The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-15

and the recommendations herewith, are
worthy your careful consideration. es-
pecially refer you to his proposition to
erect Il new state arsenal, which can be
done at small expense by selling the pres
ent one, and which Is greatly needed for
the proper care OF state equipment.
Whatever sum Is appropriated for mill
tary purposes should be, like other APP
preparations, Il sum certain ana definite,
and not a separate tax rate fund, invOlV-
ing the wholly unnecessary labor OF sep
rateaccounting without any possible adj
vantage to the state or tax payer. ] have
included in my estimate an apprOprla-
ton of $4,000 for the next two years
for military purposes, and believe that
such sum is needed to maintain the ILL
nOS National Guard III an efficient con-
dition.
AGRICULTURE.
In their intimate and varied relations
| to production and consumption, the ag-
| ricultural interests Of the state should
receive yOurattention and support. The
report of the State Board of Agriculture
| will inform you in detail what has been
done I'm that department.
During the last year | have been fOrel-
| bly, impressed with the necessity Of legls-
lation with a view to prevent the intro
| duction and spread OF infectious or con
tagiOuS diseases among animals. The
magnitude of the live stock interest III
this state is greater than Of any other
state in the Union, and is second to no
other interest in the state. Without
| such legislation and care the public health
may be ,jeopardi2ed, unnecessary loss in
tlicted upon owners by the rayages of
these diseases, and the traffic in live
stock necessarily subjected to restric-
tiOns, and at times to UNI ust impOSitlOns,
by other countries. a growing feature
OF the live stock interest is the dairy pro-
duct, in which Illinois is making rapid
advances and becoming a leading state.
The representatives of this great indus
try will present plan by which the state
can materially assist in development with
out great expense. And III this cOnnec-
ton | wish to call your attention to the
matter of such an amendment of the sec
tons OF the criminal code on the subject
of adulteration of food as will insure
their better enforcement
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Three and IA half years have elapsed
since the law went into effect creating
the State Board of Heath. In that time
much has been accomplished at a very
small expense to the state. The enforce
ment of the medical practice act was an
experiment, but, 50 far, the beneficial re-
suits have been greater than expected.
This delicate duty has been performed
by the board with prudence and judg-
ment. The public to a great extent has
been protected from so-called doctors,
and stimulus has been given to higher
professional qualifications. Fraudulent
medical colleges have been broken up,
and wholesome influence exercised over
medical colleges generally.
Much more remains, however, to be aC-
compished, and in order to do this some
amendments to the law will be necessary
Little progress has been made III collect
ing vital statistics, for want or time and
means. 1t is hoped that during the com
ing year the board will be placed in apo
stion to pay special attention to this part
of their duty. In tins connection | can
not forbear to say that it is the duty of
the different counties to see that proper
provision is made to secure as complete
and accurate returns as possible
General sanitation has, to some extent, |
been neglected, for the reason already
mentioned, although the report OF the
board shows that this part of their duty
has not been wholly ignored, attention
having been paid to such subjects as were
most pressing. In addition to the c0lIec-
ton of vital statistics, the study OF the
water supply of our cities and towns IS
ItllpOIIduI, anu VIZ bt NullOlVtICu illoiO
in detail.
At the last session of the Legislature
an appropriation of $1,000 was made, to
be used only on the approval OF the Gov
ernor, in case of an outbreak OF an cpl
demic or malignant disease, to defray the
expenses of the Board of Health, IN in
veStigatlng the causes of such diseases
and aid in preventing their spread. or
this sum 81 1928 has been expended,
mainly at and near Cairo to prevent the
introduction of yellow fever. The bal
ance, So, l07.47, lremains to TIE credit OF
the appropriation in the State Treasury.
BY means of this appropriation the board
has been enabled to act with prOmptneSS
and efficiency, thus preventingthe occur
renee of even Il single case of yellow
fever in the state, with but little inter-
ruption to travel and traffic
In view of what has already been aC- |
complshed, and the necessity and impor-
lance of such work in the state, recon-
mend that such legislation be enacted as |
will place this board in Il position to do |
whatever properly comes within its func- |
tons.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The charitable Institutions of the state are |
in u very satisfactory condition. They have |
been managed with the strictcSt economy, |
and expenses have been kept within the ap. |
preparations. Each institution had on tho |
LIST of October, 1880, a cash surplus of sever
al thousand dollars, the aggregate surplus |
resulting from uncypeudcd appropriations
amounting To SlO70S2.
The hospitals for the insane are full and |
the superintendent are daily Obliged to re.
fuse applications tor the admission of new
patients. The several hospitals for the |
insane had, at the close of the last fiscal |
year, Oct. /, 1880 the following number Of
patients:
The Northern Hospital, at Elgn .......... 525 |
The Eastern Hospital, at kankakec....... 96
The Central Hospital, ut Jacksonyillc.... 6S3
The Southern Hospital, at Anna. ........ sol |
Making total of.....................l $50
This number does not comprise onc-half |
of the insane persons IN the state, and the