidIng the state to carry out its system OF I'M
Iproycncnts on that river, application, at an
early day, was made to the proper United
States authorities for the expenditure of Il
portion of that appropriation, IN putting in the
lock bottom at Coppcras creek, which appli-
cation was successful, The United States
Government has undertaken to put in the
lock bottom, at q cost of about $4,000. The
work Is under contract to be completed June
t. 1874; and it would have been completed
early in the spring, had not the late high water
caused serious delay.
Since the making Of said report, the com
miSsoncrs, in pursuance OF law, have con-
traCted with willard Johnson, Esq, to con
struct the lock and dam at Copperas creek
for $2G7,21O, so that the entire cost to the
state, including all ncidentals, will not be
far from 100000, instead of S4300OO, -
contemplated by tina act authorizing the con-
| struCtOn
The LEGISLATURE has under consideration the
revision Of the laws, and urge the compile
ton of the revision by this General Assembly
and the publication Of the laws, in a compact
form, for the use of the various officers
throughout the state. The state has not
copies of the session laws for general diSrihu-
ton. If had, the laws in that form are
| announcement, ChpCCl"lIs " d urge HulnUt4 VI
persons, not ycrscd in law, who exercise
official duties for the public good, to jhe
sacrifice Of their own private interests
| Horticulture is demanding the attention of
many of our citizens and the friends of that
interest, and of the Illinois Horticultural
Society ask the passage of the bill to rccog
lnlZe that society, and the bill making an
appropriation for the same, in which request
! | join.
! In view of the late disaster on one of our
railroads, | deem it important for the lcgsla-
| turc to consider whether some additional
Legislation is not necessary for the better pro
lection Of persons and property transported
upon railroads in this state; providing severe
IpunishmentS, not only for placing ObstruC
tons upon and tearing up the track, but for
injury TO person and property through care
lessncss or negligence Of officers and en-
p!oycs of railroad companies.
/ desire to call the attention of the Legisla-
turc to the international exhibition of 1876,
i'll Philadelphia, and submit, herewith, tor
its consideration, circular ISSUED November
II, 1873 by the United States Centennial Com
mission inviting the several States and Terri
tories to appoint State Central Managers.
The importance of this exhibition, inter
national in It's character commemorative of
American Independence, and associated with
the honor and future prospc ity of the nation,
demands that the arts, manufactures and pro
ducto the soil and mines OF Illinois be well
represented; and | ask that the legislature
take early action, and intimate, by law or
resolution, the will OF the people in this mat
ter
| submit, herewith, with my full approval,
the annual report of the Railroad and Ware
house Commissioners. The commissioners
ti,nt a
warehouses, as related to the public interests,
the registration of warehouse receipts and
inspection of grain in every city in which is |
located warehouse of class A, and of the
making and revising for each Of the railroad
corporations doing business III this state, a
schedule of reasonable maximum rates |
OF charges for the transportation of
passengers freight and cars. Their |
work is vast comprehensive and
difficult, involving immense interests They !
have discharged their official duties with an
earnestness and fidelity worthy of common
datiOn, of which their full and able report is |
ample evidence. TIE Commission was uu-
fortunately deprived of the service of one Of |
its members; and in the death of Hon. II. ID. |
Cook, Chairman Of the Board, the Commiss |
ion and the state suffered great loss.
1t is the constitutional duty of the General |
Assembly To pass laws for the inspection of
grain, for the protection of producers, ship
pers and receivers Of grain and produce
and 1t is important to consider whether the
present Legislation is sufficient to protect these
classes
1t Is also the constitutional duty Of the .
General Assembly TO pass all necessary laws |
to prevent the issue of false and fraudulent |
warehouse receipts. Public warehouses, in |
which large quantities Of grain are stored in |
bulk and the grain of different owners is ,
mixed, are vast grain JdHkiHg lenses, issuing !
receipts, commercial in their character, rep
resenting large values, and held as securities
for advances. The best interests of produc-
ton and commerce demand that these re
celpts be geHHtHc and h1hOred when presented,
or some legal excuse given therefor In my
opinion, additional legislation is needed for
The better protection of all parties against
the use OF false and fraudulent warehouse re
ceipt,.
In every city in which is located IL ware
house OF class y, the State has assumed the
inspection OF grain 1t has been M endcav-
or, and that OF the officers having the supcl-
vision and charge of the inspection, To inn
prove ana perfect that inspection Some have
questioned whether the State inspection is
equal to the old system. | am not PREPARED
TO recommend any charge, | believe the
p'fStHJ y sltll SlNCS DtNtI SdtlNldClDE ana |
IN improved confidence among the producing
classes.
Under the old constitution the state raised ,
money by taxation for canal purposes, and /
counties, towns and cities, pursuant to law, !
voted large sums Of money III aid of railroads. |
BY the new constitution both are prohibited. !
The navigation of our rivers may be imprUv-
ed by the State, but no canal can bc enlarged
or extended except by appropriation of lis sur
plus earnings; and railroads can only be !
built by private capital.
The prosperity Of the State is largely de !
pendent upon lis transportation, and very |
lar8c'V dependent upon railroad traHSporta- |
ton. On the other hand, the transportation !
lines are saFrgg dependent upon Tie pcoll |
and the industries OF the country. Such are |
the relations of dependency between proiuc /,
ton and transportation, that any anjagonism |
is detrimental tO both ANY policy that af |