Chicago is the great distributing and receiv ing point, due partly to lake transport and ex cellent railroad facilities. The former brings millions of tons of iron ore, and millions of bushels of oats, wheat and maize every year. Receipts by lake transport for Chicago, in 1914 included 586,134,000 pounds of fresh beef, and the shipment, 1,027,327,000 pounds. During the year 1915, 107,471,640 dozen eggs, 180,303,840 pounds of butter, 9,063,000 barrels of flour, 4,6433,u00 bushels of rye, 26,167,000 bushels of barley, 70,704,000 bushels of wheat, 95,357,000 bushels of corn, and 133,475,000 bushels of oats were received in Chicago. The value of the live stock received at the stock yard in the same year was $370,938,156. Shipments received by down-town packers increased the total to $379, 099,642. The official valuation of livestock re ceived at the Chicago Stock Yards that year was: Cattle, $192,116,472; calves, $5,714,075; hogs, $120,349,047; sheep, $23,044,562; horses, $29,754,000.
Everything considered Illinois is one of the wealthiest States in the Union. In 1904, the estimated true value of all property and of specified classes of property stood as follows: Real property and improvements, $5,468,492,926; live stoc $268,731,540; farm implements and machinery, $48,593,486; manufacturing ma r chinery, tools and implements, 7,543,320; gold and silver coin and bullion, 150,074,503; railroads and their equipment, 5,057,000; street railways, shipping, waterworks, etc., V27,591,493; all other $1,520,471,923; total $8,816,556,191. For these same items, in the order named, the figures for 1912 stood: $10, 056,319,512; $386,701,265; $79,473,427; $451 299,068; $205,185,274; $926,403,787; $784,713, 023; $2,640,354,876; $15,484,450,232. In the first named year, New 'York and Pennsylvania were ahead of Illinois, but in 1912 Illinois stood second to New York.
Constitution.— Three constitutions have been in force in Illinois since its admission as a State. The first was formed by a convention of 32 delegates from the 15 counties of the territory, which met at Kaskaskia in August 1818. This constitution, under which the State was admitted; remained the organic law of Illinois for 30 years, or until the adoption of the constitution of 1848. In the meantime, the State had gradually increased in wealth and in population. Many new counties had been organized, and the northern boundary of actual settlement had been extended from the county of Madison to the Wisconsin line. Chicago and other cities unknown to the framers of the first constitution had sprung into being. A futile attempt to procure the calling of a con vention to frame a new constitution was made in 1823. In 1846, the question of calling a con vention was again submitted by the legislature; the returns showed a large majority favorable, and delegates were accordingly chosen in April 1847. This convention, consisting of 162 mem bers, assembled at Springfield in June of that year and its work was concluded 31 August. Unlike the first constitution, this one was submitted to the people. It met with popular approval and by its terms went into operation on the first Monday of April 1848; it remained in force until the adoption of the present con stitution. The latter was formulated by a con
vention of 85 members which assembled in Springfield, 13 Dec. 1869. This constitution was submitted to popular vote and approved, and since August 1870, has been the funda mental law of the State. By a two-thirds vote in each House the general assembly may sub mit to the electors, the question of calling a convention to alter or amend the constitution, to be voted upon at the next general election; by the same vote in the general assembly pro posed amendments to the constitution (without the intervention of a convention) may be sub mitted to the electors for adoption or re jection. One of the most important provisions of the present constitution is the division of the powers of the government into legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative power is prohibited from releasing the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any corporation or individual to the State or to any municipal cor poration therein, and to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purpose. Two impor tant mandatory provisions upon the general as sembly were incorporated in the constitution: One requiring legislation protecting coal•miners, and the other the passage of liberal homestead and exemption laws. Under the former consti tution, the State and people had suffered from special legislation. To cause the discontinu ance of such legislation and the enactment of general laws when necessary, the general as sembly was prohibited from passing or special laws in any of the following cases, viz.: For granting divorces; changing the names of persons or places; laying out, opening, altering and working roads or highways; vacating roads, townplots, streets, alleys and public grounds; locating or changing county seats; regulating county and township affairs; regu lating the practice in courts of justice; regulat ing the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, police magistrates and constables; providing for changes of venue in civil and criminal cases; incorporating cities, towns or villages or changing or amending the charter of any town, city or village; for the election of a board of supervisors; summoning and impaneling grand or petit juries; providing for the management of common schools; regu lating the rate of interest on money; the open ing and conducting of any election or desig nating the place of voting; the sale or mort gage of real estate belonging to minors or others under disability; the protection of game or fish; chartering or licensing ferries or toll bridges; remitting fines, penaltiesoor forfeitures; creating, increasing or decreasing fees, percent age or allowance of public officers during the term for which said officers are elected or appointed; changing the law of descent; grant ing to any corporation, association or individual the right to lay down railroad tracks or amend ing existing charters for such purpose; grant ing to any corporation, association or individual any special or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever.