Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-18


Dresden Heights. on the Despiaines
river four hundred feet from the
point where the Desplaines and Kan
kakee join to form the Illinois. for
the utilization of the water power
there to be developed, and had en-
tered into contracts for the comple-
ton of the work before July 1. 1908.
the date at which preventive legisla-
ton, in the absence of an emergency
clause. would become effective.
ION Dec. IL. notice to stop work was
given to that company. On Dec. 30.
1907, an information on behalf of the
state was filed in the Circuit court of
Grundy county, where the proposed
dam was to be located and where the
work was begun; and a temporary in
junction was issued by the court
Judge Samuel C. Slough presiding)
stopping the work. which has remain
ed discontinued. Evidence was there
upon taken The hearing of the case
began April 20, 1908, Hon. Julian w.
Mack. of the Cook county circuit
court temporarily sitting as judge of
the Grundy circuit.
at was averred on behalf of the
state that the contracts held by the
defendant were void.
Carried to Supreme Court.
"The state carried the case by ap-
peal to the supreme court of the
state. where it is now pending. Not
withstanding the dissolution of the
temporary injunction sued out by the
state, work upon the company's dam
has not since been renewed.
THE adoption of the constitutional
amendment brings before the general
assembly at it's present session the
consideration of plans for carrying on
the constructive work involved in
this great public undertaking, and a
bill, prepared at the instance of the
Internal improvement commission.
providing for the creation of COM
mission to be placed in charge of this
work, will be submitted for your con-
sideration.
ut is proposed to construct a navi-
gable channel. fourteen feet in depth
through earth cuttings. which. as has
been stated, is sufficient to accommo-
date the present volume of water. but
to construct the locks with "a feet
depth over the inter stills and rock di-
visions of the route at a depth Of
twenty feet, SO as to meet the largest
future demands of deep-draft naviga-
ton and to accommodate the larger
volume of water which will be ulti-
mately available.
las a navigable waterway. the COM
pleted channel will be under federal
control for navigation purposes, and
it is hoped that the state may be able
to secure federal aid in the construc-
!'tion of locks, thus decreasing mater
tally the construction cost to the
state
The governor then calls the atten.
ton of the lawmakers to the import.
ance of the state of Illinois taking q
| leading part in the development of the
deep waterways and the necessity for
strict economy in order to complete IL
| within the amount available. He con
| tinues:
State Charitable institutions.
| with the beginning of the present
| state administration (1905-6), a com
prehensive policy was adopted for the
Improvement of the state charitable
| service. The scheme of Improvement
included: The enactment of a civi
service law, applicable to the state
charitable institutions: the reorganiza
ton of the medical. nursing, attend
ance and teaching service therein; the
physical rehabilitation of buildings ant
| equipment, including the construction
of new buildings at existing institu
tions and the creating and construc
ton of new institutions as required
| and the Inauguration of modern
economical methods of purchase anC
of general business administration.
'The civil service law passed by thu
Forty-Fourth general assembly be
came effective Nov. 1, 1905. From
that date to Dec. 1, 1908, the civi
4 service commission received 1864 ap
| plications. OF those making applica
ton, 1922 were notified to appear fo
examination, one thousand seven hun
dred and twenty-seven application,
were withdrawn or rejected for cause
l thS ICIldihOCl pCAbS oblii oil HIc III III
Office of the civil service commission
awaiting future notification of exam
nations. One thousand two hundred
| and nine examinations were held il
forty-three different cities. In thos,
tests. 4,550 applicants were examined
and 1894 passed. There have beef
1850 appointments under the law.
Specially equipped instructors ant
teachers have been appointed in tn,
schools, with the view of teaching tn,
feeble minded and the insane som,
useful and diverting occupation.
| while the commission found it diff
Mcult at first to obtain satisfactory ap
plicants for the service, the advantage!
of training in nursing and attendance
now afforded In the state institution.
has attracted larger number and tn,
commission is now in position to al
4 all demands upon 1t.
Extension of Civil Service.
believing the civil service has dem
onstrated its value to the public serv
Ice in the institutions, I recommend
Its extension to other branches of the