Whenever the public use of any river, lake, harbor, sound, bay, canal, or other public or navigable waters of this state is obstructed or endangered by any sunken vessel, boat, water craft, raft, or other similar obstruction, and such obstruction has existed for a longer period than thirty (30) days, the sunken vessel, boat, water craft, raft, or other obstruction shall be subject to be broken up, removed, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Department of Natural Resources, in its discretion, without liability for any damage to the owners of the same: provided, the said Department shall first give a thirty-day notice in writing, by United States registered mail, to the owner thereof, if known, or if unknown, by publication addressed “To whom it may concern,” in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the obstruction is located, or if the obstruction is located in two or more counties, in any one of such counties, requesting the removal thereof.
     The Department of Natural Resources may, in its discretion, at or after the time of giving any such notice advertise in one or more newspapers of general circulation published in this State, at least ten (10) days before the bids are to be opened, for sealed bids for the removal of such obstruction as soon as possible after the expiration of the thirty-day period for notice specified in the preceding paragraph, in case it has not in the meantime been so removed. Any such proposal for bids may be conditioned that such vessels, boat, water craft, raft or other obstruction and all cargo and property contained therein, shall become the property of the contractor and the contract shall be awarded to the bidder making the proposition most advantageous to the state. Any such bidder shall give satisfactory security for the execution of his contract. Any money received from the sale of any such wreck, or from any contractor for the removal of such wreck, under the provisions of this section, shall be paid over to the State Treasurer. If the proceeds of any such sale are not sufficient in amount to reimburse the State for such expense, the State of Illinois, acting by and through its Department of Natural Resources, may, by civil action, obtain judgment against the owners of such craft, cargo, or both for the difference between the proceeds of such sale and the actual expense incurred by the State of Illinois, acting by and through its Department of Natural Resources, in connection with such removal.