Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-04

rates which will be fair to the public,
will assure to investors reasonable
return upon their investment, and viii
offer inducements for the investment
of private capital in public service cor
porations TO stimulate their growth as
the public needs may require,
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The study and preservation OF the
states mineral res ourees is commend
ed by the governor. He calls attention
TO the fact that Illinois occupies third
place among the mineral producing
states. with an output Of S15O,0OO,eOO
annually. The state ranks third for
production of coal and petroleum and
almost as high for clay products and
other materials. His message shows
that $500 square miles OF Illinois land.
exclusive OF those in the valley OF the
Illinois river, are subject TO overflow
The geological survey department has
surveyed $50 square miles in co-opera-
ton with the internal improvement
commission and United States depart
ment of agriculture. 1t is estimated
that reclamation OF flooded lands will
increase InGlF FdluS BlVt.pVVTOVO-
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES.
The governor recommends that an
APPROXIMATION be made for the protec-
ton and cultivation of the fish indus
try in the Illinois and other rivers.
According to the United States CEN
sus, the fisheries of Illinois employ
1.417 men and capital of $3.50, 900, with
~
A considerable proportion OF this
business is done along the Illinois
River.
The governor also directs attention
to the protection of the forests ct the
state He points out that while ap-
proximately thirty per cent OF the
state was originally forested. only
about Eve per cent is now covered
with trees. The Illinois forests yield
$115. O0O. 900 board feet Of sawed tim
Der and $3.50. 900 railroad ties per year;
together with large number of min
ing timbers and other miscellaneous
products.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
The work of the University of Illi-
nois is covered at length by the gov
ernor. His message treats of ii by
departments emphasizing particularly
the growth OF the new departments
such as colleges of Agriculture En-
cheering, school of commerce and the
school of arts and sciences. in all of
which additional improvements are
recommended For the first time an
appropriation is asked for on behalf
of the medical school OF this branch
of the university the governor said,
For some years the university has
been cooperating with the College of
Physicians of the city Of Chicago. On
the 31st day of August last the uni
versity took over the entire college of
the medical school putting it on the
same basis as the other colleges of the
university. Up to the present time the
has net extended any funds
whatever on the medical school be-
yond those derived from the tuitions
of the students in that department
and the state has made no appropria-
ton for the support OF the medical
education or research.
The interests of the commonwealth
should demand that the state should
assist in the development of scienti-
fc research ard sanitation and public
health as we'll as in agriculture en-
cheering and commerce" 1t is re-
commended that legislative refer
ence bureau in connection with the
university he established and also that
provisions be made for a municipal
reference to do for municipalities of
the state work familiar to that of the
legislative bureau for the state as a
whole"
UNIFORM STATE LAWS.
The message relates the work done
by the Illinois commission on uni
form state laws. and calls attention
to the fact that other states have been
bearing Illinois share of the expen-
ses of this commission. 1t shows that
uniform acts have been agreed upon
by the state boards OF commissioners
in the United Sta es for acts estab-
fishing uniformity in negotiable in
struments, warehouse receipts. sales
transfer OF stock and bill of lading.
The negotiable instrument act al
ready has been adopted by Illinois,
and is in force in twenty states. The
necessity for laws establishing uni
formity in the other three is pointed
out
THE participation of the commiss-
oners from Illinois in the proceedings
Of the national conferences OF the
state boards is of great Importance.
as it is through the participation of
the various state commissions in such
conferences that is hoped to secure
desirable uniformity OF state legisla-
lion. The program OF the next ses-
sion OF the national conference in
,ludes the consideration OF a uniform
act, marriage act, pro-
bate of wills act, uniform partnership
act. and uniform acts on vital Stats
tfrS nl,s1A