Chapter XXVII
April Showers
April 1984
As the war with Carbondale ended, the real work began. Governor Jim Thompson knew that the crop fields of Illinois could provide the state with enough food to survive the next winter, but the crops would have to be planted now. Therefore, a directive went out on April 1 that called for massive planting of corn and other vegetables. People were encouraged to grow backyard gardens with whatever seeds they could find. It was the most massive crop growing effort the state had ever seen in its' history.
In addition, another massive project was underway: clearing the Mississippi River. Although this project would take months to complete, Governor Thompson put it high on his priority list that this task be completed, for a wide variety of reasons.
1. If the river is cleared, food and other goods can flow south and come north
2. Fuel can come north from the Gulf States and help the crop planting effort
3. Contact with other state government could be achieved with the clearing of the river
An expeditionary team was sent to the Quad Cities area to survey the damage there and report back to Urbana-Champaign. Their report back to Governor Thompson read in part,
The Quad Cities area is still a few months away from being able to support the large-scale operation that would be needed to clear the Mississippi River here. Everything south of here can be cleared; however, the Quad Cities area is blocked off to river traffic at this time.
Another group was sent to survey the damage around the St. Louis area. This group made a similar report back, citing lingering radioactivity as a hazard for local river clearing operations.
Governor Thompson also had to get the word out that Illinois still had a surviving state government that was functioning, and so the same day as his crop directive, he also issued an executive order establishing Illini Radio, a government-operated radio station which gave hourly broadcasts about the happenings in the state. In addition, to show people that the government was with them, Governor Thompson gave a speech every day to prove to Illinoisans and other state governments that Illinois had a leader.
April Showers
April 1984
As the war with Carbondale ended, the real work began. Governor Jim Thompson knew that the crop fields of Illinois could provide the state with enough food to survive the next winter, but the crops would have to be planted now. Therefore, a directive went out on April 1 that called for massive planting of corn and other vegetables. People were encouraged to grow backyard gardens with whatever seeds they could find. It was the most massive crop growing effort the state had ever seen in its' history.
In addition, another massive project was underway: clearing the Mississippi River. Although this project would take months to complete, Governor Thompson put it high on his priority list that this task be completed, for a wide variety of reasons.
1. If the river is cleared, food and other goods can flow south and come north
2. Fuel can come north from the Gulf States and help the crop planting effort
3. Contact with other state government could be achieved with the clearing of the river
An expeditionary team was sent to the Quad Cities area to survey the damage there and report back to Urbana-Champaign. Their report back to Governor Thompson read in part,
The Quad Cities area is still a few months away from being able to support the large-scale operation that would be needed to clear the Mississippi River here. Everything south of here can be cleared; however, the Quad Cities area is blocked off to river traffic at this time.
Another group was sent to survey the damage around the St. Louis area. This group made a similar report back, citing lingering radioactivity as a hazard for local river clearing operations.
Governor Thompson also had to get the word out that Illinois still had a surviving state government that was functioning, and so the same day as his crop directive, he also issued an executive order establishing Illini Radio, a government-operated radio station which gave hourly broadcasts about the happenings in the state. In addition, to show people that the government was with them, Governor Thompson gave a speech every day to prove to Illinoisans and other state governments that Illinois had a leader.
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