so to report at an early day what, if any, legislation is necessary to provide for a cession to the Federal Government of all the right, title and interest the State of Illinois now holds in the real and personal property of the Illinois and Michigan Canal; Provided, that in consideration of such cession, the Federal Government will agree to assume, control and carry on and complete the enlargement of said canal into a Ship Canal of capacity not less than vessels of tons burden.

IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

WHEREAS By the action of the water at the point where the Missouri river empties its waters into the Mississippi river opposite the county of Madison in the State of Illinois is such that large tracts of land situated in said county of Madison has already been washed away and the same is now being washed away and:

WHEREAS At the rate the lands in said county are now being carried away by the water there is great danger that the river will break across the present land barrier and flow into Long Lake thereby causing the Mississippi river at that point to spread over large tracts of country both in the county of Madison and St. Clair in said State and inflicting great injury to a large district of country and at the same time greatly endangering navigation on the Mississippi River and compelling the construction of numerous bridges across the channel thus formed and,

WHEREAS By the washing away of the soil the said Mississippi river has been widened from about the width of an half mile to about the width of a mile and a half, in the last few years, thereby causing the formation of several sand bars in the immediate vicinity and thus rendering navigation difficult and dangerous.

Therefore be it:

Resolved By the House of Representatives the Senate concurring herein that our Representatives in Congress be requested and our Senators be instructed to use their influence and endeavors to have the Congress of the United States in its expenditure of money for the improvement of the Mississippi river, so to expend the same protect the navigation of said river at the points endangered and at the same time prevent the river from breaking into Long Lake and devastating the country as mentioned.

as to

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT WAUKEGAN.

WHEREAS, it is of paramount importance to the People of this State that the river and lake advantages within and adjacent to its

boundaries be kept in proper condition for the carrying on of commercial enterprises between the citizens of this State and other States and countries, and

WHEREAS, this State is possessed of many miles of frontage on Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes of North America, affording the commerce of this State an outlet through the great water highway to the Atlantic sea-board, and

WHEREAS, there are many points of danger to navigators on said lake frontage, and some points which could by a small outlay of money be made commodious and safe harbors for lake shipping aside from the port of Chicago, and

WHEREAS, the people of the Northeastern portion of this State are now petitioning Congress, asking for an appropriation from the General Government for the construction of a harbor and life saving station at Waukegan, in Lake County, in this State, said harbor having formerly been of great advantage to the agricultural interests of the people in said locality, as furnishing a means of shipping produce direct to the markets of the East, but having of late fallen into disuse on account of the formation of sand bars at the mouth of Waukegan River, and many serious accidents have within the last few years occurred at said place to our lake shipping, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Rep resentatives concurring herein, that our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives be requested to obtain from the General Government an appropriation for the construction of a harbor and life-saving station at Waukegan, in this State.

Resolved, further that the Secretary of State is hereby instructed to send certified copies of these resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress assembled.

IMPROVEMENT OF QUINCY BAY.

WHEREAS For the want of sufficient and well improved harbors on the Mississippi River there is great annual destruction of steam-boats, barges, and other water-crafts by the breaking up of ice and by storms on said river involving losses of greatest magnitude to the shipping interests of the whole Mississippi valley: and,

WHEREAS, The Quincy Bay, of Quincy, in the State of Illinois, is one of the best natural harbors on said river, embracing as it does, a body of still water more than three (3) miles in length, and of sufficient width and depth, except in a few places obstructed by said bars, to afford a safe and convenient shelter and harbor for vessels navigating the Mississippi river; and,

WHEREAS, By the expenditure of a comparatively small amount of money, considering the magnitude of the shipping interests involved, in the improvement of the Quincy Bay, it would become a safe and convenient harbor for vessels, navigating said river; therefore be it

Resolved, By the House of Representatives the Senate concurring herein, That the representatives and senators in Congress, from the State of Illinois, be and they are hereby requested to use all honorable means to secure the permanent improvement of the Quincy Bay by the Government of the United States in such a manner as to make it a safe and permanent harbor on said river and be it further;

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be, and is hereby requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to each of the representatives and senators in Congress from the State of Illinois.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, MEXICO.

WHEREAS, During last Winter a number of our citizens visited our neighboring Republic of Mexico, with the view of increasing the commerce and Trade between the Two (2) Countries, and

WHEREAS, Those visitors were very cordially received and entertained there, and

WHEREAS, As a result, of said visit the trade and commerce between the two (2) countries have been increased, and as a further result an international exhibition is to be held in the City of Mexico, commencing January 15th, 1880, and ending April 15th, 1880 to which all nations are invited and

WHEREAS, It is very desirable that our People should enjoy every facility, to exhibit our various productions of our industries at said exhibition, therefore be it

Resolved, by the House of Representatives the Senate concurring herein, that our Senators and our members of Congress are requested to encourage such Legislation in Congress, as shall secure the appointment of a sufficient number of commissioners, to take charge of and fully represent the interests of our People at said Exhibition so that we may fully and fairly compete with other Nations; and further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State transmit a copy of these Resolutions, to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress now assembled in the City of Washington D. C.

JANITORS AND EMPLOYES.

Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, that the Secretary of State be and he is hereby directed to employ

such number of Janitors and other employees as are required to keep the Capitol Halls of the General Assembly, Committee Rooms, and other rooms and closets in good order and cleanly condition, and for the performance of such other duties as may be imposed upon him by law, or by the direction of either branch of the General Assembly. Said Janitors and employees to be paid the amount per diem and in the manner provided by the act of the 30th General Assembly, entitled "an Act to provide for the Election and appointment of the Officers and Employees of the General Assembly and to fix their compensa

tion.

Approved May 28th, 1877.

In force July 1st, 1877.

JOINT RULES.

Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein. That a joint committee consisting of three on the part of the House and two on the part of the Senate be appointed as a commitee on joint rules.

PASSAGE OF SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS; SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS.

Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, that our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to urge the passage of Senate Bill, No. 780, reported from the Committee on Public Lands by Senator Oglesby in the United States Senate on the 5th of June, 1878, a bill to provide for indemnity due the several states under the acts of Congress, approved March 2, 1855, and March 3, 1857, relating to swamp and overflowed lands; also of House Bill, No. 4,739, introduced by Hon. G. L. Fort on the 6th of May, 1878, A Bill to authorize the Commissioners of the General Land Office to adjust and settle the claim of the State of Illinois, and of other states for indemnity for swamp lands sold by the United States, and to bring about such other measures of relief as will hasten the final adjustment of all claims of the State of Illinois against the Government of the United States.

STATE PRINTING.

WHEREAS, complaints have been made, that the contractor for State printing of the first class is not complying with his contract, in this: that he is not executing the orders for printing, "promptly and with out delay," as required by law; therefore

Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That a special committee of two from the Senate, and three from the House be appointed, to be named by the presiding officers of the Senate and House, respectively, who shall without delay, investigate said complaint, and report at the earliest day, and that they inquire as to whether bills of the Senate, and House are printed in their regular order, and if not, for what reason and what influence prevents bills from being printed in their order.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

STATE OF ILLINOIS.

}

SS.

I, GEORGE H. HARLOW, Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, do hereby certify that the foregoing published acts of the Thirty-First General Assembly of the State of Illinois, are true and correct copies of said acts, which have been approved by the Governor or that have otherwise become laws, and filed in the office of the Secretary of State, with the exception of words or letters printed in brackets, thus: []; and that the foregoing published joint resolutions are true and correct copies of the same as filed in this office.

[SEAL.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the great Seal of State, at the city of Springfield, this first day of July, A. D. 1879.

GEO. H. HARLOW,

Secretary of State.