The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

$ • .q$; 7 ̂ #irt ;%%T "!?*- %.*>t%;->'<^r-,f-'\7*?<v:ri^ ?V ̂V^'Vv< Is* ,"/ ;xv^-v' ® "" ,#• 4" *„ nial Message of the State Executive to the Forty- Fifth Session of the Legislature'-"Financial Condi- fionx arte/ Charitable Institutions Reviewed at Length •--Makes Many Recommendations for Improvements in Buildings and Administration* Springfield. -- Gov. Deneen's biennial ige to the Forty-fifth general as- ably is a . document of some 17,000 In wtilch he reviews every depart- Of the state government, and makes recommendations upon which he the general assembly to act. The message opens with a statement of the financial condition of the state and Its resources, and in this he says that on ^SQtt&ry 1, 1907. there was a cash balance «t the general revenue fund in the state treasury amounting to J4,342,750.20, which la <2,284,750.77 more than it was two years Ago. ' He says an estlmatol of the resources of the state shows thfft there will be >6,296,- 057.25 in the state/treasury on July 1, 1907, ifco pay the first year's appropriations of the present general assembly. He gives the following estimate of resources and Uabdlities: An estimate of the cash resources of the state shows that there will be $6,295,- 067.25 in the state treasury on July 1, 1907, to pay the first year's appropriations of the present general assembly. This estimate Is as follows: Balance In state treasury, Jan. 1* 1907 . $ 4,434,179.62 Taxes, 1906, less >1,000,000 school tax ,4>295,S22.00 Secretary of state and insur- . ance department 300,000.00 Illinois Central R. R.-Co...r.... 600,000.00 Inheritance tax 300.000.00 Miscellaneous receipt# ........ 160,000.00 Resources, estimated to July 1, 1907 *10,080,00.62 ^ DEDUCT LDIABILITIES. Undrawn appropria­ tions, Jan., 1907,... .$3,676,014.96 . Outstanding w a r- . rants Jan. 1, 1907.. 91.429.42 #tate bonded debt, ^ Jan. 1, 1907 17,500.00 -- ->$,784,944.37 Net balance, July 1, 1907. $ 6,293,057.26 On July 1, 1905, the net balance in the Xener&l revenue fund, after deducting lia- bililUes. was $3,040,652.33. t governor calls attention to ttie de- "«rease from 55 to 50 of the tax rate of the •State, and says that for 1906 the rate leould have again been lowered materially but for the extraordinary outlay of ttoney deemed necesdhry in the making Of extensive improvements in the various State institutions. , In addition to the net balance in the treasury the message shows balances on band On January 1, at the various state Institutions amounting to >883,506.09. These •cash balances at the various institutions being as follows: Northern hospital for the Insane Elgin $ Central hospital for the insane, Jacksonville 66.02 Southern hospital for the Insane, Anna 7,619.63 Western hospital for the insane, §g Watertown 42,223.46 p| Asylum for the incurable insane, Si# South Bartonviiie 30,697.70 lp Asylum for insane criminals, tp..; Chester ...-- 106.93 School for the deaf, Jacksonville 10,993.88 School for the blind, Jacksonville 20,349.76 | i Industrial home for the blind, iJ.. A Chicago 1.73 PP -Asylum for the feeble minded, 38,754.64 926.42 3%, 912.12 16,680.40 31.99 orphans' home, Normal widows' home, Wil­ mington ft Charles school for boys, St. Charles < Charitable eye and ear infirm­ ary, Chicago Illinois state penitentiary, Joliet 102,005.73 Southern Illinois penitentiary, Chester 51,614.59 Illinois state reformatory, Pon- tiac gnaw University of Illinois, Urbana (estimated) 220,000.00 State Normal university. Normal 2,989.82 Southern Illinois normal univer- ViiSlty, Carbondale 158.62 Sastern Illinois state normal Mftoqi Charleston 17,886.67 " Horthern Illinois state normal .school, DeKalb 6,471.64 fwesteon Illinois state normal School, Macomb 29,540.99 - State board of agriculture 7,260.64 {State board of health 4,400.00 State board of pharmacy ........ . 3,685.25 Adjutant general's department... 2,440.54 iBureatt of labor statistics ...... 809.96 Railroad and warehouse fii„'.'if' commission-- Chicago grain inspection |72,0®.« ; pE. St- Louis grain in- "./• epection department .. 6,110.99 1 78,180.61 •oard of dental examiners 1,515.25 of examiners of architects 13,sli87 commissioners, In state (separate fund) 1,209.59 commissioner, in state <separate fund) ...... 41,765.90 commissioner, in state . (separate fund) 461.92 jgate^ board 732.00 LIW Stock commissioners ;• 237.35 Illinois farmers' institute ..... 6,600.48 Canal commissioners 12,155.77 Total *03,506.09 •Tbree of the state institutions show de- , fldtsi « January 1. 1SOT. viz.: Eastern J hoe$ital_ for the insane, Kankakee, >5,683.- K: smalere and sailors' home, Quincy, state training school for girls, 'Ceneva, $3 jfh.73. * "On February j, 3905, the eastern hos- titr tie msane turned iijto the state tKMBT)' I'mstfi of its ordinary expense If this money had not been paid trea*ury the institution JEW suow 4i surplus of >44,316.45. at the soldiers and sailors' mmd the state training school for were e&u*e-d by inadequate appro- wtetfoB*. Tut officials of these institu­ tes* ht&e to meet these deficits by July 2, from appropriations already Charitable Institutions. The governor devotes a large part of his message to a review of the various Charitable institutions of the state, and . snakes many recommendations for their improvement. In this connection he says 'to part: f : "In an endeavor to elevate the public e charity service of Illinois to the level «f modern efficiency, it was ^necessary proceed along three lines: Kfg "First. Improvement in the method of selecting employes. "Second. Improvement in the physical Mministration and treatment. "Third. Improvement in the physical condition of buildings and mechanical equipment. Civil Service, % v "Under the new civil service law, a li v Very perceptible improvement in the ijlass of employes is noticeable already. > "The civil service law passed by the ?v' yorty-fourth general assembly be- < «ame effective November 1, 1905. It ' appllTS to 2,128 positions ip the 17 f-,y state charitable institutions of the state. / Since* the law went Into effect the civil -Service commission has examined 1,625 tfersons and made 1,468 appointments. To December 21, 1906. the commission had received 3.171 applications, and had con­ ducted 539 examinations in 36 different cities. The expenses of the commission Btm Its appointment August 3, 1905, to iQtimber 21, 1906, were >13,038.12. '•££e two principal political parties in tbelr P latforms declared in favor of an iex|<MMuon of civil, service and in view Of the Improvement of the public serv- ice In the state charitable institutions, recommend such extension, and to that end I commend to your careful con­ federation the recommendations of 1 the State civil service commission. . Medical Administration. ~~ **Ttee scheme of medical adminlstratSon i a state psychopathic institute, at Kankakee, with branches in State hospital for the Insane and in asylum for feeble-minded children, jj Institute is established for research 1 Slducation. It gives to physicians in 'State hospitals thorough treatment SMktal disorders. It is better able to (Jus than medical colleges are, be- £ -It has an endltss variety of mate- *st hand. By means of local clinics, at the several hospitals, to lysicians in general practice in jus insane districts of the state pilrtted, it instructs these physicians, centiy one of thei*e clinics was >ir 35 physicians practicing in titles and towns near the hospital, this great school, giving a service ' ia. Aau^hiatiar. brings the benefits of expert knowledge to the very homes of those afilicted with approaching insanity. By means of com­ plete modern and uniform records, which are the basis of productive research, phy­ sicians in the state's service will have a Vast amount of scientific data at h&nd, and this, with modern laboratory studies, will be used in an effort to learn new things about mental and nervous disor­ ders, and perhaps to discover new rem­ edies which will benefit the wlutie human family. fte-Educatlon. • * "Industrial re-education I* possible for 4U to 70 per cent, of all Insane per­ sons in the Illinois hospitals, chiefly the chronic insane. Industrial re-education means training to work with the hands. Because of degenerating power, many in­ sane persons cannot undertake intellec­ tual work, but they are capable of team­ ing the manual arts. "The medical value of such work is that it gives employment to otherwise idle people. The picture of hundreds of Idle insane persons, cherishing horrible delusions, sitting hour after hour in long gloomy corridors, is one not soon to be forgotten. Employment is a blessing to them. It tends to relieve them of hal lucinatioii8 and delusions. On the econo­ mic side, industrial re-education is of value, because in many cases patients can return to the home and perform pro­ ductive labor, thus relieving the state of caring for them, and the tasks that they perform while in the institution are a source of income to the state. Work at which chronic insane can be employed is common labor, farm, garden and kitchen work, manufacture of institution sup­ plies, plain sewing, crocheting, lace-mak- ing, carpet-weaving, rug-making, etc. Shops for the employment of the insane could be constructed and equipped for >8,000 to >20,000 each. Many insane pa­ tients already are employed in our insti­ tutions. I favor the employment of all insane who are physically capable of it. "That recreation and amusement are necessary for the insane is a self-evident fact. Training for Attendants. "Compulsory training schools for at­ tendants and nurses have been estab­ lished at six of the eight hospitals classi­ fied in the insane group. These training schools are an essential part of the medi­ cal administration. The advantage to the patients is already apparent in a marked degree. The scientific education of nurses and attendants by hospital physicians, and by experts brought in from the out­ side to lecture, fits those who are quali­ fied and eliminates the unfit. "A recent census of consumptives In state institutions, shows the presence of 1,123 suspected, curable and advance stage consumptives in a total population of 17,382, or 6.47 per cent. In seven of the institutions there is segregation of these patients in buildings or tents. The con­ sumptives are given the benefit of out­ door, sunlight treatment.' and are fur­ nished with specially nourishing food. As a result, the non-tuberculosis patients are free from danger of infection and the consumptives themselves show a marked Improvement in condition. More Accommodations Needed* "Every state hospital for the insane Is now crowded beyond its normal capacity. The excess, a necessarily shifting quan­ tity, is about 300. Within six months each hospital will be compelled to return county patients to county almshouses in its district. In the county almshouses (not including Cook county) to-day there are about 500 insane persons, who should be cared for by the state. In Cook county there are 1,600 insane patients receiving county care. In all Illinois counties there are 2,100 such patients. Adding the 300 ex­ cess population in our state institutions, there are 2,400 persons in state and county institutions not receiving proper state care. The state can give better care to these unfortunates than can any county, because of better equipment, better clas­ sification and higher-salaried physicians and other employes. The county is too small a governmental unit to satisfactor­ ily care for insane persons. This requires the larger resources of the state. Means should be devised to bring about com­ plete state care in Illinois. The state board of charities is at work on this problem now. Buildings and Equipment. "Recognizing that the buildings and mechanical equipment of most of the state institutions were erected and in­ stalled many years ago, before architec­ tural. and engineering science had reach­ ed the high mark or advancement ob­ taining now, a survey has been made by the state architect of these institutions. Scaling their recommendations down to those items which they consider neces­ sary' for the physical operation of the in­ stitutions, the safety or the inmates and, in some cases, their well-being and com­ fort, th total appropriation asked for is >730,000. This figure was arrived at after conferences attended by the board of charities, superintendents, trustees, en­ gineers. myself and others. The total calls for an extraordinary appropriation, all items that can be cared for in the or­ dinary and usual special appropriations of the several institutions having been specified in the usual manner. I recom­ mend that the general assembly make this extra appropriation out of the state surplus." Under the head of charitable institutions the governor asks for legislation legaliz­ ing the appointment of guardians for children that are not under present laws so provided; for the inspection of "baby farms" and "lying-in" hospitals; for the construction of cottages at the' soldiers' and sailors' home at Quincy for soldiers' and sailors and their wives; for the es­ tablishment of 'a state library for the blind at Jacksonville, and for an appro­ priation to cover the expense of a careful study of charity systems and administra­ tion In this country and abroad. Penal Institutions.' The administration of the stsfte penal institutions is reviewed at length, and he recommends the careful consideration of the report of the commission that has in­ vestigated the conditions at these institu­ tions. He recommends the enlargement of the farm at the Pontiac reformatory, and the establishment of a gymnasium at the same place. Referring to the in­ dustries now being carried on in the various prisons he submits the following tabulated statement to show their growth: The following comparative state­ ment shows the value of products of our prison industries for the year from July 1, 1904, to June 30, 1905". Illinois state reforma­ tory $ 2,945.(1, ,' Illinois state penlten- ~ tiary 44,632.1V Southern Illinois peni­ tentiary 64,878.61 Total .>109,456.61 Value of products for the six months from July 1, 1905, to December, 81,1905: Illinois state reforma­ tory > 7,362.19 Illinois state peniten­ tiary 109,832.®# • Southern Illinois peni- v tentlary 63,258.* s&. Total $180,453.87 Value of products for the year from January 1, 1906. to December 81, 199#; ,w Illinois state reforma- , . ., T.fpry >178,178M r 4# Illinois state peniten- « tiary .14,067.58 Southern Illinois peni- ;tj tentlary 166,961.?! Total $858,196:9 Insurance Department. In no department of the state govern­ ment does the governor make a greater number of recommendations for new legislation than that of the insurance de partment. He calls attention to the in­ vestigations that have been made of the several life companies, and bases the need of new legislation on the result of these Investigations. In this connection he says in part: "The subject of insurance and ade­ quate laws for the regulation of the business, and the protection of the in­ terests involved, are subjects of com­ manding importance to the citizens of this state. The magnitude of the busi­ ness is apparent when it is considered tnat over 700 companies are engaged in transacting the various forms of i.'P thls ftate and that during 1905 the citizens of this state paid iri insuranuce >69,177.725.00. T..c fact that it Is now impossible for shows how intimately it Is connected with th* domestic «ttd economic life ©f our cititens. Therefore legislation relat­ ing to this subject should be judiciously, wisely and conscientiously considered. "A careful examination of the present statutes and the events oevttvritt* dur­ ing the past two years shows the ne­ cessity of additional legislation on this subject." Among the recommendations he makes In connection with fire insurance is one to preve'nt one company from owning the stock of a similar company; another to prevent the deposits of special funds in particular states for the protection of policy holders in that state; another to increase the responsibility of members of mutual companies doing business on a small capital; another providing for the appointment of a state fire marshal; an­ other for the extension of the authority of the department so as to subject to its inspection and jurisdiction unincorporat­ ed associations and individual underwrit­ ers doing a fire insurance business, and another to provide for the licensing of foreign companies in the basis of the capital employed by them in their busi­ ness in the United States. Life Insurance. He believes that the most important of the subjects to be considered in connec­ tion with companies doing life Insurance business are: (a) A change of the basis of reserve valuation from the actuaries' four per cent, to the American Experience three and one-half per cent. It is difficult to find such safe investments as life insur­ ance companies should make which will net four per cent, interest. This change Is In harmony with the best thought and practice in connection with this sub­ ject. (b) Standard provisions, perfectly pro­ tecting the equities of the insured, should be incorporated in every policy sold in t 8tAt6 (c) No Ufe insurance funds should be used for any political or other .similar purpose. ' i (d) The wording of the certificate re­ quired in clause II., section I, law of 1S99, should be changed, as the present- veading is not only susceptible of miscon­ struction. but can be readily used by Un­ scrupulous managers and agents, grossly to deceive the public and bring odium on the state. (e) Proper legislation should be enacted, to protect members of both regular and assessment life insurance companies from unfair treatment in case of the re­ insuring of such companies, and any new certificates or policies issued In such cases should clearly define the rights and equities of th« insured. Question of Dividends. if) Perhaps the most important subject for consideration is that of dividends. The recent investigations have shown that the annual accounting of dividends, or surplus, has kept managements honest and conservative. The long deferred dis­ tributions have led to extravagance, if not dishonesty. In order to insure econo­ my and security it seems wise to require that managers handling large trust funds should be checked up at frequent ihter- vals. Deferred dividends can be safely written provided the surplus accruing be apportioned yearly, and charged as a lia­ bility to the company. A statement of such surplus should be furnished the policy holder each year. If not deferred for too long a period this will enable a young company to establish itself with* out endangering the equities of its policy holders. (g) The act of June 19, 1891, to prevent discrimination by life insurance compa­ nies should be amended as to make this evil a misdemeanor, and should apply to the insured as well as the company and its agents. <h) A law should be enacted to protect holders of deferred dividend policies al­ ready in force, In the distribution of sur­ plus accumulated on their account. A statement should be required of the an­ nual credit on account of such surplus, which should be charged as a liability by the companies. This is not retroactive, but a guarantee of future good faith in the handling of such funds. (1) In the matter of the election of trus­ tees of mutual life insurance companies, the voting should be made as simple and effective as possible, either by mail. In person or by proxy. (j) A law should be enacted prohibiting the organization of additional assessment life insurance companies in this state, other than fraternal societies, or the ad­ mission of such companies from other states, and amending and enlarging the scope of the annual statement to be made by them to the insurance department to cover every possible detail of their busi­ ness; also a law providing for the period­ ical examination of such companies, and - the prompt publication of the results of such examination. (k) No corporation or stock company should be licensed as the agent of any life insurance company in soliciting, sell­ ing or in any manner placing life insur­ ance policies, or contracts in this state, nor should any subsidiary company be allowed to sell the stock of. or in any manner perform the functions of such life insurance companies. (1) In the matter of preliminary term insurance, that method known as the modified preliminary term plan of valua­ tion should be adopted. (m) The recent investigations of life insurance companies have proved 'that the great agent of reform and corruption of evils has been the puWicity brought about - in methods and management. There should be a thorough examination of the affairs of every company at inter­ vals of not to exceed five years. The financial methods and plans of insurance should be thoroughly investigated. Any evidence of wrongdoing in the former, or failure to observe correct principles in the latter should be at once made public. Publicity is the best cure for corporate ills. Should Regulate Disbursements. (n) Disbursements by life Insurance companies should be regulated by a law requiring that in all cases- where the dis­ bursement equals or exceeds >100, the same shall be evidenced by a voucher, duly signed and correctly describing con­ sideration for the payment. (o) There should be a provision added to the insurance law requiring that a company of another state should have the same deposit in its own state that is required of Our own Companies here and evidence the same by certificate from the insurance official of its own state, and that a foreign life insurance company should have a like amount on deposit In some one (of the states of the United States in which It is now doing business. There is no such requirement in the statute now. As the law stands a foreign life insurance company should be admit­ ted to do business in this state without a dollar of funds in the United States. (p) A law to prohibit the issuance of non-paricipating policies by certain life insurance companies and which prevents a company from doing both a participat­ ing and a non-participating business would seem to be a good measure. The combining of both stock and mutual busi­ ness by a single company affords oppor­ tunity for working an Injury to one class for the benefit of the other, which Is diffi­ cult of detection or prevention. (q) One result of the New York investi­ gation has been to satisfy the public gen­ erally that it Is wise to restrict or pro­ hibit investments by life insurance com­ panies in corporate stock. The character of investments which such companies should be permitted to make is a matter worthy of your most careful considera­ tion. 0ther Departments. The message deals with all other de­ partments of the state government and In connection with many of them he makes recommendations for new legislation or for appropriations. He asks for a more rigid bank inspection law; a general re­ vision of the school laws that will make for a uniform system throughout the state; the strengthening and extension of the state university calling for an in­ creased appropriation; an increase in the appropriation of the geological survey of the state; the continuation of the high­ way commission and an appropriation sufficient to meet its needs; authority for the railroad and warehouse commission to prescribe a uniform system of ac­ counting for railroads; the extension of the powers of the commission over inter- urban and street railways, and closes his message with an appeal to the members of the general assembly to hasten the passage of bills so as to complete the greater part of the legislation under­ taken before the closing days of the as­ sembly that the executive may have a greater time for consideration of them. HOME MADE DRAFT GAUGE. Hew On# Can Be Easily Matt* In the Home Work 8hop. Screw two pieces of 1 inch pipe about eight inches long into a 1 Inch return bend, and put a reducer on the top end of each pipe, reducing it to H inch. Remove the plunger from a small bicycle pump and solder a piece of copper on the top of the pump, making it airtight. This is to be used for a float, as it drops down in one of the 1 inch pipes nicely. Remove the pressure spring from a small steam gauje and attach the gauge to one end of the pipe as shown in the illustration. Solder a fine stiff brass wire to the center of the float, letting the wire extend up through the reducer to which the gauge is screwed and connect the upper end Of the wlri to the bottom corner of the triangular ratchet of the gauge. Fill the U-tube with machine oil until the float raises enough to turn the Screw a piece of % incb pipe in the other reducer and run to the side of the smoke box. As the draft tends to create a vacuum, the oil in the % inch pipe raises o& tbe slde connected , ~<k J. r * ' , "lU-Tsbe and Oauge y to the Asmoke flue, and lowers on the gauge side. This causes the float to drop, thus pulling down on the I ratchet, and tqjrns the band upward. Oil Is a good , liquid to use, as it neither freezes nor evaporates. Big Twelve-Story Concrete Building bfl Casting a Twelve-Story Office Building. A large office building, which is said by its builders to be the first of its kind in New York city, and which .has attracted the attention of the thou­ sands who pass daily in its neighbor­ hood because of its novelty, is being erected in the rear of the site of the old Broadway Tabernacle in Thirty- fourth and Thirty-flfth streets, near Sixth avenue. It is to be a concrete structure in one piece, and therefore will contain no steel girdertff'iays the New York Tribune. When completed it will be a monolith, that is, one piece of concrete almost as hard as gran­ ite, beams, walls and floors being all one. It will be 12 stories high, 200 feet long and have a frontage of 50 feet in Thirty-fourth street and 30 feet in Thirty-fifth street. The work of construction suggests Solomon's temple in one respect-- there is no sound of hammer about it. No pneumatic hammer pounding riv­ ets splits the eardrums of the pass- ersby. Its appearance is odd. It looks as if it were in swaddling clothes. The building is literally cast just as a plas­ ter cast or a bronze statue is formed. The boards form the moulds in which the concrete is poured. They must be left in position until the concrete is firm. The hardening requires several weeks' time. The result is that the walls are hidden at present, and look as if they were carefully boxed up in boards to keep them warm. The oddity of its appearance is in­ creased by the presence of two slender, skeleton towers of wood and the ab­ sence of derricks. There is no hoist­ ing of heavy steel girders over the heads of pedestrians, to their alarm. The square, vertical frames rising so high above the, battlements that one wonders that they do not fall' down before the slightest wind are the Shafts for hoisting the concrete' to the top of the walls. The taller of the two has been built to the height of the completed build­ ing. Around it will be fastened the moulds for the openings for one of the elevator shafts in , the finished build­ ing. RIFYING RAIN WATER. , I Seven Billions In Railroads. i f T h e r e w e r e 2 1 7 , 3 4 1 m i l e s o f Mo# It Can Be Done by Extending Spout to Bottom of Barrel. Many people catch their rain water in barrels placed under the eaves' spout. In a long dry Bpell the roof will become dirty, and the first rain will fill the barrel with dirty water. If the rain is long continued it may clear itself, but will not if the shower is of short duration. In the latter case the barrel will be filled with dirty water. A To clear the water, says a writer & Popular Science, quickly extend the bpout within an inch or two of the bottom of the barrel. The incoming water will stir up the water in the barrel so that it will clear itself in one-eighth of the time ordinarily re­ quired. This also applies to cisterns, but the smaller the cistern the quick­ er the clarifying process. Submarine Signal System Adopted. The United States lighthouse board has decided to extend the submarine signal system to a number of import­ ant lightships on the Atlantic coast as a result of tests made the past summer. The submarine bell and its operation were fully described in the August, 1905, Popular Mechanics. Sig­ nals were transmitted and read as far as 15 miles. The lightship sounds its number on a submarine bell hung over the side of the ship at a depth of 15 or 20 feet. The navigator re- calving the signal locates the light- snip by referring to its number on his \ Woma^ Did Miner's Work. James M. Dungan and wife, who have a ranch on Pit river, Shasta county, California, conceived the Idea of irrigating and raising alfalfa. To get water for the purpose it was nec­ essary to dig a tunnel into the hillside to strike a subterranean flow. With­ out any outside assistance husband and wife drove a tunnel 1,350 feet in length. Two years were consumed in the work. Much of that time Mrs. Dungan had to work alone in the tun­ nel, as Dungan was sick. She learned to use the drill as well as any miner. She drilled the holes, put in the individual to protect'"'those"* de- i charges of powder, set off the blasts nearivnU^vhvfiJianb^rs ai?d alf° to,Sua«;d I and then wheeled the dirt to the dump ' • v ('.• • j; . Our Bigneas. Bigness is sarijl to be a quality which appeals especially to Ameri­ cans. However that may be, a purely scientific interest Justifies the spread­ ing of Information contained in a re­ cent bulletin of the United States Geological Survey about the size of the United States. The area of the United States proper, exclusive of Alaska, island dependencies and the Panama strip, is given as 3,026,789 square miles. The absence hitherto of an official standard resulted in a discrepancy between the computations of the census bureau and the general land office. A conference was called between these departments and the geological survey and the bulletin of the geological survey is the result. com­ pleted railroads in the United States at th3 end of 1905, according to fig­ ures compiled by Poor's Manual for 1906. This is a net increase in 1905 of 4,715 miles. Capital stock represented amounted to $6,741,956,825, according to the same authority. The bonded debt was $7,425,261,901. The total liabilities of the lines aggregate $16,292,880,823, against $15,495,504,651 in 1904. The cost of the roads And their equipment is figured at $12,143,997,- 551, against $11,664,191,134 in the pre­ vious year. The total traffic revenue was $2,112,197,770, with operating ex­ penses of $1,368,549,574. Passengers numbered 745,446,641. They were carried 23,906,420,668 miles. Alligator 8kin and Oil. demand for alligator Bkins has for a long time past been so great that the manufacture of imitations has attained a point where even ex­ perts may be deceived. • At least such is said to be the case In Europe, where "alligator" skins that grew on the backs of sheep are passed for the genuine article. In order to increase the supply of the real skins the DOS- sibillty has been considered of raising alligators in some of the French de­ pendencies. Alligator oil, or grease, is also in great demand, being em­ ployed largely in the manufa^p^of chamois leather. '5 Miss you, What He Needed. Cholly Nowitt--D'ye know, Smart, though I've only met there seems to be a sort of intellectual sympathy between us? You know Just how to appeal to my tastes, you see. Are you a literary woman? Dolly Smart--No; I'm a kindergar> ten teacher.--Tit-Bits. ^ , V The Elevator Pump. T^ make the elevator pump win smoothly dissolve a package or two of good washing powder in the water contained in the open tank the elevator system. , - ? . At-ft Depends On the Man* Biffs--They say a man's brain cells are1 limited. Do you believe it? Bangs--Yours are, I thlnk.-^Detroit Free Press. To Build Big Warship. Uncle Sam will now proceed to build the biggest warship ever floated. Our Springf|eld Letter SUKial t Writes of Thlags at Interest s* State Capital. Springfield.--In the report of the civil service commission, which has feeen submitted to Gov. Deneen, only ft few changes are favored. These al­ terations are of minor importance One suggestion made by the commis­ sion in the report is that the limitation of examination to applicants from this state be abolished. This is for the pur­ pose of allowing help from neighbor­ ing states in cases of emergency. There is no institution In this state for the training of teachers for the deaf and blind. Another change fa­ vored is that the number of cities in which- examinations may be held be made greater. At present it is seven, but during the year it was found neces­ sary to hold examinations in 36 cities and towns. The law also stages that at each examination a commissioner must be present, thus making it im­ possible for more than three examina­ tions to be conducted in one day. The commission suggests that the law be changed so that a person who, in the ^pinion of the commission is compe­ tent to conduct the examination, may carry on such work. The commission also asks the right of discharge and favors the adoption by the state of the law in Cook county. There the com­ mission may order a trial when there is reason to believe that political or religious differences have brought about a discharge from office. The re­ port further urges that the Illinois civil service commission have super­ visory power over the civil service commissions of the various counties. The extension of the civil service to all branches of the state service Is recommended. Between January 1 and November 1, 1905, the number of changes In the various state institu­ tions was 421. Fourteen hundred and sixty-eight appointments were made between Npvember 1, 1905, when the civil service law went Into effect, and December 21, 1906. At the time the law went into effect there were 2,168 employes In the 17 state Institutions. The commission has held 539 examina­ tions in order to secure applicants for these positions, and for these positions 2,240 applications have been received. So,:,i*m-nght For Full Taxation Valu Mayor Dunne, of Chic the action of the state board of equal­ ization in fixing 70 per cent, as the value of real estate and personal prop­ erty in the state for assessment pur­ poses. By the reduction the state stands to lose nearly $4,000,000 in rev­ enue, of which Chicago's share is near­ ly $1,000,000. A motion was made in the supreme court by John M. Duffy and William B. Fleming, representing Mayor Edward F. Dunne and Corpora­ tion Counsel James Hamilton Lewis, asking leave to file a petition for a mandamus, with a view of requiring the board to place the full valuation upon property for purposes of taxa­ tion. The petition attacks the action of the board in passing the resolution fixing 70 per cent as the valuation, and urges that unuer the revenue law of the state the duty of the board Is to find "the full, fair cash value" of the property for purposes of taxation. It is claimed <that by the action of the board the capital stock, including franchises and other property of the corporations owning and operating railroads in the state, have not been assessed as the law requires--that the capital stock, Including franchises and other property, should be valued at "the full, fair cash value" for purposes of taxation, as the revenue law re­ quires. The Chicago petition, It Is said, will be granted. It Is claimed in the petition that by the action of the board of equalization the state will lose this year $3,750,000 of taxes, Chi­ cago's share being $900,000. Plan Bridge at Venice, III. Plans fdr a new steel bridge across the Mississippi river at Venice, 111., op­ posite North St. Louis, are under con­ sideration by the officials and directors of the McKinley Interurban system of Illinois. Ralph Modjeski, engineer of the steel bridge at Thebes, 111., and also the new McKinley bridge across the Illinois river at Peoria, is making the preliminary plans for the proposed interurban bridge at Venice. Requisition fbr Wife Deserter. Gov. Deneen issued a requisition for the return to Chicago of Ifrank Gaines, who is wanted there on a charge of abandoning a child under one year of age. Gaines is under arrest at Butte, Mont. It is alleged that he deserted his wife, Alice Gaines, and his six- months-old child on August 15, and since that time the authorities have been searching for him in all parts of the country. Illinois' Mineral Wealth. An official report is to the effect that the production of mineral wealth In the state last year aggregated a total of $57,989,000, of which $39,754,- 000 was coal. Clay mines and lime­ stone come next to coil in importance. The production of Portland cement, which has become one of the most im­ portant factors in building, is increas­ ing. In the last 25 years the produc­ tion of coal in Illinois has increased 519 per cent. The production In the last ten years has Increased 113 per cent. ij. jJUI -.. Apple QWwers Organise. ^ For the purpose of cooperation and protection, an organization known, as the Illinois Commercial Apple Grow­ ers' association has been formed. J. Mack Tanner, of Springfield, is a char­ ter mem be/* of the association, which was organized at Bloomington recent­ ly. The object of the association is to effect a closer relation among the wholesale apple dealers. The charter members of the association own and control about 3,000 aeres of fruit-bear­ ing orchards. State Dairymen's Convention. I Programs for the thirty-third annual convention of the Illinois State Dalrjit^ men's association are out and are bo» v fan ? i ing distributed. The convention is t<| ; r . be held in Joliet January 16-19 in cow n e c t i o n w i t h t h e W i l l C o u n t y F a r m e r s * 1 institute. The program, besides adi^fe ?- i dresses and discussions, contains prao^ tical demonstrations, each of whidjt*' : is to occupy one whole session. On# ' % session, however, will be of especial , interest to those who produce milk tor v f. ! c i t y s u p p l y ; a n o t h e r s e s s i o n w i l l i n t e r * f t J est the buttermakers especially; and 9 _ third the dairyman who is progressive ;* a n d w a n t s t o h a v e a p r o f i t a b l e h e r d o f V • < ' "cows. The first session of the con? vention will be called to order at 1 p. m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. A scoring in the education test con-' ^ ]• d u c t e d b y t h e s t a t e f o o d d e p a r t m e n t - * ' \ ' ' will be held in connection with th* convention. Those in the state test* -*?1 will have their butter scored also ii| , 1 '* * "• the association's contest with other ei tries. The association offers $300 as pro rata purse. There is only one pr mium other than the cash purse, an< t;hat is a gold medal to be given b; the Elgin board of trade to the butte maker, employe -of a member of th« board w^ wins the highest apore 4*1 th« test. :r C. A A. WaTtPbad Sued. Spits to recover $500,000 were file<$i - in the circuit court at Springfield I against the Chicago & Alton Railroad " company to recover penalties for al*'"1 '• leged unjust discrimination in railroad f r e i g h t r a t e s . T h e c a g e s g r e w o u t o f - ' a recent Investigation, which brought out information that the Alton comH pany had charged a higher rate thai^S is allowed by the laws of the states*! The suits were filed by State's Atf*?"/." torney Frank L. Hatch. It is allege^. *:rs % that in April, 1905, certain goods werA * consigned from East St. Louis to L. H, , * Zumbrook & Sons of Springfield oi|l which the freight amounted to SO^j, centB a hundred weight, and on thd^',., same date it is alleged that the sim^ "v ' \ \ class of goods was shipped to Peoria^, j a longer distance, for 20 cents a hun^i dred. The facts in the case were rei centiy brought out at a hearing held In Chicago, and it is said that the Spring­ field Business Men's association fav-t ^ ored the suits in order to bring to an,', end unjust discrimination in favor or , ' Peoria and against Springfield. ThdC*.. penalty privided for such an offense rtCv1' a fine of not less than $1,000 nor morejt than $5,000 for each, which is to " recovered by an action for debt "/•; > Chautauqua at Clear Lake. -V Steps have, been taken tp organize^ a company for the purpose of estab­ lishing a Chautauqua at Clear Lake^ The company is to be known as the Mississippi Valley Chautauqua com­ pany. The com pan ? will be financed by the Local Utility company and thef-v.,,.;. Sangamon Valley Railroad company^ S v * The company will lease 52 acrest - around the lake. The work 0/ putting^; -f: the grounds in shape will be com*^- menced as soon as the company is in'.' • *' '• working order. Some of the ground will be cut up Into acre lots to be leased to patrons of the Chautauqua , who wish to build summer cottages^ j. The Chautauqua will be undenomina-^ tional in character, having no connec­ tions with any religious body. The best of talent will be secured and everything done to Insure its success? 1 An auditorium with a seating c&iJ, pacity of 7,000 people will be built."®2 ' The first Chautauqua will be held: some time next August The promo­ ters intend to make the assembly na­ tional lh its character. State Board Will Investigate. A thorough investigation Of the al­ leged pollution of the waters of Lake* , Michigan by manufacturing plants (gated at the various north shdreljJ towns, particularly at Waukegan, is to|S# be conducted by the Illinois si board of health. For some time thereftjp has been a" great increase in domesti«^.%! sewage, incidental to the rapid devel-tf|f opfhent of the north shore. In addic­ tion there has been a great growth in the manufacturing plants In this dis­ trict, many of which discharge great quantities of organic and inorganic waste. * Will Not Report Bill. No bill providing that teachers examined by a commission will be pre-;-'-'" sented to the coming session of thei||;. legislature. At the meeting of the illi-Si;< fl „ nois County Superintendents' asso­ ciation the motion to report the bill to the general assembly for consideration^^ was almost unanimously defeated, v;: State Superintendent of public In-#C '% structlon Blair and David Felmlpy ofS^-v > Normal carried on the fight against • the superintendents. ; 'Iri Rhodes Examination Jan. President E. J. Janes of the Univer­ sity of Illinois, chairman of the Rhodes scholarship commission for Illinois, announces that the next examination for scholarships will be held Jan. 17 and 18, 1907. The place for holding the examination will be announced later. The examination will include Latin, Greek, and mathematics. Col­ lege students between the ages of 19... and 24 who have completed their soph­ omore year are eligible for the exam­ ination., One scholarship will be awarded. ... . ; : * Two Requisitions Gov. Deneen issued a requisition on the govevttor of Missouri for the re­ turn to Illinois of J. H. Bell, who is. wanted in Chicago on a charge of working a confidence game. The in-s dictment against Bell charges that he ;,-v: swindled Mildred Paulsen out of four dollars. A requisition was also issued ' ';"7; ' on the governor of New York for the • return to Chicago of Anteces A. Jones, » ^ w 'A wanted on a charge of working a con- - ^ ? o4 under arrest in New York qity and I • wanted on a *' ' " ^ fidence game. J v_ .I- ' .j"